As they ate around the table, Mumma and Puppa kept things casual, smiling and chatting about everything except the one thing on their minds. Priya wasn’t fooled. Her parents were tiptoeing around the fact that Ethan was in town, and that they were dying to watch his new movie.
“I’ll clean up,” Priya said, standing and stacking the plates.
“No, no,” Mumma said, shooing her away. “We’ll handle it. You go, beta.Ja, go do your work.”
Priya suppressed a knowing smile. It was clear her parents were trying to get rid of her. “I was thinking I could show youhow to access Moksha’s website in case you ever want to make changes,” she said to Puppa.
“It can wait, beta,” he replied, herding her toward the door. “I know I keep saying I want to learn, but the truth is I’m too old for all this tech. Your work is more important. Go, beta.” With a firm push, he nudged her out of the apartment.
“See you tomorrow!” Mumma waved as the door clicked shut.
Priya stared at it for a second, then let out a chuckle.This has to be the fastest, most well-coordinated goodbye in Solanki history. No lingering at the door, no warning to mind the stairs, not even an offer to send me off with leftovers.
Before she even made it down the first step, the TV hummed back to life behind her. Priya smiled and started making her way back to the coach house. No matter how much she tried to avoid it, Ethan’s shadow would always stretch over her.
She lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours. Sleep was not happening. Not with him so close. Priya’s entire body was buzzing, every nerve, every fiber on high alert. She curled onto her side, squeezing her eyes shut, but it didn’t stop the ache. She could have been by his side tonight, her fingers tangled in his, their hands locked like they had been made to fit together. Instead, she lay in bed, in an old T-shirt and pajama bottoms, fighting the urge to check her phone. It would be so easy. Just a quick scroll through, a glance at the live stream.
But she wasn’t going to give in.
She couldn’t.
Priya reached for her phone. Just as she was about to unlock it, it buzzed in her hands. She sat up so fast she nearly droppedit. Could it be Ethan? Had he somehow felt the silent pull of her thoughts? She fumbled for her glasses, a foolish hope rising her chest. Until she saw the name on the screen.
“Brooke?” She glanced at the time. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, Pri,” Brooke moaned. “It’s a disaster.”
Priya’s heart dropped. Brooke was supposed to be at TIFF with her father. She had hoped this call meant good news about Harry and Ethan making amends. Instead, the edge in Brooke’s voice set off warning bells. “What happened?”
“He’s being an absolute nightmare, Pri! I’ve never seen him like this.”
“Oh no.” A wave of guilt crashed over Priya. It sounded like Harry had tried to mend things with Ethan, and it had backfired. Had she meddled too much? The thought of their confrontation made her insides clench.
“Can you come get him?” Brooke rushed on. “We booked a car for the night, but I need it to head to the after-party.”
“Drive downtown? Right now? Are you serious?” Priya groaned. “TIFF traffic is a nightmare. Just put him in a cab.”
“Priya, please. He’s traumatized. And I’m trying to avoid a scene.” Brooke’s exasperation crackled through the phone. “I know you hate driving downtown, but I swear this’ll be easy. Just pull up to the side entrance, and we’ll pop right out.”
“But—”
“Texting you the address now.”
“But—”
“You’re the best, babe!”
“Damn it, Brooke.” Priya exhaled. “What exactly happened?”
“What?” Brooke’s voice was muffled under the noise. “Pri, I can’t hear a thing! It’s insane in here. The screening just wrapped, and everyone’s talking at once. Just get here fast, okay? See you soon!”
Pulling a sweatshirt over her head, Priya grabbed her keys and dashed out. The thought of the press getting wind of Harry and Ethan’s fallout at a high-profile event made her stomach churn. But as she sped down the highway, another thought crept in. Was Brooke orchestrating a run-in between her and Ethan?
She glanced at herself in the rearview mirror.Damn it.Brooke could have at least warned her to swipe on some lipstick. She was totally unprepared to see Ethan. Her hair was a disaster, her glasses smudged, and her eyebrows were in dire need of plucking.
Navigating downtown was worse than she had imagined. What should’ve taken just under an hour stretched into nearly two. TIFF had turned the streets into a maze of roadblocks, festival-goers, and flashing cameras. Thankfully, Brooke had picked a secluded pickup spot. Priya finally pulled up to the curb, scanning her surroundings.
A figure emerged from the building, stepping into the dim glow of the streetlamp.
