Kanak’s eyes softened. She leaned over and tapped his phone, which was still lying face down on the table. “Whatever or whoever it is, you let me know. Whichever bridge we need to burn, I’m down for it. I’ll bring the matches.”
He grinned up at her. “We ride at dawn.”
Kanak ruffled his hair one last time before walking over to Aakash and grabbing the juice from his hand. He made a squawking noise but didn’t argue.
“Is that a new tattoo?” Karam asked from where he’d been watching the shenanigans.
Kabir started. He’d completely forgotten that he’d wandered downstairs in his tracks and vest. “Umm yeah,” he said, flushing slightly and standing. He picked up his plate and glass. “I’m going to take this and eat outside, get some sun and all that.”
They all turned to look outside at the burning sunlight streaming across the open fields.
“You’ll fry,” Karam said succinctly, cutting off his escape route.
“What’s the tattoo?” Kanak asked, coming closer to peer at his arm. He had a whole sleeve of tattoos that crept over his shoulder and down his chest. He shifted uncomfortably as she peered at his vest trying to get a better look. “I can’t make out.”
Acutely aware of Tani’s gaze on the back of his head, he cleared his throat. “It’s nothing special,” he mumbled, a dull brick red climbing his cheeks.
“I don’t see what the fuss about tattoos are,” Aakash announced from the other end of the kitchen. “Why would you want to mark your skin like that? Permanently at that.”
“They’re sexy,” Karam said mildly. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Karam rolled his eyes, taking a sip of the coffee he’d made. “It means some bodies are art. Yours is…a user manual.”
He pushed away from the counter and walked over to Kabir. “I got this six months back.” He pulled his sleeve up to show Kabir an armband around his bicep.
Kabir hummed in appreciation at the intricately etched design. It was a loop of artistic s’s. The tattoo over his chest burned like a brand. He wished fervently he’d worn a covered t-shirt when he’d woken up this morning. He was starting to sweat now as Karam frowned, wondering at his hesitation to show him his new ink.
Resigned to his fate, Kabir was about to yank his vest off, when a shout went up outside along with the hungry roar of engines. Karam swore under his breath as he stormed out of the room.
“Shit, Reh.” Tani winced. “What’s he done now?”
They all filed out to find out. Kabir used the opportunity to discreetly feed his eggs to a plant that he passed on the way to all the noise. He hoped the poor thing didn’t die.
But it wasn’t Rehan who was stirring up shit outside. Kabir stood beside Tani and watched as Jay and his friends rode up the farm’s avenue. Well, Jay sat pillion and clung on to his friend for dear life, so riding was a term Kabir used a bit loosely with regards to him.
“He’s trying to impress his father-in-law,” Aakash murmured, laughter vibrating through his voice.
“And are you impressed?” Kabir couldn’t help poking the beast, struggling to keep his own amusement from showing.
“He looks like he’s going to throw up,” Karam said, smirking. “I have to be impressed by that, right?”
Tani threw them all an annoyed look. “That’s the man I’m marrying. I’d appreciate it if you would spend more time getting to know him and less time making fun of him.”
She stormed off towards the approaching motorcycle club wannabes leaving the rest to stifle their laughter and follow.
CHAPTER 8
TANISHA
Irritation rodeher as she marched over to where Jay was dismounting on shaky legs and taking his helmet off. His sweaty, thinning hair was plastered to his head and his scalp gleamed through in the bright sunlight. His face was red, shiny and flushed. He looked like a terrified tomato.
The idiot didn’t belong on a bike but he’d done it for her. A rush of affection swam through her. She knew Jay wasn’t perfect but he was trying. Why the hell couldn’t people appreciate the effort he was making to fit in with them? To show him she appreciated it, Tani sped up and threw herself into his arms. Jay staggered back with the sudden weight of her, stumbling into the bike his friend was putting on the stand, and they went down in a glorious tangle.
All four of them, Jay, Tani, his friend, and the poor bike.
Tani was laughing as she tried to pull herself out of the mess. But she sobered quickly at the sight of Jay’s furious, embarrassed face. Shit. He was mad.
