“Of course they did,” Nikhil said. “My father is incapable of not feeding someone who comes into the house.”
He took the plate to the coffee table quickly and was back at Marley’s side to see if she needed any help with the basement stairs. She waved him off, claiming she was fine. He still fussed—he’d taken care of her for weeks, so it was a habit now. And the last time he saw her they’d just come from the doctor for a possible infection. Should she be out of the house this late? She was usually getting ready for bed around this time.
“Hi, Nalini,” Marley said. “You didn’t come watchBachelorthis week. I’ve been saving the episode.”
“Oh. I…” Nalini glanced at Nikhil. Looked like his sister wasn’t sure if she should still be hanging out with Marley. Which was silly.
“You can still watch TV with her,” Nikhil said. “Later, though. Can you… I mean, can you let us talk now?”
Nalini nodded. “Yeah. I’ll keep Mom and Dad out.”
“Thanks,” Nikhil said. Nalini rushed up the basement stairs, and he heard the door close.
Marley sat on the sofa near where he’d put her plate. He couldn’t believe she was here. She looked beautiful, but there was something in her face… red eyes and pale skin under her makeup. The anger he’d seen in her a couple days ago was gone. Now she looked sad. There was nothing Nikhil wanted more than to wrap his arms around her and tell her that it would all be okay.
He sat on the love seat across from her. “How did you get here?”
“Uber,” she said. She took a sip of her chai, then smiled while looking around the room. “We studied together down here for a chemistry exam once. Do you remember?”
Of course he remembered. They sat on that very sofa. She’d smelled like vanilla back then. “I’m surprisedyouremember.”
She nodded. “You were wearing a blue Roots sweatshirt. We ate sour cream and onion chips and drank root beer.”
Huh. She remembered more than he did.
“Marley, why are you here?”
She sighed, leaning back on the sofa. “I thought… we should talk. I had a really crappy couple of days since I last saw you.”
He snorted. “Yeah, my week hasn’t been the best, either.” That was the understatement of the century.
She looked at him, her otherworldly large eyes sympathetic. “What happened at the studio?”
He exhaled. “They’re doing damage control. Don’t worry—I made them promise to leave you out of any plans.”
She nodded. “Thanks.” She took a bite out of one of his famous onion pakoras, like everything was fine and normal here.
“Of course, Marley. I feel terrible. You lost yourjobbecause of me.”
She shook her head. “No. I lost my job because of the intrusive photographer who took pictures of us while we were at my doctor.”
“And because my brother sold us out.” He winced. “I… I should never have come into your life. I’ve been like a wrecking ball, destroying everything.”
She took another bite of pakora. “These are really good. Did your mother or father make them? Or are they store-bought?”
“I made them.”
Her eyes widened. “Shut. Up. Youmadethese? Why didn’t you ever make me pakoras?”
He shrugged. “I would have if you’d asked. I’m not allowed to eat them, though. Nalini begged me to make some when I got home from the gym today. She’s studying for a biology exam, and she said she needed fried food to concentrate. The samosas are store-bought.”
Marley chuckled. Then looked up at him. “I don’t know why I ever let you walk away.”
What? She didn’tlethim walk away; sheaskedhim to walk away. “Huh?”
Marley put down the pakora in her hand and wiped her mouth. “Here’s the thing, Nikhil.Yes, you did plow through my life like a wrecking ball. But… I think all the things you destroyed were things I needed to get rid of anyway.”
He raised a brow. He was not following.
