“I just— Look, it’s fine. You don’t have to explain. I just want my phone, and I’ll leave.”
He folded his arms, muscles flexing unnecessarily. “And what made your overthinking genius brain conclude that I don’t want you inyour brother’shouse?”
“I don’t want to talk about it. Just give me my phone.”
“It’s cute how you think I’ll just hand it over.”
I pointed at it—still hostage in his hand. “It’sright there.”
“I have to ask,” he said casually, like we were discussing weather and not hijacked privacy. “Is your emergency call to Myra? Because she’s been trying. A lot. You should call her back. She can’t sleep because of your ‘boyfriend.’”
“What? She knows I don’tdoboyfriends!”
He smirked. “She seems to think yournonexistentboyfriend has abs worthy of a literary tribute.”
“Wait. Did youreadmy texts? That’s an invasion of privacy!”
“I had no choice,” he shrugged, unbothered.
“You arenotsupposed to read private messages on a stranger’s phone!”
“Well, after ignoring her 75th call, I figured someone might’ve died. So yes, I peeked.”
“Ugh. What did she say? Is she okay? Engaged? Married?”
“She said a lot. Including a potential eulogy if you didn’t text back. And by the way, Myra and I are friends now. You might want to stop badmouthing her.”
I groaned. “You don’t want to be her friend. She once live-tweeted my food poisoning. With emojis.”
“Are you jealous?”
“Give. Me. My. Phone.”
He finally held it out. I snatched it like a feral squirrel.
But just as Istepped away—
“Oh, and you might want to put a passcode on your phone,” Manav called after me, voice quieter now. “If you don’t want people reading messages from… Vihaan.”
Vihaan.
The name stopped in my throat.
I turned slowly, feet heavy, heart heavier. “What did you just say?”
He exhaled, more serious now. “I didn’t read the messages. Too many. But he called. A lot. Sounded drunk. And sorry.”
My chest tightened.
“You might want to talk to him,” he added gently.
“No. I shouldn’t.”
But the words didn’t sound as sure as they needed to.
He stepped forward. “Are you okay?”
I swallowed hard. “I… I should go.”
