Dev quickly placed his phone facedown on the counter. “Nobody. Do you mind staying home with Adil Uncle tonight?” He’d have to tell his uncle, but the older man would believe him if he said he was only checking in with Jia to ensure she was okay after his cousin’s meddling.
“You have work or something?”
“I’m meeting a friend.”
Luna slurped the last of her smoothie. “Is it the same friend you met on Friday?”
“Yes.” He hesitated. If Jia was coming here, she might run into Luna, and in that case... it simply didn’t feel right to lie to Luna outright. “Her name is Jia Ahmed.”
A blink was Luna’s first response. She slowly lowered her glass. “Jia Ahmed’s your friend?”
“Yes.” Wasfriendthe right word? Was there a right word foracquaintance you met because your brother and cousin catfished her? Orwoman whose YouTube videos I cannot stop consuming?
He’d felt silly, but he’d picked up a toner and an essence on her recommendation while he was out on Saturday and carefully followed along with her when she dabbed them into her skin. He didn’t think they’d done anything, but he’d give it a few more days.
“Jia Ahmed. The model.”
“Do you know her?”
Luna shoved a curl out of her eyes. “Uh, yeah. I know her. Why doyouknow her? She’s cool. And you’re old.”
He drew himself up in mock outrage. He might be a few yearsolderthan Jia, but that did not mean he was old. “I beg your pardon, madam. I will have you know that I am very lit.”
“Oh my God, don’t use that word, please.” His niece glanced around, like the American police were huddled below their table.
Dev was happy there was a shadow of a smile on Luna’s lips, though. He’d never indulged his silly side with anyoneelse. Perhaps he should have brought it out more for his younger brother.
He shoved away the pinch of hurt. “It will be difficult, but I will try. To answer your question, we are collaborating on a project together.”
“Huh.” Luna placed her glass down. “Okay.”
He cocked his head at the lukewarm response. If Luna thought Jia was cool—so much cooler than him—she should be more excited at the thought of her being his friend, yes? “You may get to meet her tonight.”
“I can?” Luna raised her eyebrows. “I wasn’t allowed to meet anyone famous Daddy knew.”
“What? No actors or actresses? No singers?” Rohan had had more interesting contacts than Dev did, given his proximity to films instead of TV.
“No.”
That was absurd. Dev had only lived in his grandparents’ home for a few years, but famous people had always been parading through, paying their respects or currying some sort of favor. Granted, Rohan had lived separately, but how had he built such a bubble around his daughter? Had he been neglecting her or protecting her by keeping her out of his public life?
Perhaps if Dev hadn’t tried to separate himself from everything Dixit, he might know the answer to that. “I’ll ask her. She’s coming here first, so I’m sure it would be fine. Are you ready to head out?”
Luna glanced down at her outfit. “My new clothes haven’tcome yet. Do you think I look okay?”
Since she’d done him the honor of asking his opinion, he surveyed her black jeans and gray shirt with the kind of grave consideration one might give to a runway model. “I think you look lovely.” The shirt dipped off her shoulder, and he did want to smooth it back into place, but he’d read an article about not policing teen women’s bodies.
She rolled her eyes and drained her smoothie. “You’d say that no matter what I wore.”
He busied himself with the dish towel. He was glad she thought so. It meant she was secure in his love, yes? Maybe, just maybe, he was doing a decent job fumbling through this parenting thing.
“That is true,” he agreed. “But you also look lovely. Now fetch your backpack. Let’s get you to school.”
DO YOU MINDmeeting my niece tonight? She tells me you are much cooler and younger than me.
Jia quickly typed back.I’d love to. Also, I am.
She was so distracted by proper Dev sending her a cry laughing emoji in return that she rammed right into a big mass of a man. “Whoa there.” Large hands went around her shoulders and he steadied her.
