Chapter 74
Shumi
Shumi sat inside a café on the opposite side of the road from the café where Diya and Violet had taken a seat outside, beneath the spreading branches of a leafy tree. Diya smiled up at the server who’d just delivered them their coffees.
A double-shot latte with soy milk.
That was Diya’s order, had been for years except for when she wanted something more decadent and decided to go for a mochaccino.
Shumi didn’t know Violet’s usual order and didn’t really care.
Taking a sip of her own spicy chai latte—it wasn’t real chai, but it would do—she watched as Diya laughed at something Violet had said. Shumi’s stomach clenched at the light in her best friend’s face, at how she chattered so brightly to Violet.
Diya was pulling away from her again.
She’d thought it was over after Kalindra decided to move to Wellington before things got bad enough that Shumi had to act, but now Violet was here and they were constantly texting and calling, and Shumi knew that wasn’t good for Diya’s fragile mind and heart.
Her best friend needed Shumi to watch out for her, and for that, Shumi needed to be the closest person in her life.
It had been bad enough when Risha had lived with the Prasads, her room right next to Diya’s. The only thing that had kept Shumi from acting was the knowledge that Risha was a temporary guest, one who’d be gone soon enough.
But Violet…Violet lived in Rotorua, was talking about becoming Diya’s partner. They’d be working together day in and day out.
Her chai latte spilled onto the saucer as she put the double-walled glass down too hard.
No, she couldn’t let this happen, had to act.