Chapter Ten
Ten
Priya decided that avoiding Ethan was an entirely valid strategy. Over the next two days, while her parents prepared for their trip, she stayed in her room, pretending to be busy with her work. But concentrating was impossible when his voice kept sneaking into her mind.
Admit it, Priya. Say you want me.
Priya rubbed her temples, muttering under her breath, “Get out of my head, Heathen.” But he didn’t.
You have to say it.
Her fingers froze on the keyboard as she recalled his thumb tracing slow circles on her wrist. When she tucked her hair behind her ear, she could practically feel his fingers threading through it.
Priya typed Sienna Deville Ethan Knight into the search bar, her curiosity dragging her down an internet rabbit hole.
It isn’t irrational. It’s just research.
She had to figure out if there was truth behind her suspicions.
Why else would Sienna be calling him late at night, long after their movie had finished filming?
Every article she found only added fuel to her theory.
Sienna’s upcoming debut alongside Ethan had already catapulted her into the spotlight.
Lines like “poised for stardom” and “breakthrough performance” were everywhere.
But what caught Priya’s attention was the repeated mention of her “remarkable chemistry with Ethan Knight.” Priya scoffed at the phrase, scowling at her screen.
There wasn’t any solid proof of a relationship, but there wasn’t anything to put her mind at ease either.
She closed yet another tab and forced herself to turn back to her work.
The sound of a suitcase rolling down the hallway snapped Priya out of her thoughts.
Her parents were almost ready to leave. She rushed out of her room, only to trip over a collection of bags in the hallway.
There were shopping bags worn out from countless grocery runs, two dusty suitcases with zipper-pulls long gone and replaced by safety pins, and in classic Solanki style, three potlas—makeshift bundles made from knotted bedsheets, bulging with snacks Mumma had prepared.
A tiffin peeked from a wicker basket that was filled with enough food to feed her sister for the whole week.
Next to it was the inevitable thermos of chai for the journey.
Judging by the mountain of luggage, you’d think her parents were setting out on a trek to the Himalayas, not a four-hour drive to Windsor to visit Deepa.
“Priya?” Mumma called from the kitchen. When Priya stepped into view, she swung the freezer door open, revealing rows of neatly packed containers.
“These are all the dinners I’ve prepared for Mr. Ethan.
Don’t get so carried away on your computer that you forget to keep up with his schedule.
Be attentive, okay?” She waited for Priya’s nod before adding, “Now hurry and start taking the bags downstairs or we won’t make it to Deepa’s on time. Your father hates driving at night.”
Priya grabbed two suitcases and the car keys from the table, then made her way down the stairs. She rolled the suitcases across the driveway and set them by the car. As she turned to go back inside for the remaining bags, she froze, seeing Puppa and Ethan step out of Moksha.
Warmth flooded her from the inside out as soon as she saw Ethan. Even in jeans, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap, he was impossible to ignore. The cap cast a shadow over his face, making his expression harder to read. Priya’s gaze dropped to his lips, the memory of his kisses rushing back.
“Priya, I’ve given Mr. Ethan the entry code for the funeral home, so he can come and go as he likes,” Puppa informed her. Her father had spent the whole day giving Ethan a tour of every corner of the place, including the prep room where Ethan’s character was set to “wake up” for a key scene.
“Got it,” Priya said, avoiding Ethan’s gaze.
“Just make sure you stay on top of the phone messages in case anyone needs to get a hold of me,” Puppa continued. Noticing the bags by Priya’s side, he asked, “Is your mother ready to leave?”
“Almost,” Priya replied. “There are a few more bags still.”
“I’ll go check on her.” With a quick nod at Ethan, Puppa excused himself, leaving Priya alone with him.
The air immediately felt heavier. Priya fumbled with the car keys.
“You’ve been avoiding me.” Ethan cut straight to the point.
“I’ve been busy,” Priya said, her eyes darting everywhere but to him.
“Busy avoiding me.”
“Not at all,” Priya replied. “I’ve just had a lot to do. How about you? Hope your phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook at all hours of the night.” Her overly cheerful tone had a hint of snark, but she couldn’t help herself.
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “Hold on…Is that why you bolted? Because you thought Sienna was calling me again?”
Priya’s cheeks burned, but she didn’t answer. She busied herself with opening the trunk. Ethan’s hand shot out, gripping her wrist.
