Chapter 60
Diya
Diya sent off the email to her favorite baked goods supplier—it was an order for a “cupcake cake” for a sixteenth-birthday bash. The birthday girl was the only grandchild in two very loving families, her sweet sixteen looking to be bigger than many a wedding.
Still, the girl didn’t seem spoiled—she’d been fun to work with when it came to selecting cupcake flavors and the style of decoration. But it was a good thing Diya had taken care of all of that before she’d made the impulsive decision to stay on in Los Angeles.
Teenagers might be fine with texting and video calls, but their parents wanted actual meetings with the event planner they’d hired to make their girl’s day “just perfect.”
Having ticked off that task, she scanned down the list to see what else was outstanding.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced down, unsurprised to see Bobby’s smiling face populating the screen.
She’d taken the photo the day of his wedding, happy that he’d now be focusing all his attention on his new bride.
Shumi seemed to like the jealous intensity of his attention, and Diya was more than ready for the other woman to have all of it.
But, no, Bobby hadn’t backed off an inch when it came to Diya.
She declined the call as she’d declined multiple others in the past hour.
But of course her neurotically overprotective brother couldn’t let it go. He sent her a text: I’m coming to LA to bring you home.
Face hot, Diya picked up her phone, her fingers flying over the keyboard: Good luck finding me in a city of millions.
And don’t try to ask Risha—she thinks I already flew home.
She purposefully hadn’t told her friend about the change in plans, not wanting to put her in the middle of this mess.
Risha was one of the few true friends she still had, and she couldn’t lose her as she’d lost Kalindra and Rhiannon and Violet.
Don’t be stupid, Dee, Bobby replied. You know I’m only looking out for you. Mum and Dad are worried sick—Mum found your extra meds, knows you’re about to run out. And, Dee, you know what happens when you don’t take your meds.
Diya wanted to scream. I hate you all. You’re my jailors, not my family. I. HATE. YOU!