45. Naina
Chapter Forty-Five
NAINA
Sami slept with her head on my lap, hugging my legs.
She was exhausted from all the crying she did on the plane and when she finally got to the hotel and saw me, alive and well.
I was grateful that Kash sent for her and Kat, who used all her vacation days in one fell swoop to be here.
After the massages and the manicures and pedicures, Kat felt like she needed to move around and she went out to grab lunch.
Sami was too exhausted, and I was sure if I tried to leave again, Kash would take his anger out on Grayson.
I brushed my hand through Sami’s hair, resting my head back against the headboard.
I was beyond confused. The last time I thought I could trust my instincts and place my faith in a man, he had used me and my trust against me.
If I couldn’t trust myself, I couldn’t trust what was right or wrong. Hence why I didn’t flat out ask Kash what he was playing at.
Because a man couldn’t say your relationship was pretend and then carry around your painkillers for you.
Especially when he had barely spoken a word to you in two days.
I won’t say that it didn’t hurt.
The naked fear in his eyes when he saw me in the hospital made my resolve falter about keeping my distance from him.
He couldn’t fake that kind of fear, not even because Vera and Reid were there. Love could be faked, but fear was real and visceral.
I didn’t know what was real, and what was pretend with him.
I did know that I needed to stop thinking about him and focus on my own priorities, like renovating the Inn.
The thought of being alone there made my palms clammy and my heart race. But I promised Sami we wouldn’t sell, and I knew, deep down, that my parents never wanted to sell the Windfield.
Sighing, I picked up my phone and called the realtor I met with.
“Naina,” she answered on the second ring. “I’ve been waiting to hear from you.”
“Hi, Laura,” I said. “I’m sorry to keep you hanging but…we’re not selling the Windfield.”
“Oh, well, that’s too bad. The buyer was really interested, and they were willing to offer more than you want to list it for.”
I looked down at Sami, brushing back her.
No amount was worth selling all our memories. I’d planned on keeping the house even though I told Sami we could move to San Francisco. Truth be told, the Windfield was also our house.
“I’m sorry, Laura. My sister and I talked about it, and we can’t do it.”
Laura made noises of disappointment, and after a promise to call her if I ever changed my mind, I hung up the phone and called Sonia.
“Well, we’re not selling the Inn,” I said.
“Oh, good. I can stop looking for a new job,” she said. I heard the noises of the kitchen in the background and my stomach twisted with how much I missed it. I never expected to miss the Windfield.
“You weren’t looking for a new job, were you?”
Sonia let out a breath. “Naina, I have known you since you were a baby. You might run away, but you’re brave, and when you get an idea in your head, you have to do it.”
I rested my head back against the headboard, looking out through the window at the bright afternoon light.
“I was in an accident,” I said. I told Sonia what happened.
“Oh my god, are you sure you’re okay? Did you see a neurologist? Do you know who the driver was? You should sue them.”
The police hadn’t found anything about the driver, apparently. The bicyclist said he saw the car and got out of the way to avoid getting hit, but the car shouldn’t have been turning.
“I’m fine. I don’t need to see a neurologist. Now, are you okay managing the Inn for another week or so? If it’s too much, I can come back.”
“Please, there are like four guests at the Inn. The restaurant is as busy as always. Listen, I don’t want you worrying about the Inn, and I don’t want you pouring over the finances as if you’re hoping to find gold among them. Just relax, and let your husband pamper you.”
“I am. I had a massage this morning.”
After talking to Sonia for a while longer, we hung up because she needed to get back to the kitchen.
Someone knocked on the bedroom door.
“It’s open, Grayson.”
I hadn’t failed to notice how Kash didn’t deny that I was a prisoner. Probably not in the literal sense, but I definitely couldn’t leave.
The door opened and Vera poked her head inside.
“I hope you’re not disappointed that it’s me,” she said.
“No, come in. Sorry, I thought it was Grayson. He’s the only company I have other than Sami and Kat.”
Vera came, and sat down on the chair by the windows. Her copper hair was twisted into a neat bun, and she was wearing this black suit that looked absolutely killer on her.
“How are you feeling?”
“Bored. I’m being treated like I’m made of spun glass. I went to get coffee this morning, and Kash acted like I personally attacked him.”
Vera laughed. “I remember one time I broke my arm when I was ten and he insisted on going everywhere with me afterwards. It’s endearing, but also annoying.”
