Sadia stroked her belly. “Shoot, I’m just a bartender, but I’ll happily stab an ice pick through your eye.”
So much for the peacemaker.
He didn’t mind, though. He wished he could have had a sibling relationship like this. He was happy Jia had it.Maybe eventually, her siblings could become his. “Understood,” Dev repeated. “I won’t hurt her, I promise.”
“Sweet.” Noor’s smile was chilling as well, but contained a trace of friendliness. “Now, let’s get this wedding on the road, eh?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
DEV HADN’Tplayed the center of attention at a party in... well, ever. Tonight, though, he was smack-dab, literally, in the center of the room, seated with Jia on the low couch. He’d opted for what he had easiest access to and donned a western suit. She wore an icy white shalwar kameez with delicate silver beading and a silver hijab to match. As usual, everything was perfectly color coordinated, from her shoes to her jewelry. He’d used his niece as a small spy and had matched Jia with a white rose boutonniere, tied with a silver ribbon.
The imam was a kind man who had seemed only mildly star struck over Shweta, but had quickly gotten down to business to speak with their elders and go over the marriage contract and impart some words of wisdom to Dev and Jia before the event. Dev had tried to pay attention to every second of the ceremony so he could commit it to memory, but he was so distracted by Jia’s elegant profile and all the warmth inside of him that he could barely focus.
This was what happiness felt like. No, wait, even more specifically: this was what a family felt like. Was that all he’dbeen missing, all those empty aching spots inside him? It hadn’t been a lack of love in him. It had been people to give his affection to. Who could have known.
As the ceremony wrapped up, Dev stiffened. Oh shoot. A ring. They hadn’t discussed whether they’d exchange rings, but he’d wanted to get one for Jia.
Like she’d read his mind, his grandmother nudged him, a blue box in her hand.
He accepted it, grateful. “Thank you.”
She held on to the box a little longer than necessary. “It was your father’s, inherited from your great-grandparents,” she said quietly. “So consider it a gift from him, not me.”
He nodded, touched. “Thank you again, then.” He flipped open the box and nearly choked at what was inside. By Jia’s gasp, he could tell she was shocked too.
“Holy moly, is that rock for my finger or for a mountain?”
“Jia,” her mother hissed and poked her from behind. While Farzana clearly had her reservations about their marriage, she’d gotten into the spirit of things. Her makeup was flawless, and her light blue outfit set off the sapphire earrings in her ears and the bangles on her wrist.
Jia cleared her throat. “Sorry.”
“An understandable reaction,” Dev said. The ring was set in platinum and boasted a clear yellow diamond, surrounded by a dozen smaller diamonds. It was heavy and gaudy, and when he slipped it on Jia’s small finger, it nearly toppled over from its own weight.
“It’s... nice,” she said weakly.
He clasped her cold fingers between his. “We’ll buy yousomething else next week,” he murmured. He’d already planned on a proper engagement ring to make up for the piece of fabric he’d used to propose to her. He’d buy a matched set, as well as a band for him.
There was something about others knowing that he belonged to Jia that quite pleased him.
“Oh, but you gave this to me tonight.”
“It’s a perfectly nice ring,” Noor chimed in, her voice fuzzy from the tablet Farzana was holding.
“We can put this ring on a chain for you to wear and get you something more to your taste.” He readjusted the top-heavy ring. “Deal?”
Jia smiled up at him. “Deal.”
He wanted to drop a kiss on her upturned nose, but married or not, he couldn’t imagine kissing her in front of both their families. He returned her grin, instead.
It was the last second they had to look into each other’s eyes before their families toasted them and they posed for photos. His grandmother oozed satisfaction, and Dev was so happy, he couldn’t even be annoyed that her manipulations had worked. Adil Uncle was still a little muted around his grandmother, but he beamed with pride. Dev had hired a caterer to do the heavy lifting for their celebratory dinner, so his uncle could relax and enjoy his time. He and Mohammad had a love of tennis in common, so they’d quickly become friends.
Arjun, Dev was happy to note, was on his best behavior, charming the elder Ahmeds with stories of Bollywood scandals. When he started in on charming Ayesha, though, Devintervened, pulling him aside. “Watch it,” he murmured to his cousin.
Arjun opened his eyes wide. “I’m just talking to her!”
“Best that be all you do.”
Arjun grumbled. “I wouldn’t dare. Besides, she’s not my type. Do you know if Jia’s friends...?”
