Page 66 of Everything She Wanted

I know gifts are a part of the ceremony, but it feels like a lot—too much.

Outside the shop I take her hands.

“Auntie Ji, thank you so much. Everything is so beautiful.”

“Theek aa,” she says, waving off my gratitude. “I have a few more things to take care of for the ceremony.

She walks off without another word.

I wait outside, and Shaan strolls up a few minutes later. It’s much warmer now and the hot sun beats down on me. He hands me my mango lassi.

“Thanks.”

I take a sip, letting the refreshing sweet and tangy flavour cool me down as well as the emotions burning inside of me.

“Find something you like?

“Yes, your mom went all out and got me the most gorgeous stuff.”

“Of course she did. You’re going to be my wife.”

I choke on some lassi and I start spluttering.

“You okay, babe?”

“Yeah, fine.” I pull out my phone and realize it’s already time to get back to work. “We should probably head back.”

In the car Eshaan shares all the little touches his parents are adding for the ceremony. They’re going all out and I’m going to hell. That I know for sure. He parks in the loading zone in front of my building. Normally he would rush off, but today he gets out and opens my door and when I step out, he pulls me into a hug. There are a few guys approaching us on the sidewalk and I pray that Nick is not one of them.

He leans in for a kiss. I give him a little peck.

“I don’t know how to thank you for all of this.”

“I can think of some ways.” He gives me a sly grin and then leans in for another kiss. The guys that were down the street a few moments ago are now right behind us.

Shit.

Nick’s eyes meet mine and I quickly look away. Of course he chooses this moment to return from lunch. From the corner of my eye, I see him heading through the front entrance.

“Stay over this week?”

“For sure,” I say with so much enthusiasm that I’m worried he’ll know it’s fake.

I wait a few moments so I don’t have to take the elevator up with Nick, and then head through the door, giving Eshaan a quick wave. I go the long way, so I don’t have to walk past Nick’s office, and slide my office door closed behind me before collapsing into my chair and putting my head on my cool desk.

Every day is bringing me closer to locking in my life with Eshaan. The life I thought I wanted, that I dreamed about from the first time I saw Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol on the big screen with my dad at the local theatre in Brampton that played throwback Bollywood movies.

But my life isn’t a Bollywood movie no matter how much I want it to be. Things with Eshaan aren’t perfect, but we both want the same things. It’s a future I can count on—the future my family wants for me.

Things with Nick are reckless, crazy, and have the potential to be disastrous. I lift my head up and bring a hand to my neck. Desire stirs within every part of me as I think of him. He isn’t offering me anything beyond the physical, yet I can’t stay away from him.

Worse yet, I don’t want to. This is beyond messed up. I am beyond messed up. But one thing I know for sure: I can’t mess up what I have with Eshaan.

No. Matter. What.

21. Tree Therapy

“Aren’t you glad I dragged you out here?” Rachel gestures to the canopy of towering trees that surrounds us.