Chapter Nineteen #2
“I know your room, Priya,” Brooke said. “I’ve slept in that bed, snacked in that bed, cried in that bed. I knew exactly where Ethan was the moment I laid eyes on that photo. What in the world is going on with you? My brother, Priya? Seriously? I mean, hookups are my department, not yours.”
“It’s not like that, Brooke,” Priya said. “We’re not hooking up.”
“So, you guys are together-together?”
“No…I just…” Priya took a deep breath before going for it. “I used to have a massive crush on him. It was kind of a thing for years.”
“Are you kidding me right now?” Brooke said, practically choking on disbelief. “I told you every single detail about my crushes—the good, the bad, the cringey—and you were keeping this from me? Seriously, Priya!”
“And what would you have done if I had told you?”
“Oh, I would have marched straight up to Ethan and told him about it. Or made up horrible stories about you, just to keep you to myself.”
Priya shook her head, laughing. “Yeah, sounds like you had my back, for sure.”
“Hey! Nobody takes my best friend away without a fight.”
“Nobody’s stealing me away from you,” Priya said. “It’s just…I felt like I was at rock bottom after the divorce. Then Ethan showed up, and something just clicked, like I had a shot at feeling alive again.”
“So what…he’s your rebound?”
Priya sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated? Oh, Pri, that’s dangerous territory.
You know how it is with him—you only have to follow the trail of emotionally wrecked exes he’s left in his wake.
But honestly? I’m not just worried about you.
I’m worried about him too. You’re nothing like the girls he’s dated before. His walls are down, Pri.”
“What are you saying?” Priya asked, the pulse quickening in her veins. “That he’s into me?”
Brooke let out a quiet breath. “Well, first there was that weird call the other day. He just sounded different, you know? Softer. Distracted. And now this photo. One look at him and I knew. He’s not just fooling around.
He’s letting you in.” Brooke paused for a beat.
“Where is he, by the way? I’ve been trying to get a hold of him. ”
“He’s out riding,” Priya replied, turning Brooke’s words over in her mind. Brooke was right. She’d been so caught up in the way Ethan made her feel that she hadn’t stopped to think about what he might need from her.
“Hey…” Brooke sensed the shift in her energy. “You know I’m rooting for you, right? I just don’t want either of you to get hurt. Today, his photo is trending. Tomorrow, it could be yours. I’m not sure if you’re ready for that kind of attention.”
“I know, I know…And really, thank you.” Priya meant it more than Brooke probably realized. A lot had surfaced today, including her years-long crush on Ethan, and Brooke had been more understanding than she ever expected.
“Hey, Brooke?” A smile tugged at her lips. “When did you become so wise? Weren’t you the one who used to ask me if you should break up over a text or a call?”
“I’m a genius, except when it comes to my own relationships.” Brooke giggled.
“Okay, but seriously, enough about me, your brother, and this whole photo situation. What’s happening at your end? I can’t keep track of where you are anymore.”
“I’m in Indonesia with my fur baby, darling. A wonderful little healing sanctuary in Ubud,” Brooke replied. “Hang on, I’ll send you a pic.”
A photo popped up on Priya’s screen: Lady Whiskerbottom lounging on a mat, lush greenery spilling through open windows.
“Aww.” Priya’s heart ached a little at the sight of her. “She still carries herself like a queen, even if time’s caught up with her.”
“Yeah, she’s slowing down, and it’s hitting me harder than I expected. But I’ve found her a brilliant spiritual healer. She’s getting a catnip chakra cleanse today.”
“Really?” Priya laughed. “And you? What have you been up to?”
“I’m exploring orgasmic enlightenment,” Brooke announced.
Priya gave a small nod. “Of course you are. Let me guess. The book deal is next? Eat, Pray, Meow.”
“Who has time to write, Pri? Unless it’s a memoir for Lady Whiskerbottom.”
“She’ll sell more copies than you.”
“No doubt about that.” Brooke snorted. “Okay, I’m being summoned by her royal highness. Say hi to Ethan for me, will ya? And tell him to keep his shirt on. I don’t need to be ambushed by fifty shades of my brother every time I check my feed.”
“Bye.” Priya grinned as she ended the call.
A second later, her phone buzzed again.
“Priiiii!” Deepa’s voice sang out when Priya answered.
“Hey. What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Deepa drawled. “Except my oldest sister getting her groove on—with Ethan frickin’ Knight.”
