Page 105 of Since You Stole My Heart

‘Yes.’

Swayam held her gaze a moment longer, then pulled away. ‘I see,’ he murmured, looking away.

The small gap between them felt like a cold chasm.

Kashvi cleared her throat and reached for her purse. ‘So yeah, you should totally go tomorrow. And please don’t let Luv pick your outfit. You’ll end up wearing something ridiculous, like a neon kurta.’

Her attempt at humour lingered awkwardly when Swayam didn’t respond.

She adjusted the strap of her bag, desperate to get out of the suffocating space in the car, when he said, ‘You’re coming with us tomorrow.’

Kashvi froze, her hand on the handle, and turned to him. ‘What?’

Swayam gave a firm nod. ‘Not just that, you’ll be the one who picks what I wear.’

She stammered, ‘I… I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t—’

He didn’t let her finish. ‘I want my friend to be there. You’re the one who thinks this girl might be the one for me. Then it’s your responsibility to get me ready for her.’

Her fingers trembled against her knees as she searched for a way out of his trap.

‘Or,’ he said, dragging out the word to get her attention. ‘Or are you finally willing to admit that this whole thing is ridiculous and go upstairs… to our home?’

There was no way out. He’d made sure of it. ‘Fine. I’ll be there.’

The hope in his eyes dissolved, replaced by resignation. Swayam leaned closer, closing the distance, his hand rising to cup her jaw. Her pulse thudded unevenly in her ears when his gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

For a moment, Kashvi thought he might kiss her, and her fingers twitched with the need to hold onto him.

Instead, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and whispered, ‘Be on time.’

Then Swayam pulled back, dropped the keys into her hand, and stepped out of the car before she could catch her breath.

The door shut with a thud, making her flinch. Kashvi watched him walk away through the windshield, and by the time he disappeared from view, the silence inside the car became unbearable.

The fragile control she’d held onto shattered, and the first tear slipped free. A strangled cry tore from her throat as she wrapped her arms around herself, rocking back and forth.

Every part of her wanted to run after him, to take back what she’d said, and tell him the truth. It was killing her not to do that.

Kashvi had known it would hurt to let him go, but she had not expected him to leave behind this hollow, gut-wrenching vacuum where her heart used to be.

Chapter 21

‘How about you let me drive?’ Luv asked, watching her intently.

Kashvi took a deep breath to maintain her fragile control as she gripped the steering wheel tighter.

It had been ten minutes since they got into the car, and he’d asked the same question twice before, each time gentler than the last.

The engine sputtered to life, and she eased her foot onto the pedal with a hesitant lurch. ‘See, I’m fine.’

Kashvi kept her gaze fixed on the road, tracking every small movement as she merged onto the main road.

‘So, where are we going?’ he asked, leaning back against the passenger seat. ‘All I got was a text from you last night asking me to be here at ten sharp. Very mysterious.’

Last night had been a blur of too much silence and too many thoughts. She had tossed and turned restlessly in her bed, which still held his faint scent, replaying the agonising memory over and over.

She had itched to reach for her phone, but what could she even say? What could she possibly offer that would not make things worse?