She nodded. The hurt wasn’t fresh. She was no longer eighteen years old. She’d been through a lot since their last encounter. Likely, he had, too. “Better late than never, I suppose.”
He looked at her, his brown eyes soft and vulnerable. She had known him for a couple years in high school and a few days now, yet she knew that look did not appear often. He didn’t let just anyone see that degree of vulnerability and hope.
“Don’t get all excited. I haven’t decided if you get a second chance.” She tried to make her voice as unemotional as possible, given the way he was looking at her. She knew she failed.
“But you’re thinking about it.” He raised his eyebrows at her.
She looked at him and then raised her hand and waved. “Vishal, Karan.” They were at Roshan’s side in an instant. She smirked at them. “Roshan needs to be in the water.”
Before Roshan could blink, his friends had lifted him up and carried him into the ocean.
Nimita chuckled to herself and walked back to the car. “I’m thinking about it.”
Chapter Six
Roshan was soaked through. It wasn’t that big of deal, as it was hot, and he was in his bathing trunks. He was simply surprised, maybe even impressed, that Nimita had been able to get Vishal and Karan to do her bidding.
Apologizing to Nimita had been cathartic. Forgiveness would be a bonus, but the apology was what had been required; he’d needed to take responsibility for his own actions. In the process, he hoped that she got some closure on a bad situation.
He dried off and got in the passenger seat of the car. Nimita spared him a glance as Vishal and Karan climbed into the back, still laughing.
They reached Hana, a remote and tranquil town. Many called it the “real Hawaii.” A quick vote and they were headed past Hana toward Hamoa Beach.
She kept flicking her eyes toward him. Already, she seemed more relaxed around him.
“Why do you keep looking at me?” he asked.
“I’m not looking at you.”
“It certainly seems like you are.”
She rolled her eyes. “Side mirrors, again. I’m not a teenage girl trying to get a look at a handsome guy.”
“So you think I’m handsome?” He grinned at her. The fact that she might be attracted to him was…attractive.
“Youthink you’re handsome. That is more than enough.” She shot a smirk at him but kept her attention on the road, making a tight turn as another car came around the bend. She was calm and cool, but Roshan’s heart was thudding in his throat at the closeness of the car, not to mention her smirk.
“Just answer the question,” he said, forcing his voice to be calm.
She glanced at him and chuckled as she passed her gaze over his hand which was currently white-knuckled against the dashboard. “Well, handsome isn’t everything,” she said quite calmly, but he saw the flush rise into her cheeks. She was flustered. Somehow that felt like a win for him.
She turned her focus back to the road. She didn’t have to admit anything, but a flustered Nimita was downright beautiful.
She effortlessly slowed the car as another driver appeared from nowhere, nearly sideswiping them as it passed. She was calm, cool, collected. It was as if she drove the Road to Hana every day. In spite of himself, he kept being impressed by her.
That was dangerous.
“How many times have you driven this road?”
“Counting today?” She pursed her mouth, and she continued to navigate the curvy road and all the traffic. “Once.”
“What?” he barked out. He hadn’t meant to do so, butwhat?He wasn’t sure if he was terrified or further impressed. Maybe a little bit of both. “You said you’d done it many times!”
“I said I’d been on the road many times. I’ve been on tours here. So I know what the roads look like and where to go—”
“You said you had experience—”
“As a passenger on a tour,” she said it like this was obvious, as opposed to her actually withholding information.