Rubbing her temples, Priya cursed her lack of foresight. Of course Deepa would put two and two together, too, just like Brooke. “Oh god,” she moaned, as another thought hit her. “Please tell me Mumma and Puppa haven’t caught on.”
“Don’t worry, they’re not exactly screen-obsessed, so you’re in the clear.
But now I get why you wanted them to visit Vinod Uncle.
Such a dutiful daughter. ‘Please go. Don’t worry about the fire.
Everything is under control.’ Everything except the fire in your pants, Pri.
There’s a five-alarm blaze going on in their absence. ”
“It’s a long story, Dee,” Priya explained. “We kind of had a connection back in the day.”
Deepa gasped. “Oh my god, what? And you’re only just telling me now? I have posters of him in my room.” She paused. “Wait, is he going to be my jiju?”
“Calm down. He’s never going to be your brother-in-law. And for the record, I never saw this coming.”
Deepa tried to muffle her laughter, but a snicker escaped.
“What’s so funny?” Priya asked.
“ ‘Coming attractions’ just got a whole new meaning.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Dee.”
“Okay, okay.” Deepa’s tone shifted. “We have to make sure Mumma and Puppa don’t find out. This is actual visual proof of Ethan in your bed for the whole world to see.”
“God, you’re right.” A wave of dread washed over Priya. “And it’s out there forever.”
“Look, I only figured it out because I know your room.”
“You and Brooke.”
“Okay, that’s just two people. And we’ve got your back. Mumma and Puppa aren’t on social media, so chances are they’ll never see that photo.”
“You’re right,” Priya replied. “That makes me feel a lot better.”
“I still don’t believe it. You and Ethan Knight,” Deepa marveled. “Oh shit. Mumma’s coming! Gotta run. Bye!”
Priya hung up and leaned back with a sigh. As she set her phone down, it rang again.
“Seriously?” she groaned.
An unknown number flashed on the screen. She ignored it, but the caller rang again. Priya’s heart sank. Had someone tracked her down? A gossip columnist? A tabloid writer? The ringing resumed, sounding even more insistent.
Priya stood and switched her phone off. As she walked away from it, a series of sharp knocks rattled the front door.
Creeping to the window, she slowly pulled the curtain aside and was greeted by a face pressed up against the glass.
Priya screamed and leaped back. The man held up a package with a courier logo.
Letting out a shaky breath, Priya opened the door.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” the man said as Priya signed for the package. “I called the number on the slip several times because nobody was answering at the funeral home, so I thought I’d try my luck here.”
“Thanks for going the extra mile.” Priya took the package and closed the door behind her. Get a grip, she scolded herself. Like you would suddenly be the latest tabloid sensation.
As the delivery van rumbled away, Priya examined the package.
It was wrapped in iridescent paper with her name embossed on a sapphire-blue tag.
Curious, she peeled back the paper to reveal a small velvet box.
Inside was a gossamer-thin chain with a star-shaped pendant made from tiny diamonds that looked like they had been plucked straight from the sky.
The accompanying note read: This star burns for you.
Priya smiled softly, remembering the conversation she and Ethan had shared.
Walking to the bathroom, she turned on the light and fastened the necklace.
The star nestled perfectly in the dip between her collarbones.
Gazing at her reflection, Priya realized that the sparkle in her eyes had nothing to do with the diamonds—it was something Ethan had ignited in her.
All the distractions and worries of the day faded like cosmic dust trailing a supernova.
The front door opened, interrupting her thoughts. Ethan was back. Priya’s heart leaped as she raced to greet him.
“Miss me?” he teased, tossing his helmet aside just in time to catch her in his arms. He twirled her around like they’d been apart for years instead of hours. He brought her down slowly, his hands resting at her waist.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” he said.
“Someone’s happy to see you.” She slipped her arms around him. He smelled of the wind and woods and earth and leather. “How was your ride?”
“Pure torture.” His kiss was slow and deep. “I couldn’t wait to get back.”
Before she could reply, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bedroom.
“What about dinner?” she asked, as he strode past the table.
“What’s that?” He tossed her onto the bed and stripped off his jacket. Crawling over her, he nibbled on her ear, kissing a path down her neck.
His attention dropped to the star pendant resting between her collarbones. “It couldn’t have found a more perfect spot.” His fingertips brushed over it.
Priya caught his hand, holding his gaze. “I adore it, but no more gifts, okay?”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” he murmured, lowering his head to lick the sensitive skin just below the pendant.
Priya melted beneath the possessive heat of Ethan’s touch, her hands gliding over his shoulders as the rising tide of desire swept her away.