“I don’t know,” Priya admitted. “I think they must have already seen the news.” She groaned, pressing her palms to her face. “And if the press is lurking outside Moksha again, then they definitely know you’re here. Worse, they know exactly what we’ve been up to all night.”
“Well then, you better pick up and reassure them there’s absolutely nothing scandalous happening here.” Lifting the covers, he began to wiggle his way between her legs.
“Ethan!” Priya smacked his arm, trying to hold back a laugh.
He popped his head back up, his grin downright sinful. “Pick up, Pri. Before your mother bursts in here with a rolling pin.”
Priya shot him a warning look, pressing a finger to her lips as she swiped to accept the call. “It’s my sisters,” she said, feeling only slightly relieved. “A coordinated ambush.”
Tucking her hair behind her ear, she tried to sound casual as Deepa and Meghna popped up on-screen. “Hey, guys.”
From beneath the covers, Ethan’s tongue skimmed her stomach. Before she could stop him, he crawled up beside her, shirtless and disheveled.
“Hello.” He grinned into the camera, pulling Priya closer so they were both in the frame.
Deepa made a strangled sound as if she’d just swallowed her gum, while Meghna leaned so far back in her chair she nearly disappeared from frame.
Priyashouldhave been embarrassed that her sisters were getting an unfiltered peek into her personal life, but she wasn’t. Not after kissing him in front of the whole world. So what if Deepa and Meghna saw them tangled up in bed now?
“Hi, Ethan,” Deepa choked out.
“Hey. Hi there.” Meghna cleared her throat. “Uh. Hey, Pri. Sorry for interrupting. We’ll catch up another time, yeah?”
“Leaving so soon?” Priya asked, fighting a grin.
Priya’s sisters nodded in perfect synchronization. Whatever grilling her sisters had prepared vanished the moment Ethan appeared on-screen. They hurried their goodbyes, but not before shooting Priya a look that promised this wasn’t over.
“Well, that was fun,” Ethan said with a smirk, setting her phone aside.
Before she could respond, he ducked under the covers, his lips ghosting over her skin. As Ethan ventured lower, a shiver ran through Priya. Her fingers curled into the fabric beneath her, tension coiling tight and electric beneath her skin.
Thirty-Seven
As evening approached,Priya sat at her desk, trying to power through the work she had ignored all day. The creak of the front door sent a jolt through her, her fingers freezing mid-keystroke.
Ethan was back. A moment later, she felt his warmth behind her, his lips brushing her cheek in a soft kiss. “Ready?”
“Almost.” Saving her work, she turned slightly, eyeing him. “You’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Not a chance.” He dangled a blindfold before her.
“You’re killing me. You know that, right?” Priya grinned, clicking her laptop shut. She could barely sit still, buzzing with curiosity over whatever surprise Ethan had been out planning. “Are you sure I’m okay wearing this?” She gestured toward her sweatshirt and jeans.
“Youdorealize you just made pajama pants the most sought-after look of the year, right?” He slid her glasses back up her nose before tying the blindfold around her eyes. “No peeking.”
Priya expected him to lead her to the car, but instead, he guided her past it. It was warm for September, and although the sun was setting, the air still carried a trace of heat. The familiar crunchof gravel turned into the whisper of grass under her feet. Priya recognized the route they were taking. It led past the tracks to the open field beyond.
“A picnic?” Priya guessed.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Ethan said.
After a few more steps, they stopped.
“Ready?” His voice was right next to her ear, his breath warm on her neck.
As he untied the blindfold, Priya’s eyes adjusted to the soft glow of twilight. The first thing that came into focus was the freight car. A vast sheet of white canvas had been draped over one side, masking the rusted exterior.
“What’s going on?” she asked, looking from Ethan to the transformed space around them. It was as if she had wandered onto the dreamiest film set, a private, cozy screening under the stars. A large rug lay on the ground, with pillows and chairs arranged on top. Marigold and rose petals formed a scattered trail around the edges. The smell of buttery popcorn filled the air. Twinkling lights were strung above them, their glow illuminating trays of drinks and snacks.
