“You might not have made a bad flight attendant, either.” Nimita smirked at him.
He stared at her.
“Okay. What’s happening here?” Nimita narrowed her eyes at him.
He just watched her. Her hair was in a ponytail, and she had on a T-shirt and shorts. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was beautiful like a plush blanket on a cool night, like a sunset over water, and she took his breath away. She was eyeing him with apprehension. He was going to have to be honest. Vulnerable. Real.
“I’m nervous.”
“Why?” She quirked a half smile.
“Because…because I’ve missed you since you left. No, that’s not it, I haveachedfor you. I regretted letting you believe that all I wanted was a fling. I never wanted a fling with you. I knew I wanted you that first night when you kicked the crap out of me, the second the lights came on, and I saw you standing over me. I fell for you, Nimi. Hard. And I didn’t even realize it until you were gone. All I could think of when I saw that picture was that I was being given another chance to be with you, and now you’re here and part of me wants to carry you to my bed and show you how much I… Well. And the other part is worried that I made a huge mistake finding you again. That you don’t feel the same way.”
She got off the stool and came around to the kitchen and took his hand. She led him to the sofa.
He sat down. “Say something.”
“How much you what?” she asked, prompting him to continue.
He sighed. He was all in. “How much…you challenge me. How much I can’t stop thinking about you. How much you get into every part of me.” He sighed, his eyes resting on her, willing her to believe his words. He whispered, “How much I’m starting to fall for you.” He tensed, waiting to see if she would run.
She did not.
“I picked up my phone ten times a day to text you. I wanted to share my day with you. All the boring and exciting details.” She straddled him and brought her mouth close to his. “I missed you so much, it hurt.” She kissed him. “I’m starting to fall for you, too.”
He brought his arms up and around her to pull her closer as he kissed her back. This was right. This was where he belonged.
“What in the ever loving hell is happening here?” Malini’s voice shook through the space, garnering a whine from Finn as Nimita jumped off of Roshan.
“Malini,” he said, trying to catch his breath and focus on his sister. “You’re home.”
“Apparently, so are you,” she said as she abandoned her bags at the door and walked into the house. “What…?” She narrowed her eyes. “Nimita?”
“Hey, Mali,” Nimita said softly.
Suddenly, Malini’s eyes flashed wide open. “No. Ew. No. Tell me you weren’t in Hawaii, that this isn’t thehot guyfrom the beach.”
Roshan groaned and snapped his head to Nimita. “You told her?”
“I toldmy friendabout a guy,” Nimita said. “I didn’t know she was your sister.” She looked at Malini. “I didn’t know you had a brother. How would I know that? You said you lived with a roommate!”
“It sounds a little more mature when I meet new people than saying ‘my brother.’ My brother who is yourvacation guy.” Malini put her hands out and closed her eyes. “I know too much.” She made a gagging noise.
Roshan took Nimita’s hand. “You told a friend about me?” She had been thinking about him, too. Maybe he was a little giddy hearing that.
Nimita shook her head at him and rolled her eyes. “Don’t get too excited, but yes.”
“Oh. Ugh. Stop,” Malini said. But she was smiling. “Do I get a hug, Bhaiya?”
Roshan grinned. “Of course.” And then, “You said I was yourroommate?” He stood and wrapped his sister in a bear hug.
She whispered in his ear. “I really like her, don’t screw this up.”
Malini hung out for a bit, but she was on her way to brunch with her work friends. She pulled out the Sunday paper and left it on the counter. “Your paper, Bhaiya.” Malini left with promises to call Nimita later and to have dinner with her brother.
“So,” Nimita said, wandering over to join him at the breakfast bar. “Why did you hire a dog sitter? I’m sure Neha appreciated the work, but Mali’s perfectly capable of taking care of Finn.”
“It’s complicated,” Roshan said.
