“I tried. But Iwasdifferent, and I loved being Indian. I loved garba and being able to speak two languages. It took me a while, but I found a balance.” But now that she had some distance, she saw how she’d hidden the Indian side of her from Steven. More reason she was better off without him. “Although sometimes, I have the issue of people looking at me and seeing only the Indian part of me.” She rolled her eyes. “Shocked that I’m not a doctor or a lawyer. Kind of the opposite of you.”
Daniel glanced at her and smiled that smile that she swore was just for her. “You have to get to know us.”
Annika’s heart swelled as she realized that she and Daniel understood each other on a level that she could not even verbalize. They weren’t the same. But the bond still formed.
“Your family is great. And I loved meeting Ba.” Annika bit her lip and turned to face him. “Thanks for introducing me.”
Daniel glanced at her, a smile on his lips. “I wanted them to meet you.” He turned back to the road. He had insisted on driving home. “Sorry we had to leave early. It’s just that Sheila, my ex, really doesn’t ever ask to see me unless it’s important.”
“So you’re still friends?” Annika did her best to keep her voice light and breezy, like this was a casual question whose answer had no bearing on her whatsoever. Wait. It was a casual question.
“It’s complicated.” Daniel sighed. “We’ve been divorced for three years, but we parted on civil terms. She remarried a year ago.” He shrugged. “We wanted different things.”
“What different things?” Maybe not so light and breezy anymore, but she wanted to know.
The air between them turned electric with tension. He remained silent for so long that Annika was sure he wouldn’t answer her, and her heart sank. She stared at the road ahead and was about to tell him to never mind, forget the whole thing, when he said her name. He glanced at her quickly and then back at the road.
“She wanted children.”
“And you didn’t?”
“No.” He sighed heavily.
The next obvious question was, did he not want children, period? Or did he just not want children with his ex? But Annika wasn’t ready to ask that of him. They weren’t even dating. They were...what? They just got done tellinghisfamily they were friends, andherfamily, aside from Nilay, didn’t really know he was part of her life. No: two kisses, no matter how amazing, did not warrant the “Do you want to have kids one day?” question. She held her tongue.
A voice that sounded like her father harrumphed in the back of her mind. She ignored it.
They drove for a bit in silence.
“I guess we both have kind of tough fathers, huh?” Annika was curious.
Daniel shook his head. “To say the least.”
“My dad just thinks I keep making the wrong decisions in my life. Teacher versus med school. Steven versus... I don’t know.” She had almost said Sajan. “Not Steven, I guess. What’s your dad all bent out of shape about?”
Daniel’s knuckles went white and his eyes went blank.
“Nothing. Just father-son bullshit.” Daniel’s voice was thick with emotion. “I’ll just never be the man he wants me to be.”
“Well, what does—”
“Don’t worry about it, Annika.” He cut her off as he pulled up in front of her building. “It’s a lost cause.” He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. “I’m sorry. It’s just...me and my dad...basically, he doesn’t agree with how I live my life.”
His face was closed to her, and she knew when a conversation was over. “I get it.” She smiled. “Parents are...complicated.”
Daniel offered more questions than answers. Her parents’ imminent disapproval rang in her ears. Her attraction to Daniel aside, it didn’t really make any sense for her to get more involved with him with all these unanswered mysteries surrounding him. It was as if she was being given fair warning about trouble ahead.
They got out of the car, and he tossed back her keys and got his helmet from the back seat.
“Thanks for driving back,” she said as she started toward her building. He followed. “I thought you were going to see your ex.” She nodded toward his bike.
“Well, yeah. But I’m walking you to your door.”
Annika almost laughed, but he was totally serious. “Not necessary. I’ll be fine.”
He shrugged. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
Resigned, but in no hurry for her time with Daniel to end, she continued toward the building. She unlocked the door, and Daniel held it as he followed her in. When she turned to say goodbye, he grinned. “Youractualdoor.”