“Why would you think something’s going on with me and Sienna after I told you we’re not romantically involved?”
“Because…Sienna’s stunning and talented.
Everyone’s talking about your chemistry,” Priya admitted with a shaky breath.
“But it’s not just that,” she added before he could respond.
“I’ve been there before. My ex-husband cheated on me with a client.
I thought I’d moved on, but I guess I’m still carrying it around.
” She shrugged, finally meeting Ethan’s eyes.
He let her wrist go, his expression softening.
“I’m sorry you went through that. But I’m not your ex, Pri.
” He let out a deep breath, collecting his thoughts.
“Look. I’m not in the habit of explaining myself, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Because you’re not just anyone to me, Pri.
You remind me of who I was before everything changed, and that history?
It’s something I’ve only ever shared with you. ”
Priya nodded, swallowing hard as his words sank in.
“That call before you bolted?” He paused.
“It wasn’t Sienna. It was Brooke. Sienna’s on location halfway across the world, in another time zone.
Same as Brooke. That’s just how my life works.
People call at odd hours. But here’s the thing,” he said, holding her gaze.
“I can explain myself until I’m blue in the face, but it won’t matter if you’re going to take off whenever something triggers you.
I can’t silence the doubts in your head, Priya. That’s something only you can do.”
Any response Priya could’ve offered was cut off by Puppa’s return. He dropped two potlas at her feet and grinned at her and Ethan, oblivious to the tension between them.
“We’re hauling more on this trip than we did when we moved from India to Canada. I’ve added a little extra baggage myself.” He chuckled, patting his belly, and headed back inside for the rest of the luggage.
Priya opened the trunk and reached for a suitcase, her fingers curling around the handle. Before she could lift it, Ethan took it from her hands. He loaded it into the car, then stacked the rest of the luggage to make sure everything fit.
“I’ll see if your parents have more to bring,” he said, disappearing into the house.
Priya stood rooted by the car, wondering how on earth she was going to drive him away when every word he said pulled her closer. Lost in thought, she was brought back to the moment by the sound of an approaching car.
A sleek black sedan, glossy as a crow’s wing, pulled into the driveway, its tinted windows giving no hint of who was inside.
Priya blinked in surprise when the door opened, and Ravi Tiwari stepped out.
Dressed to impress, Ravi’s sherwani shimmered with gold embroidery, his fitted pants giving the traditional outfit a stylish, modern edge.
“Hey.” Ravi’s face broke into a smile as he walked over, holding a bright red cardboard box.
“Hi, Ravi.” Priya wondered if his mother was watching from the car. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at your brother’s wedding?”
“I’m on my way. Anand Uncle said you and your parents won’t be attending?”
“That’s right,” Priya confirmed, gesturing toward the open trunk. “My parents are just about to leave town.”
“Well, I thought I’d drop off some sweets,” Ravi explained, holding out the box.
“That’s very kind of you.” Priya reached for the sweets, a familiar cultural tradition for celebrating special events. “Thanks for coming by.”
But Ravi held on to the box as if it were a bargaining chip. “Actually, I was…uh…wondering if I could get your phone number.”
Ah, so that’s what this is about, Priya mused. Ravi found out we’re not going to the wedding and used the sweets as an excuse to swing by. No way does he have time for random visits on his brother’s big day.
As she tried to come up with a response, Ethan appeared by her side. He dropped the luggage he was carrying and leveled a pointed glare at Ravi, whose gaze bounced nervously between them.
Well, this is awkward, Priya thought, clearing her throat. Did Ethan catch Ravi asking for my number?
“As I was saying…” Ravi began, but as he spoke, Ethan took off his baseball cap, adjusted it, and placed it back on his head. Ravi’s jaw went slack in surprise.
“Wait. You’re Ethan Knight. Oh my god,” he blurted, his face a mix of shock and awe. Caught in a starstruck moment, Ravi redirected the sweets to Ethan. The box hovered awkwardly between the two men before Ethan accepted it.
“I’m Ravi Tiwari,” Ravi added. “Please enjoy the sweets in honor of my brother’s wedding today.”
“Ravi Tiwari? As in Priya’s dance partner from the other night?” Ethan asked, his eyes shifting to Priya.
“Yes, that’s me.” Ravi lit up, delighted that Ethan knew his name. “What brings you to Moksha?” he asked. “Is everything okay with your father?”
Ethan’s brow lifted. “My father is very much alive and well.”