Page 70 of Everything She Wanted

“Can you not post that?” I manage.

“What? Why?” She looks at me puzzled.

“Shaan doesn’t like me wearing stuff like this.”

She places her phone on the counter face down.

“Are you serious?”

I nod, as my chest tightens.

“It’s not the nineteenth century.” She shakes her head. “I won’t post it, but I am going to talk to him about telling his girlfriend what she can and can’t wear.”

“Where should we go?” I say quickly, trying to change the subject. He won’t like that I shared that with her, but if I didn’t and he saw the picture it would be an issue, and I just can’t deal with any issues right now.

I apply nude lip gloss.

“You must know all the latest hotspots. With all the travelling I do for work, I barely go out here anymore.”

I wrack my brain as I redo my soft waves with a curling wand. I have literally no social life and feel so lame, but then I remember overhearing Nick talking with some of the tech guys about this fancy new club that’s super luxurious. They even host celebrities. They were planning on checking it out this weekend.

Anjali tousles her hair in the mirror next to me. “It has to be luxe though; I’m not spending the night in some grunge bar with nineteen-year-olds.”

“Give me a second, okay?” I finish curling my hair, unplug the wand, and head into the living room. I can’t go to the place Nick mentioned, can I? What if I see him? What if he’s with someone else? He probably is, but maybe that would help me move on and get my mind off him. It would be soul crushing, but necessary.

My phone buzzes with a new notification. Eshaan just posted something. The first clip is of Dev’s bhangra group who are all wearing rainbow turbans with white kurtas and dhotis. They’re dancing to Diljit Dosanjh and I smile to myself. I kind of wish I was there with him, even if it is for Dev’s event.

The next post is a picture of Eshaan surrounded by the women’s Giddha team.

Of course.

Irritation flashes through my chest as I scan the faces and then I freeze. The woman right next to him is Sonia, his ex. What the actual fuck? I had no idea she would be there tonight and of course Eshaan didn’t mention it. Maybe that’s why he didn’t push me to go with him like he usually does.

“So, did you find a place?”

I look up from my phone to see Anjali sauntering in like the queen she is.

“I know just the one.”

The place is booked solid when we arrive, but Anjali manages to sweettalk our way in.

“This place is straight fire,” she says when we get inside.

We look around taking it all in. Teal spotlights shine on the small round cocktail tables and the cozy armchairs surrounding them. The ceiling is lit in geometric patterns of the same bright teal colour and the dance floor is full of gyrating bodies. Here, our outfits are perfect as everyone’s dressed to the nines. The bar takes up the entire back of the place, an amber glow backlighting the most expensive selection of liquor I’ve ever seen.

“Let’s get bottle service,” says Anjali. There’s no way I can afford bottle service, but before I can respond she jumps in. “I’m treating.”

She snags a table just as a couple gets up and we sit side by side, perusing the drink menu.

“Anything you want?”

“I’m good with anything.”

I scan the crowd, but there are so many people that there’s no way to tell if Nick is here, and maybe that’s for the best.

Anjali orders a bottle of Grey Goose Altius vodka, which I’ve never heard of but if she’s ordering, I know it’s premium.

A waiter comes back shortly and mixes us vodka sodas.