Chapter 36
Samaira
That night, I stayed over. When I woke up, my back was pressed to his chest, his arm draped over my waist, our legs tangled like we were always meant to fit.
And for the first time in forever, I wasn’t irritated or overthinking.
I was wrapped up in someone I loved, who loved me back, and everything felt like it might actually be okay.
Then I reached up to lace my fingers with his, and there it was. The ring. The stupid, sparkly reminder that we were still faking it.
And just like that, the warmth cracked. How the hell do you fall for someone in a lie and still hope it’s real?
I tried to slip out of bed, but the slightest movement made him stir. I froze. No point trying again, because a second later, he shifted and effortlessly pinned me beneath him, his body heavy and warm against mine.
“Morning,” he said, flashing that annoyingly smug, heartbreakingly hot smile.
I rolled my eyes but still grinned like an idiot.
He leaned in to kiss me, but I turned my face away. “Morning breath,” I mumbled in weak protest.
He rolled his eyes like I’d just said the most ridiculous thing in the world. “You really think morning breath is gonna stop me from kissing the woman I love?” he said, before pressing his lips to mine anyway. “Not a chance.”
“So… we should probably talk about the elephant in the room,” I said, fully prepared to dive into the whole fake engagement situation.
Instead, he casually dropped, “Your parents are flying in today. I called the hotel they’re staying at and upgraded their room.”
Hold on—what?
“Wait, how do you know they’re flying in today?” I asked, blinking.
He shrugged like it was no big deal. “I’ve been texting your dad. Got their flight details. I’m planning to pick them up from JFK.”
He said it so casually, so effortlessly thoughtful, that my brain short-circuited for a second.
So naturally, I pulled him in for another kiss, because what else do you do with a man like that?
“And about the whole ‘fake engagement’ thing?” he added, his voice steady. “Yeah, that’s not fake anymore. We’re still getting engaged. If you want, we can make it a long one, but I’m all in, Samaira. So no backtracking. The only direction I’m moving with you is forward.”
Tears filled my eyes as I looked up at this amazing man I had fallen for and I just knew that this time I had made the right choice.
My parents arrived later that evening, we drove to the airport to pick them up.
My dad and Kartik spoke to each other as if they were best friends.
It was then that I found out that since the day my parents video called me, he has been in constant contact with them.
However, neither of them saw it fit to mention that to me because apparently why do they need my permission to speak to their future son-in-law.
The next couple of days rolled by quickly and it was finally Kartik’s birthday. We had planned a small party which would eventually turn into us getting engaged with just close family and friends. I didn’t want a fuss for the engagement, the wedding however had to be big.
On the morning of Kartik’s birthday, a parcel showed up at my doorstep with my name on it and a note attached. Inside? A brand-new coffee machine.
The note read:
"I love you way too much to let you keep flirting with electrocution five times a day. I know you're emotionally attached to that ancient machine, but let’s retire it before it retires you. Consider this my birthday gift… to myself. Yours (and slightly concerned), Kartik."
I chuckled and took the new machine to my kitchen, setting it up I snapped a selfie with it and sent it to the birthday boy.
Samaira: image
Kartik: Thank God. Do you like it?
Samaira: It’s your birthday, you’re supposed to be getting gifts, not me.
Kartik: I already have you as my birthday gift. What more could I possibly want, meri jaan .
I rolled my eyes, blushing anyway, and sent him a kiss. If he kept up this level of corniness, I had no choice but to fall harder for him every damn day.