“Everything okay, Daniel?” Sajan was genuinely concerned. He stepped closer. “Need anything?”
“What is going on?” Annika’s father called out. He had remained a respectful distance away, presumably allowing Daniel some privacy.
Sajan turned to Mr. Mehta. “Uncle, this is where—”
“Nothing!” Daniel interrupted Sajan, staring the other man in the eye. “Nothing is going on.” He wouldn’t have his story blurted out in front of Annika’s father for the sake of an excuse, or—God forbid—sympathy.
For his part, Sajan stopped talking, but he appeared supremely confused. He nodded at Daniel; he wouldn’t tell his secret. But his face went blank when he saw Annika’s hand on Daniel’s arm. It was an intimate gesture, no doubt about it.
Sajan looked up at Daniel, a look on his face that Daniel had never seen in the good doctor. Anger? Jealousy? No need for him to worry. Daniel’s heart felt like lead as the realization hit him. He’d be gone soon enough. There was no way Annika would keep him now. He’d never measure up, and she would always wonder if she wouldn’t have been better off with Sajan.
Today was proof.
Annika’s father stepped closer to Daniel. “Are you ill?” He said it with such genuine concern that Daniel almost didn’t recognize the older man’s voice. “Is that why you didn’t come in?”
Mr. Mehta turned to Sajan. “Does he look pale to you?”
Sajan nodded. “Yes, Uncle, he does.” Sajan met Daniel’s eyes again, but this time with sadness. “But I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’m sure Annika will see to that.” He turned his gaze to her.
She looked him in the eye. “Sajan, I meant to—”
“Don’t.” He smiled sadly again, raking his eyes over her hand on Daniel’s arm, over the scant distance between them. “Not necessary. We were never even dating.” He turned toward Mr. Mehta. “Come, Uncle, I’ll walk you to your car.”
Annika’s father pressed his lips together and shook his head in disappointment at Annika before turning and following Sajan.
Daniel watched the two men retreat, his body tense. Annika had just chosen him over Sajan in front of her dad. She squeezed his arm.
“I picked you long before today. Don’t be so surprised.”
He looked down at her. Was she reading his mind?
She smiled. “And don’t worry.” She tilted her head toward the building. “I’m sure there will come a time when you will be able to go in there. It’s just not today.” She shrugged. “And that’s okay.”
He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t imagine what he had done to deserve this incredible woman. “Can we get out of here?”
“Sure,” she said as she got onto his bike and grabbed his helmet. “Anywhere you want to go.”
DESPITEALLTHEDRAMA, Ravi and Naya were back together. Having dinner together was Annika’s idea, and Ravi had instantly agreed, inviting the three of them to his place. She figured that once Naya got to know Daniel, she would understand that he was not the rebound guy. Daniel himself was not so sure. He also suspected Annika wanted Naya to like him so she’d have another ally in the family.
“Relax. It’ll be fine,” Annika reassured a fidgety Daniel as they rode the elevator up to Ravi’s apartment. “It’s Naya and Ravi, not my dad.”
“Honestly, I like my chances with your dad better. Naya is scary.”
Annika waved a hand. “She’s all bark. No real bite.”
The building was one of the nicest in the city. Apparently, Ravi worked for a successful firm and did quite well for himself. Daniel took a deep breath when Annika knocked on the door. She squeezed his hand and he relaxed a bit.
Naya answered the door, giving her cousin a huge hug. She nodded at Daniel, acknowledging his existence with a simple hello.
Okay, so it was going to be one of those kinds of evenings.
“Something smells amazing!” Daniel said by way of greeting. Ugh. Mental face palm. Clearly he wasn’t going to win anyone over with his conversational ability.
“That would be the dinner that Ravi cooked for us.” Naya smiled proudly as the man in question came to greet them at the door, wearing an apron over jeans and a black T-shirt.
“Hey, man. Good to see you again.” Ravi extended his hand to Daniel, his smile warm and welcoming.
Daniel shook his hand. “You, too.”
