Marley wasn’t in the mood for talking. For explaining that she hated being a burden and hated that the only person with her was someone she barely knew. That it was so scary to be facing this alone. That she’d made a huge, irreversible mistake in having surgery, and she regretted it so much right now. It wasn’t even a sure thing that she would have gotten cancer. She didn’t say that her chest felt so tight and foreign… like someone was pulling a vise around her.
And she didn’t say that she’d never felt more alone in her life. Couldn’t say all that. She felt the tears flow freely on her face.
The bed shifted. When she opened her eyes, Nikhil was sitting next to her in the exact spot he’d been in while they watched that terrible baking reality show. “Once the painkillers kick in, I’ll help you with the other stuff.”
“You don’t have to… I’m okay. Thanks for the pills, but I can—”
“Marley, I am literally here to help you at night. That’s my job.”
She nodded. He was right. She hated putting him out like this.
It was still dark out, but the barest bit of light had started coming through her sheer curtains. Marley focused on the rising sun and on her breathing, and miraculously, the pain eased. Well, not miraculously. Pharmaceutically.
“How did you sleep?” she asked softly.
He chuckled. “Surprisingly well. That’s a comfy mattress.”
“Grams always bought the best. That’s why we kept all her stuff.”
“I figured your house would be all modern and trendy.”
“I like the aesthetic.”
“I like it, too. It’s soothing. Pills helping?”
She nodded. “I need to empty my drains.”
After Nikhil helped her with her drains and she went to the bathroom, she shuffled her way back to bed. “You can go back to bed now… I should be okay.”
He nodded. Now the sun was almost completely up, and Marley could see that he was wearing plaid flannel pants and a gray T-shirt. He looked so… normal. Not like a movie star or a superhero. Just her friend who was helping her.
“Thanks,” Marley said.
“Of course,” he said. “Your cousin will be here in a few hours, right? I can stay if you need me to.”
“Yeah, she’ll be here by nine. I’ll be okay.”
He nodded. “Okay… I’m right next door if you need me.”
Marley had no trouble falling asleep after Nikhil left. Because it didn’t feel like he’d left. He was right here… in the next room. She wasn’t alone.
Marley woke when she heard a noise that sounded like a shriek from downstairs. It was probably McQueen looking for his breakfast. Marley checked the time—eight o’clock. Her last dose of painkillers was still in effect. She propped herself up in bed, cringing with the pain of the movement,when her door suddenly swung open, and Nikhil burst in. He was wearing athletic joggers and a black T-shirt stretched over his muscles.
“What’s wrong?” Marley asked. His eyes were wider than sunflowers.
“Your cousin… She’s here.”
Marley sat up.Crap. She’d had no idea Reena would come early. She probably saw Nikhil and recognized him. “It’s okay,” Marley reassured him. “She’s cool. She won’t say anything if you ask her not to. But you can get an NDA for her if you think it’s necessary. You may as well get one for her husband, too, but I trust them.”
He blinked, looking at Marley. “Your cousin is…Reena Remtulla.”
Marley frowned. “Yeah… so? Although I think her legal name is still Manji… You need legal names for NDAs, right?” Marley’s had said Mahreen, not Marley.
He shook his head vigorously, then threw his hand in the air. “Marley! Reena Remtulla is my favorite YouTuber! I freaking love her cooking videos! That daal last night was her recipe! My dad and I have been watching her for years!”
“Yeah,” Marley said. “Shayne and I help her with her videos.”
His eyes somehow looked wider. “Holy shit, that’s why your kitchen looked familiar. She filmed an episode here! The pineapple cake! I can’t believe I was cooking in the same kitchen as Reena Remtulla!”
