Malini was talking. “Okay, Bhaiya?”
“Um…what?”
“Are you listening to me? You seem off. I think you met a girl.”
“How are Mom and Dad?”
“How would I know?” Malini squeaked. She only squeaked when she was defensive.
“Because they call you all the time, and they’re actually leaving me be on vacation for once.” He allowed the big brother into his voice.
“Right. They’re still on vacation in Europe. I told them to stop calling me till they’re back home.”
“Bet they didn’t like that.”
“Ugh! I am a grown woman, and you and I share a townhome,” she snapped.
“Yes. But you’re there. Alone.” Panic flooded through him as any number of disastrous outcomes flashed through his brain.
“Roshan Dave. I am twenty-six years old, I have a job and friends. I can stay home alone for a week,” she lectured him.
“All I’m saying is that things can happen.”
“And all I’m saying is that while things might happen, I am going to live my life anyway.”
Roshan closed his eyes. His sister simply refused to understand that she was still sick. He had been calm; now he was unsettled. She just did not take her health as seriously as he did. She had no idea what it had been like when she was a child, how his parents worried about her.
“I’m fine,” she snapped at him. “Maybe if you’d let me keep—”
“Nope.”
She sighed. “Go hang with your girl, Bhaiya.”
“There is no girl.”
“Well, there should be.” She paused. “Love you even though you’re a pain.”
“Love you, too,” he said softly. Whatever their arguments, he loved her fiercely. He ended the call and stood alone for a moment to gather himself.
He turned back and found Nimita still at the table, sipping a glass of wine and staring up into the night sky. He had thought she might take off for bed.
She was lit by the candle on the table and the moon. She had taken her hair down from the ponytail she’d had it tied in all day, and it lay silhouetted in dark waves down her back. She was…stunning.
He had always been taken by her intellect, but clearly, he had not been paying enough attention to her in high school. Chalk it up to the many mistakes he’d made growing up. Butterflies entered his stomach, completely unbidden. Now? He was nervous now? He had spent the past few days with her, andnowhe was unsure of himself?
That was new.
He walked toward her and placed his phone on the table. “My sister has a new book for us.” He sat down across from her. Their knees touched. He liked it. Honestly, it was like he was twelve years old, reacting to a girl like this. Knees!
“I thought you took turns picking.”
“We do, but…anyway, it’s a popular romantasy and should be at the hotel gift shop.The Court of Ember and Starlight.”
Her eyes lit up. “There’s a bookstore down the road,” she offered.
“It’s a date.” Her gaze flicked to his at the word. But he wasn’t taking it back. “We can see how you’re healing and walk over in the morning, if you’re up for it. If not, I’ll run down and get us two copies.”
“What makes you think I want to read it?”
