“Good, it is settled.”
“I can’t believe you’re here,” Luna said happily.
“I couldn’t possibly not come when I heard your uncle met someone.”
Luna’s face turned inscrutable. She gave her grandmother a squeeze and stepped back, simultaneously sidestepping the mention of Jia. “Can we see the rest of the house? Can we go on the beach? Can we get a horse and ride on the beach?”
Shweta raised a groomed eyebrow. “You want a horse? I will buy one right—”
“We’ve already made arrangements for horse riding,” Dev exaggerated. He had to have a talk with his niece about asking for things from her great-grandmother. It took Shweta seconds to snap her fingers and buy something extravagant.
Thankfully, Shweta conceded. “A walk is good enough for now. Pinky, will you watch the stove? And have Arjun show Dev and Adil to their rooms.”
Dev froze mid-step. “Arjun is here?” he demanded.
There was probably a little too much aggression in his tone, judging by Luna’s sideways glance, but Shweta only shrugged. “Yes, I insisted he come with me. Why?”
“No reason. Do you know where my cousin is, Pinky?”
“Upstairs, fourth door on the left.”
“Perfect.” Dev was probably showing too many teeth for a plain old smile. “I’ll go say hello to him.”
“I should come with you,” his uncle said, his forehead creased in worry.
Oh no. He didn’t want any witnesses. “Nonsense, I know you’ll want a nice cup of chai first, won’t you?”
His grandmother straightened. “Of course, I cannot believe I did not offer you one. Pinky?”
Adil gave Dev a subtle glare at the neat trap. His uncle wouldn’t dream of insulting his host by declining the drink now.
Dev took the stairs two at a time.Don’t hit Arjun until you find out whether he’s guilty. Or he’ll be too bloody to talk.
He shoved the bedroom door open. His cousin whirled around from the mirror he was primping in front of. He was a handsome man, a more refined and elegant version of Rohan, but dressed far more garishly than his brother would have ever dared, in a blindingly hideous orange and green plaid shirt and green pants. Arjun held up his hand, which was, Dev was happy to note, shaking. “Hello, Bhai.”
“I’m not your brother,” Dev said flatly, and Arjun’s face fell.
Still, he rallied. “It’s so good to see you.”
“Is it?” Dev shut the door.
“I know you’re mad.”
“You have no idea what mad is.” He stalked Rohan, until his younger cousin was cornered. “I am beyond mad. I left mad behind a long time ago. Explain yourself.”
Arjun frowned. “I—”
Dev grabbed him and put him in a headlock before he could get another word out. Arjun flailed as Dev dragged him over to the open window and shoved him out of it. “What are you doing?” Arjun yelled.
“Did you catfish that poor girl with my account and then release those texts?” Dev demanded. “I want a clear yes or no.” This wasn’t what he’d intended by making sure his cousin was guilty, but it was effective. At least this room didn’t face the beach, so Luna wasn’t likely to see one of her uncles about to throw the other one out the window.
“I don’t know what you’re— Ah! Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes to the catfishing, but no to the texts! My phone really was hacked, along with a bazillion other celebrities! Didn’t you see the nudes of me?”
Dev evaluated the words, paying attention to the nuances of his cousin’s voice. It sounded like he was uttering the truth. “If I saw nudes of you, I’d be blind.” He yanked Arjun back inside.
Arjun straightened his shirt while glaring at Dev. “You rude son of— Oof.” He flinched when Dev punched him in the stomach. “Why,” he gasped. “I already told you.”
“Because you did a tremendously hideous thing,” Dev said calmly. “And you will apologize to me, and if she wishes to see your ugly face, Jia as well. Both for the catfishing and the texts.”
