Page 103 of Everything She Wanted

She wanders away and comes back in a moment.

“This one’s on me,” I say.

“Thanks, Nish, and thanks for the encouragement.”

We get up, and she hugs me just as I see Nick’s head turn this way. He’s seated with his back to us, but he must have seen me when he turned to speak with the waitress.

“I might just hang out for a bit and finish my drink,” she says mischievously.

I avoid his gaze, although I know his eyes are on me.

“Please don’t tell me you’re spying on him.”

“Oh, I’m not, obviously. But don’t worry, I’ll report back on anything scandalous.” She winks.

Scandal? She has no idea.

I leave as quickly as possible, hoping to keep at least a little bit of my dignity intact.

I walk out through the front door into the cool spring air. It provides an ounce of relief. I can’t understand why this bothers me so much. How does he have this much power over me?

It hurt to see those texts on Shaan’s phone, but seeing Nick with someone else feels even more devastating.

It’s fucked up.

I’m fucked up.

I know I should rush to the SkyTrain station, but I’m paralyzed. I stand there, waiting for my breathing not to be so shallow and my emotions not to be so intense. The air is warm and sticky, even though it’s not yet summer. I lean against the cool smooth marble beside the door, as if its solid strength could give me some of my own, when I hear steps behind me and feel a touch on my shoulder.

“Hey, I was hoping you were still out here.” I turn around to see Nick looking at me, his eyes frantic and uneasy.

I’m not sure what to say, so I say nothing. We’re nothing but professionals placed together in what feels like a cruel cosmic joke.

“That—” he gestures inside “—isn’t what it looks like.”

I’m petty and angry, even though I have no right to be. I cross my arms over my chest.

“So, you’re not on a date?” I spit out.

He exhales. “I am. I’ve cancelled on her a few times, but this time she insisted I show up, and I thought maybe I should because—” he stumbles.

“Because what?” I pin him with my gaze.

“I didn’t realize things were so serious between you and him. So, you’re clearly not available, Nisha.” He gives me a look as if that settles it.

I shake my head. “You’re right. I’m not, and you don’t owe me anything.” I start to walk off, but he blocks my way.

“We’re nothing to each other,” I say as I glare at him.

He leans in and whispers, “You’re something to me.”

He’s so close that I can smell his intoxicating cologne, and it reels me in. I scream at my body to move, to push him out of the way but it disobeys me.

He steps closer and puts his arms on either side of me as I move back, realizing there’s nowhere for me to go, only the smooth wall behind me, just as the door swings open.

“What the fuck?” His date stands staring at us. “You’re a real piece of work, you know.”

My body goes rigid as adrenaline surges through me. No one has ever seen us together, not like this, and fear grips me.