He almost set the phone down, but it beeped before it even reached the desk.
Paul: Np, man. They seemed pretty mad, but hope it works out. Glad ur good.
The phone beeped again. Paul had sent a fist bump emoji. Karthik shook his head with a small smile and sent one back.
He typed a short response to Jim, apologizing for the inconvenience, promising that he had an explanation for his behavior, and thanking him for understanding.
Karthik would have to fight for a second chance, but he could do that. He’d make plans. Prepare for Monday. Look at everything again. And he’d definitely come up with better answers to the panel’s questions this time. He did a quick scan through the remaining emails before reaching for his phone again.
He needed to tell someone about this. He pulled up Meghna’s number, but before he could share the news, he realized something.
Karthik: I never got a picture of the tux?
Karthik put his phone down and continued reading the emails, his foot absently tapping against the floor. Three minutes later, his phone beeped.
Meghna: Why do you need it?
Astute as always. He thought for a moment. He couldn’t say that he wanted a picture because he’d been tempted to go to the fitting with her. That he was desperate to see if she looked as cute as he’d been imagining. They didn’t have that kind of relationship. Meghna had been firm in the boundaries she had set for them going forward, and he wanted to respect them. This was the only way for their arrangement to work, and he wasn’t ready for it to be over.
Karthik: How else can I coordinate what I’m going to wear to the wedding?
He waited, watching the screen, growing a little nervous when the speech bubbles popped up, indicating that she was typing, then disappeared. They popped back up. Then went away again. Finally, a response came through.
Meghna: Ugh, fine.
A few seconds later, she sent the picture. Karthik tapped on it so it filled the screen of his phone.
The picture was full length and showed Meghna in a tight-fitting, perfectly cut tux. Her hair was pulled back from her face, and she was smiling at the camera, her lips dark red and sinful. This was so far from the image he’d created in his head. Meghna in a tux wasn’t cute or wholesome. She was downright sexy.
Without thinking, he replied.
Karthik: You look beautiful.
He waited half a second, then quickly typed on his phone.
Karthik: But now I have to buy a new tux. We can’t show up to the wedding in identical outfits.
A few seconds later, Meghna responded.
Meghna: Ha. I’d love to see you rock cropped suit pants.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
Karthik: First of all, on men they’re called high waters.
Meghna: It’s terrifying that you know that.
Karthik: And second, I look good as hell in them. I have killer ankles.
Meghna: Sure you do.
Karthik looked down at his feet, took a quick picture of them, and sent it to Meghna.
Karthik: See? Proof.
Meghna: Hmm. They’re okay, I guess. Nothing like these.
Karthik stared at his phone, thinking Meghna would be following up with a picture of her feet, but nothing came through. He exited the app and came back, but he still didn’t see a new message from her.
