But she wasn’t just home—she was changed out of her scrubs into sweats and an oversized T-shirt and sitting on the couch with a can of Pringles in one hand and a mug of hot chocolate in the other. The moment we walked through the door, her head snapped up like a starving lion spotting an injured gazelle.
“Oh, my,” she said, her eyes going wide. “You brought a boy home.”
“Just for a minute,” I said. “We’re not—”
But it was too late.
Priya was already up, setting down her Pringles and mug with deliberate precision, and crossing the room with the kind of purposeful stride that made me want to block the doorway.
“You are Chase, right?” she said, extending her hand.
“Yes. Hi. You must be Priya.” Chase shook her hand, smiling. “Finn’s told me a lot about you.”
“All good things, I hope.” She was still holding his hand, studying him with that intense doctor gaze that could diagnose a tumor from across the room. “Come and sit. I insist.”
“Priya—” I started.
But she refused to release his hand and was dragging him toward the couch like a tugboat guiding a vessel into harbor. Chase shot me a panicked look as Priya planted him on the couch next to where she’d been sitting.
I groaned.
This was happening.
I closed the door and stood there, watching the beautiful disaster unfold before me.
“So,” Priya said, plopping down next to Chase with her legs tucked under her. She snatched up her mug and Pringles can, popping a chip into her mouth before asking, “You’re a lawyer?”
“Family law,” Chase confirmed. “At Morrison & Morrison.”
“And you met Finn when he ran into you on the sidewalk.”
“Technically, I ran into him.” Chase’s almost-shy grin made my toes curl.
“Hmm.” Priya took a sip, her eyes never leaving Chase’s face. “And now you’re dating my best friend.”
“We went onadate, but I hope there’ll be more.”
“You hope?” Her eyebrows shot up. “You are not sure?”
“I’m sure Iwantto go out again, but doesn’t he have to want the same thing?”
Priya’s expression softened as she crunched another chip. “Good answer.”
I moved to the armchair across from them, resigned to my fate. There was no stopping Priya when she was in interrogation mode. I might as well settle in and watch.
“So, Chase,” Priya continued. “What are your intentions with Finn?”
“Oh my God,” I muttered, covering my face with my hands. “Priya, please.”
“What? It is a valid question.”
Chase, to his credit, didn’t even flinch. “My intentions are to take him on more dates, get to know him better, make him happy if he’ll let me.”
Well, now. I liked that answer. Maybe Priya needed to keep going here.
“And you’re not one of those guys who’s just looking for something casual?”
“I don’t do casual. I mean, I’ve done it before, but that’s not what this is.” Chase glanced at me, then back to Priya. “I like Finn. More than I probably should at this point. If this is casual for him, that’shis call, but it’s not for me.”
