Even if Neha’s question hadn’t been hypothetical, and my father had iced me out because he was still feuding with the Laurents, I would’ve chosen Sebastian. I’d overcome enough obstacles to stop doubting myself. Whatever consequences came with that choice, I would’ve figured them out and found a way to land on my feet.
I always did.
Neha issued a small huff. “It’s just like you to pick apart a simple question.”
“It wasn’t that simple.” The question was; the underlying emotions weren’t.
The crease between her brows softened. “I know.” She pursed her lips, her expression hardening again. “I still think your decision to keep your relationship secret was foolish. There were a lot of external factors that worked out in your favor. If they hadn’t, we’d be having a very different conversation right now. But… I understand. Sort of. It’s just not the way I like to do things.”
“That’s because we’re different people,” I said gently. “You’re my sister. I love you, and I know you meant well. But sometimes, I’d appreciate it if youactedlike my sister instead of the parental police. I’m not asking you to commit crimes for me; I’m just asking you to see things from my perspective and trust me to handle things on my own. I would do the same for you.”
A long bout of silence followed.
“Fair enough,” Neha acknowledged. It was the best concession I could hope to get out of her. “I can’t guarantee anything. I am the way that I am, but… I’ll try. Iamglad things worked out for you, Maya—especially because I’ll no longer have to listen to Mom bang on about your love life.”
Laughter built in my throat. “That makes two of us.”
“I’ll leave you two to your celebrations. I need to go home soon anyway. I have an early morning tomorrow.” Neha inclined her head toward Sebastian. “Sebastian.”
“Neha,” he said, his tone neutral. Once she left, he glanced at me with open curiosity. “What answer were you guys talking about?”
“I’ll tell you later,” I said. “We have one more incoming.”
My grandmother beelined toward us, her face alight with glee. She addressed Sebastian first. “Finally,” she said with a dramatic sigh. “I was running out of jewelry to lose.”
Ha! Iknewshe’d been lying about her missing jewelry.
Sebastian grinned. “I doubt that, Mrs. Gupta,” he said easily. “You have the best jewelry collection in the country.”
She cackled. “I do, don’t I?” She patted me on the cheek, her eyes softening. “I told you, beti. It’s not always about new people and places. Sometimes, it’s about new perspectives.”
I smiled at the reminder of our post-birthday conversation. “How long have you known?”
“That you and Sebastian would eventually end up together?” She snorted. “Since you created that creepy voodoo doll of him. You don’t spend that much time thinking about someone unless you’re obsessed. Trust me. I was the same way with your grandfather before I married the idiot.”
My grandparents had been happily married for decades before my grandfather died of a heart attack three years ago. She didn’t say it, but I knew how much my grandmother missed him.
Diya called her away soon after. Once she was gone, Sebastian slid a side glance at me. “What’s this voodoo doll everyone keeps talking about?”
Heat crawled across my face and neck. “It’s not important.”
“Was it anatomically correct? Because I’d be offended if you made an ugly voodoo doll of me.”
“It was anatomically correct…andit was ugly.” I let out a squeal of laughter when he grabbed me and hauled me to him.
“You’ll pay for that later,” he growled.
“Is that a promise or a warning?”
“Don’t push me, Maya, or I’ll haul you into the kitchen and fuck you right on the counter where everyone can hear.”
Delicious heat pooled between my thighs. “A promise, then.”
Sebastian’s eyes darkened. I wasdefinitelygoing to pay for teasing him in public later.
The perfect end to the perfect night.
I couldn’t wait.
