‘At least your ex isn’t working with you this summer,’ I say, glaring daggers at the two of them.
‘We said we were sorry.’ Lipi looks down at her hands.
‘I know.’ I’m not totally over my friends hiding this from me, but I’m slowly moving towards accepting it. ‘But it doesn’t make him being there suck any less.’
Lipi shoots me a sad smile. ‘How has it been?’
‘Awful. Horrible. Terrible. If I can think of any more synonyms, I’ll let you know.’ I shake my head, thinking back to how excruciating and confusing his behaviour has been. ‘I just don’t get why he had to work at Eternally Yours of all places.’
‘So you’re no closer to being best buds again?’ Shirin asks.
I snort. ‘Hard pass. I think it will take hell freezing over before Salman and I are ever friends again.’
‘Well, this is going to be awkward then.’
I’m about to ask what she means when I hear a familiar voice.‘Giving up the bet already?’
I look over my shoulder to see Salman with a smug expression on his face, walking over with Amit and Raju in matching white polo shirts and shorts.
‘I thought it was just going to be the three of us?’ I hiss at Shirin and Lipi.
‘I thought so too,’ Lipi says with a swallow. ‘But Amit texted me to ask me what I was doing, and I told him I was going to the courts with you two. I didn’t think that meant he was going to turn up, so I don’t understand why he’s here – and with Salman of all people.’
My grip on the racquet grows stronger, the handle digging into the palm of my hand as the boys come closer.
‘You’d better give him a proper telling-off, Lipz,’ Shirin says. ‘This is not OK. Unless he’s had sudden memory loss and forgotten all about their history, that is.’
‘Nope, not that I’m aware of. Shit, I’m so sorry, Poppy.’
Even though I know this isn’t Lipi’s fault and that she’s feeling guilty, I can’t think about her right now. Instead, all I can think about is how Salman is ruining my dayagain.
‘Ugh!’ I shout and throw my racquet in the air in frustration, but Lipi manages to catch it before it hits the ground.
‘OK, this isn’t great,’ Shirin says, holding herself and Lipi back from me like I’m a rabid animal. ‘But maybe this is an opportunity.’
‘An opportunity for what?’ I seethe.
‘I don’t know. I was hoping the answer would come to me as I said it, but really it’s all blank in my brain,’ Shirin says. Under normal circumstances we would have had a laugh about how Shirin often speaks before she thinks, but right now all I can see is the rage clouding my vision. ‘Look, I know it’s shitty, but you’re already working with the guy, so what’s a game of pickleball?’
I huff out a breath. She’s right. I’m over the shock of seeing him now we’re working in the same office. Plus, it’s been six months since our break-up and we were only together for a year so, according to the equation I found online about how long it takes to get over a person, I should be over him already.
Though I never was good at maths, so maybe I messed that one up.
‘I’m just saying,’ Shirin continues, treading carefully, ‘it’s been long enough since the break-up. You guys might be able to hang out now.’
‘Pain doesn’t have a finite end date,’ Lipi tells Shirin. ‘I think you’re oversimplifying the concept of heartbreak.’
‘I thinkyou’reoversimplifying the concept of heartbreak,’ Shirin rebuts, mimicking Lipi’s voice in argument.
‘Are you guys just going to stand around all day or are you actually going to play?’ Amit shouts as he nears the net. ‘I’d like some decent competition, so if you’re not going to be it, get off the court.’
‘Was there a 3 for 2 sale in the juniors department?’ Shirin hollers at them with a cackle as she gestures at their matching outfits.
‘Hey!’ Amit exclaims. ‘I’ll have you know I’m now shopping in the big boys section.’
Amit has always been a short king. Even during puberty, he hasn’t had the growth spurt most boys get, and I don’t think he will now.
‘No, you’re not. Auntie just tells you that to make you feel better,’ Lipi adds, which immediately makes Amit’s face drop. Shirin can’t stop pointing and laughing at him.
