He’d texted a couple times since their pani puri–eating competition, and every time his name appeared on her phone screen, her mouth tingled in memory.
“Who was that?” Bobbi asked. She sat back against the plush seat of the velvet couch, her cell phone in one hand and a flute of champagne in another.
“Prem.”
“Ahh,” Bobbi said.
Kareena glared at her. “Ahh. What does ‘Ahh’ mean? You don’t make sound effects and faces like that without a double meaning.”
Bobbi shrugged. “It means ‘Ahh.’” She put her phone and champagne down on the large glass coffee table in front of them. “It’s just that you’ve been spending a lot of time talking to Prem when you guys were screaming at each other in a viral video a month ago. And before that, you were texting us, cursing him, because he lied to you at a bar to get in your pants, then left you horny in a stranger’s office. By the way, I wish you’d taken a look around that office. I’ve been trying to get Benjamin Padda’s attention for ages.”
“Sorry, I was in a bit of a rush,” Kareena said dryly. “And I don’t carry grudges.” Just memories of Prem’s kiss.
He’d purposely planted one on the corner of her mouth. That was like expert level on the romance hero skill scale. That was a type of kiss meant to throw her off her game and remind her what it was like to make out with him. She’d been slightly intoxicated the night they’d met, so when he corner-of-the-mouth kissed her, it brought back a flood of memories that went from hazy to crystalline.
One thing was for certain. The man could make a woman weak with his mouth.
She couldn’t tell Bobbi or Veera about it yet. Not until she had more information. Otherwise, they would be hounding her for weeks to find out what was going on.
“Kareena, you do more than carry grudges,” Bobbi continued, oblivious to Kareena’s train of thought. “You have a list and keep receipts. True Taurus energy through and through. But Prem is no longer on your hate list, is he?”
Kareena shook her head. “We called a truce, and then I beat him in a pani puri–eating competition.” It was kind of hard to stay mad at someone who made her laugh when she knew she was being exasperating, and had the guts to kiss her in an Indian restaurant. Every aunty and uncle in the place was watching.
Bobbi sipped her champagne. “This is the guy who thinks love is an illusion. The one who believes that love marriages aren’t sustainable because they’re built on emotion. He’s also the same guy who needs something from you, because to Dr. Dil, relationships are transactional. Don’t forget that.”
“Bobbi, I don’t need your help analyzing my relationship with Prem. I need your help figuring out why I’m not getting any other matches online. Is it because I’m in Edison? What if I change my location to something like Boston for a few weeks? Do you think I’ll have better luck up north? I always liked a man in flannel.”
“I think men are men wherever you go. You’re looking for a needle in a haystack, honey. Welcome back to the world of heterosexual dating. Any word from the aunties?”
Kareena shook her head. “I think they’re so set on matching me with Dr. Dil that they aren’t being super aggressive with their search.”
“They picked a good one,” Bobbi said. “Despite the argument between you two, there is definitely chemistry there.” She fanned herself with her free hand.
“Thanks for the help,” Kareena muttered. “I have a little over three months left here, and I do not need you to agree with the aunties.”
“Hey, I’m planning your sister’s wedding and engagement party at a discount,” Bobbi replied. “I have no time to help. Be nice to me.”
“Ugh, don’t talk to me about this stupid engagement party.” A Labor Day weekend event that was the definitive end to her chance of finding her perfect man. Her jeevansathi. And once her time was finished, her father was going to sell the house. He’d already brought an agent to come out and assess the property, and Bindu had sent out invites to two hundred people.
“How are things at home?” Bobbi asked, as if reading Kareena’s mind.
“Bindu comes home every day with her massive binder, and another reason why she and Loken are fighting about the wedding, and the guest list,” Kareena said. “Do you think they’d be willing to push the engagement party back?”
“I doubt that,” Bindu said, picking her nails. “What does Prem think about it?”
There was something about the way Bobbi said it that had Kareena twisting in her seat. “Oh no,” Kareena said while she tugged Bobbi’s purple ponytail. “Is this the real reason why you don’t want to help? Because you think Prem is a-a match? You can get out of your auntie-brain and back into your Bobbi brain.”
Bobbi swirled her champagne flute. “All I’m saying is that a woman is a fool if she can’t resist a man. Your lack of resistance is showing, Kareena Mann. The question is, are you willing to be the fool?”
Kareena wanted to argue, wanted to prove to Bobbi that nothing but a cordial platonic friendship was forming between them. But that text message. And that kiss.
Even her Taylor Swift nighttime playlist couldn’t put her to sleep. Her usual insomnia was now infinitely worse.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Bobbi.”
“And I think you’re treading in dangerous territory, friend.”
The sound of a door chime rang across the small Indian bridal boutique, and Kareena turned to see Loken enter.
She’d only met him a handful of times, but he’d always been quiet, sweet, and attentive to Bindu. He had a chiseled jaw that made him a stone-cut, marble-faced beauty. His black hair was gelled away from his face, and he wore a three-piece suit every day, just like Kareena preferred a sweater vest every day.
He carried two small bouquets of summer flowers in his hands.
“Hey, it’s the groom!” Bobbi cheered. She held up her champagne flute. “Don’t Italian Gujaratis have a thing where you’re not supposed to see the wedding dress before the big day?”
Loken approached the couch, his happy smile contagious. “I wanted to be surprised, but you know Bindu. She makes her own traditions.” His thick Italian accent had always charmed Kareena. Who would’ve thought there were desis in Verona?
“Kareena, you look beautiful today.”
He leaned down to give her a kiss on either cheek, then turned to do the same to Bobbi. “Where is my bride to be?”
“She’s changing into another dress,” Kareena said. “She only comes out if she likes it, so it may take some time. You got her two bouquets?”
Loken shook his head. “One of these is for the gorgeous sister of my bride.” He presented her with the bouquet like he was gifting her a diamond set. “Thank you for taking such good care of Bindu all these years.”
Kareena could feel herself tearing up as she accepted the flowers. They were so pretty, and sweet. “Bindu took care of herself,” she said quietly. “I’m so happy for you two.”
Loken beamed at her. “Now we must have you just as happy, no?”
Bobbi muttered softly, “Oh, boy.”
“I’m trying, Loken. Do you have any friends who want to get engaged by your sagai?”
“My darling future sister-in-law,” he said, rocking back on his heels. “If that were the case, I doubt they would be single, no?”
“Now you sound like Prem,” she mused. What was it with these dudes who thought her true love didn’t exist?
“What do you think? Loken! You’re here!”
Kareena twisted in her seat and promptly dropped her bouquet in her lap. “Oh, Bindu.”
Her sister looked stunning. She wore a white fitted mermaid-style gown that had a loose draping across the front and a waterfall of sheer fabric over one shoulder.
“It’s a concept sari!” Bindu said, holding her arms out, and doing a slow spin. “A combination of a gown and a sari in one. I’m kind of obsessed. What do you think?”
Her face was glowing, Kareena thought. It looked like pure happiness. “I think you look incredible.”
“Really? Loken? What about you?”