I pictured a younger Vera and Kash, relying on each other. Kash following Vera like a bodyguard to keep her safe. Did they have anyone else to keep them safe?
“She really loves you.” Vera nodded at Sami.
My sister could sleep through anything.
I nodded. “We don’t have any family here. My mother had a large family, including my grandmother, but they all live in India. We’re all we have.”
“I can’t imagine what that feels like,” Vera said. “Our family is large, but all of us are like an island unto ourselves, and we prefer it that way.”
I was starting to understand that.
“Do you enjoy working for SFV?” I asked.
Vera looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers together.
“Sometimes. It wasn’t easy getting here. Sacrifices had to be made.” Her mouth twisted bitterly as she looked at me.
“Did you notice that no other woman in this family works? It’s because we’re not supposed to. The Sutherlands alone can set women back to a time when we were told to look pretty and not think because it’s not our job.”
“Kash isn’t like that,” I defended.
Vera smirked, catching onto my defense of him immediately.
“That’s because he has Ava Alvarez as his mother. His parents divorced because she wouldn’t give up her career, and my uncle hates her because of that. Notice how Diana is completely different than Aunt Ava?”
God, Kat wasn’t kidding when he said this family was messed up. Was I willing to tie myself to them for Kash? Why was I even wondering that?
I would do anything for Kash, given the chance to love him.
“You were a lawyer before, right? Do you miss it?”
“I do. I might go back to it once the Windfield is renovated.”
I was surprised how easy it was to admit it. The words were out in the universe now.
We were going to renovate the Windfield. I was going to practice law again, in one form or another.
“Oh, that reminds me. Kash said you were having trouble finding a designer. I know one in San Diego, she’s great. I’ll get you her contact information.”
“Oh, thank you.”
Tears pricked at my eyes at her niceness, and I sniffed. She didn’t have to be nice to me. Vera straightened, and I waved her off.
“It’s nothing. I’m being visited by the demon from the red planet.”
The bedroom door flung open, and Kat stood there, looking harried, carrying about two dozen paper bags.
“I hate your husband.” Her eyes landed on Vera. “Hey, Vee.”
“You’ve been saying that since you landed. I’m fine.”
Kat dropped the bags on the small table by Vera, walked into the bathroom to grab towels that she spread on the bed before moving the bags to it.
“It’s not that,” she said. “Vera, are you going to join us for lunch? There’s enough food here to feed a small army.”
Vera eyed the paper bags, a strange look entering her eyes.
“What do you have?”
“Salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps. Whatever you want.”
“Um, sure.”
“I already gave a couple to Grayson, along with a book,” Kat said, settling down next to me on the bed.
Sami stirred, turning over, even though we were all whispering. Her eyes opened, and she looked at Kat.
“You gave Grayson a romance novel? That poor man,” she said groggily.
“More men can learn how to properly treat a woman. It’s a light romance, he won’t be traumatized by fictional stalkers.”
“Back to why you hate my husband,” I said. I opened a small bag of chips and popped one into my mouth.
Kat turned from where she was handing Vera a salad and sandwich. She placed both her hands on her hips.
“Imagine my surprise when I walk back into the hotel carrying a hundred bags of food, and who should I see in the lobby other than one Mr. Nicholas Kayes and your very own husband.”
I choked on my chip, coughing loudly, tears blurring my eyes. Someone handed me a bottle of water and patted my back as I took a grateful sip.
“Wait, Kash invited Nick?” I rasped.
“Capital H-A-T-E,” Kat said.
“Who’s Nick?” Vera asked, digging into her salad.
“He’s an old friend. Kat, I’m so sorry,” I said. “I think it might be my fault.”
What was Kash playing at? Did he only invite Nick because I said Nick was an option for me? Because that was a joke.
Nick had never been an option.
“How is it your fault?” Kat rolled her eyes.
“Well, I was angry with Kash, and I might have told him that Nick was an option for me.” I winced.
Sami snorted. “I wish I could go back in time and see Kash’s face when you said that.”
Right now, I was watching all the color drain out of my best friend’s face.
“I was kidding, obviously.”
“Okay, but why did he invite this Nick here?” Vera asked.
“Because he’s trying to pawn me off to Nick.”
All three of them looked at me, and then burst out laughing.
“I’m serious,” I said.
“There is no way Kash is trying to set you up with another man,” Vera said.
“Well, I’m sure he is.”
The three of them exchanged a look that seemed to be calling me stupid.