Roshan leaned into the ribbing and relaxed as much as he could with Nimita still here. Her presence was a constant reminder of his lowest moment, yet he found himself drawn to her, still trying to reconcile the girl he had known with the woman in front of him. He found himself drinking in every smile she threw his way, even if it wasn’t intentional. Unbidden warmth bloomed in him as took in how she seamlessly fit in with their little group.
Good thing he wasn’t looking for a relationship.
Chapter Five
Nimita was waiting next to the car in the hotel’s driveway when the three men appeared the next morning, just after sunrise. The three of them cut a path, for sure, once again, all three oblivious to the heads they turned. Her glance immediately landed on Roshan. He was wearing the nice version of athletic shorts in black, a sweat-wicking T-shirt in blue, and his hair was still damp and curled slightly at the edges. He nodded and laughed along with something Karan was saying. Her stomach jumped as he turned to her and donned his aviators.
Certainly not the boy she had known in high school, for sure.
“Nimita!” Vishal called out, his smile huge and welcoming. “Our trusted guide. Good morning!”
Nimita grinned at him. It was difficult not to, Vishal just showed up…happy. “Good morning!”
“Hey, Nimita. Have a good evening?” Karan asked, giving her a small but earnest smile, which she was coming to understand was his quiet way of giving acceptance.
“Got some sleep for sure,” she said to him, side-eyeing Roshan.
“Nimita.” Roshan nodded at her, his expression blank. He held a to-go cup of coffee out to her.
She hesitated in surprise for just a split second. But it was enough. He noticed.
“It’s not poisoned, I promise.”
She took the coffee. “Thank you.” She sipped it. Perfect. Cream, one sugar. She looked up at him, not knowing whether she was shocked that he had gotten her coffee order correct or that he had even bothered to try.
“We should get going,” Nimita said. “I booked a flight out day after tomorrow, so I’ve packed in everything you’ll want a tour guide for today.” She walked around to the driver side, donning her own sunglasses. She nearly bumped into Roshan coming from the other direction as they both reached for the driver door handle.
“I got this,” he said.
“I’m driving,” she said, making sure that her voice held no room for discussion. “I thought I made that clear on day one.”
“I read that the Road to Hana can be treacherous,” he pointed out.
“Oh, it is. I’ve been many times.” She grinned. “Which is why I’m driving. I have experience.”
He didn’t move. Neither did she. She would vomit if she sat as a passenger on that road. It had happened before, with less than great consequences. But that was not the only reason she wanted to drive. She looked up at him (was he taller than he had been in high school?) and met his gaze. “Trust me. You’ll be fine.”
Roshan did not look like he believed her.
“Ro. Just get in the car,” Vishal said from the back seat.
Roshan huffed, so she knew he wasn’t happy about capitulating even though he would.
He opened the back door to find Karan and Vishal already seated in the back. He glanced at her again and shook his head as he walked around the car and got in the passenger seat.
She grinned at him as she buckled up, and he did the same. “First stop, Paia to grab snacks and lunch.”
“You are a wise woman,” Karan said sagely.
Nimita laughed. She had already figured out that Karan was constantly hungry and that his humor was quiet and understated. “I’ve been told that before.”
It was a short trip to Paia, where they picked up a wide range of snacks and a picnic lunch. They then headed out on the Road to Hana, Nimita still driving, Roshan still giving her the side-eye.
“It really burns you to not have control, doesn’t it?” she said as they made their way to the Twin Falls. “Like the surfing yesterday.”
The three of them had done very well at the end of it. Roshan gained comfort, then he excelled. The three men had spent the afternoon trying to best her, but they had ultimately failed.
“Surfing had nothing to do with having control. And neither does the driving.” Even through the aviators, she could tell he was intent on the road. “I’m fine.” He turned to her. “I just recall that you had a few fender benders in high school.”
