Page 12 of Since You Stole My Heart

The silence dragged between them. Luv didn’t repeat the question, but she sensed the shift in him as his amusement faded into concern. Her lips parted, then stilled again, because saying anything now would only make it worse.

Luv chuckled softly. ‘You’re a terrible liar.’

‘Great. That’s exactly what I want to be famous for,’ she said, frustration edging her tone.

‘I’m just saying, Kashu, if you’re going to lie to me, at least put some effort into it. Otherwise, it’s just lazy.’

Kashvi let out a breath. ‘Shut up.’

Luv grinned. ‘Well, whatever her name is, next time you can just send your mystery friend along with me. I love shopping, and I’d love to keep her company too.’

She’d seen it coming. He always joked about things like this, and they laughed it off. But this time, a surge of anger curled hot in her chest, and suddenly she wanted to push him into the spotlight instead. ‘Would you? Would you actually do that?’

Luv went quiet, his shoulders tensing slightly. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

She spoke pointedly. ‘You said that like a joke. I’m asking whether you truly mean it.’

His brows pinched together. ‘Kashvi, you’re reading way too much into one comment. Besides, you don’t even have a friend—’

‘That’s not what I’m asking,’ she cut in sharply. ‘I’m asking if I had a friend I thought you’d get along with, would you want me to set you up with her?’

She expected him to play along, like he always did when Meera or Siya tried to set him up, but he didn’t.

There was no hint of amusement on his face when he asked, ‘Where is this coming from?’

‘You always talk about being this charming casanova, this date-them-and-leave-them type, but you’ve never once followed through.’

‘That’s because I’m unmatchable,’ Luv muttered, trying for humour again, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

‘Maybe because you won’t let us try,’ she retorted back.

‘Kashvi—’ he said, but she kept going.

‘In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never asked anyone to set you up with someone. You’ve never even let them try, and Di would love nothing more than to micromanage your love life. You always find some excuse to get out of it. So now I’m beginning to wonder if your entire casanova image is just an act.’

The car slowed as they approached a red light, but Luv kept his hands tight around the wheel. There was tension in his posture now that hadn’t been there moments ago.

‘So, I’m asking again, if I have a friend I think you might like… would you actually want me to set you up with her?’

He kept his eyes fixed on the road as he replied, his voice firm and flat. ‘No.’

She threw his words back at him with a snide twist. ‘I’m just saying, Luv, if you’re going to pretend to be a player, at least put some effort into it. Otherwise, it’s just lazy.’

The air inside the car turned suffocatingly tense. She rubbed slow circles against her temple again, trying to ease the anger building under her skin.

He asked, frustrated, ‘Would you offer the same choice to Swayam? I’m sure he’d love to be set up on a date. Or is he only reserved for you?’

That question sliced through her irritation in a single stroke. The thought of Swayam with someone else burned away her anger and replaced it with a sharp, hollow ache.

Luv realised instantly that he’d crossed a line, and he said quietly, ‘I’m sorry. That was wrong of me. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.’

He’d hit too close to the truth, and maybe that was why she’d done the same. Kashvi exhaled slowly through her mouth, controlled and careful, the way Maithili had taught her.

She spoke again, and it echoed with guilt now rather than defensiveness. ‘I shouldn’t have said what I said either. I’m sorry, Luv.’

‘I know. No need to apologise. It’s fine,’ he replied kindly.

That only made the guilt worse, reinforcing her belief that staying away from people she cared about was the only way to protect them from her anger.