“Naya.” Ravi sagged in relief. He said her name with such desperation, such relief and love, Annika almost teared up.
Naya pressed her lips together. “Ravi.”
Annika could tell her cousin was trying to be cold, but she saw Naya’s lip quiver.
“I’m going. I worked too hard—did what my parents wanted. I’m going.”
Ravi narrowed his eyes and stepped closer. “Duh. Of course you are.”
Naya couldn’t hide the flick of surprise that fled across her face. Annika said nothing, as Ravi and Naya were clearly continuing a conversation that had started earlier. She stepped back into her room, leaving the door open a crack. She peeked out. Naya tightened her expression. “So that’s it?”
“That’s what?”
“Us. That’s it. Because I’m going to the Peace Corps. No matter what. I’m not changing my dreams for a man—it’s hard enough I have to mold them around my parents.”
Annika felt Daniel come up behind her, his body just grazing hers. She turned to face him. His hair was dry, his clothes unchanged.
“You didn’t shower?”
He pressed his lips together. “I did. Before I came here.”
Her heart banged in her chest. “So you heard?”
He nodded. He flicked his gaze to the door.
Ravi’s voice was firm, amusement lacing his words. “Have I asked you not to go?”
“Well, not in so many words, but your parents—” Naya’s voice quivered.
“Have their own opinions. But they don’t run my life. Or yours, for that matter.”
“But you agreed to this setup. You’re a lawyer when you want to be a chef.”
Ravi nodded, though a frown creased his face. “All true. I agreed to the setup because I wanted to meet girls.”
Annika and Daniel smiled at each other.
“I’m a lawyer, so I make good money and I can pursue my dream to be a chef on my own.” He stood directly in front of Naya and tilted her chin up to him. “Or I can join the Peace Corps with the woman I love.”
Daniel smiled at this, and Annika melted.
“You—what?”
“You heard me. I’m going with you.”
“But—”
“But what?”
“That’s crazy.”
“Is it crazy for me to want to be with you while you fulfill your dreams? You told me about the Peace Corps on our first date. I’m not an idiot. Nothing is going to stand in your way. Not me. Certainly not my parents. And it’s not a reason to break up. We’re in this together.”
Relief washed over Annika. Ravi was a good guy.
“I don’t want to come between you and your parents.” Naya’s voice was small. Her resolve was weakening as her feelings for Ravi took over.
“You won’t.”
