“But…” How could she commit to someone who could very well be completely unavailable to her in the future? This career meant travel. Being away for months at a time. Long hours on sets. Not to mention, even if she wanted to start being more open about her life, there was open and then there wasdating a celebrity. Her head was still on his shoulder, and if he leaned down a bit, he could kiss her lips. He wanted to. He wanted to bury his face in her and forget about everything else.
But he wanted to keep making movies, too. He wanted it all… the busy, intense, fulfilling work, and he wanted to come home to Marley’s soft smile at the end of the day.
She finally spoke. “I admire what you do. Your drive and persistence. And I wouldn’t walk away from someone I love because their life turns into a media circus through no fault of their own.”
Wait. What did she say?
She sat up to take a sip of her chai. “This is so good. Did you make this, too?”
He snorted. “You know I can’t make decent tea. That’s my dad’s famous karak chai. You spend any time with this family you’ll learn all our specialties. My sister has a way with macaroni and cheese. The boxed stuff.”
She smiled. “I met your mother. I guess Nalini told her that I offered to take her shopping, so your mother asked if she could come, too.”
“Mom’s beentryinglately,” Nikhil said. “I think Arjun selling your address to photographers was a bit of a wake-up call for her. She said she won’t let Arjun into the house again, andDad even called Arjun’s parole officer and told them what he did while on day parole.”
“Oh wow,” Marley said.
“Mom’s even cooking again. We watched your cousin’s new video together. And she made an appointment to talk to her doctor about her mood. I think she realized that mourning one kid was making her miss out on the other two. I hope, at least. You don’t have to take her shopping, though.”
Marley shrugged. “I don’t mind. I want to get to know your family. I want to be all in, too.” She smiled, then glanced over to the photo wall. “Is that our prom picture on your wall?”
He chuckled. He’d consciously prevented himself from looking at that picture too much in the last couple days. Too painful. “My folks are all about the family pictures.”
“Are there embarrassing ones of you up there?”
“Lots. And more in the albums on that shelf. Stick around and you can learn all my secrets.”
Marley turned to look at him. “Iwantto stick around. I can’t promise anything, Nikhil. But… maybe all this chaos would be easier to manage together?”
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. He put his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her in for a kiss.
And when their lips touched, the little sigh of relief that escaped her was everything. He told her he couldn’t know what his future would be like, but he made a silent promise with himself then that he wouldalwaysbe there for this woman. Through whatever should come her way, or his way, he would be present for her to lean on. He loved her, and he wanted to be hers forever.
He’d gone ten years without her in his life. And yeah, everything hadn’t been rosy in those ten years, but he’d beenmostlyhappy. He had friends. A few relationships here and there. But he hadn’t had this… this all-consuming comfort. This feeling that there was nowhere in the world he was supposed to be but next to this person.
The kiss was short but so sweet. When he pulled back, he kept her close, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead. And then, because he couldn’t not say it anymore, he told her. “I love you, Mahreen. Thanks for coming back.”
“I love you, too, Nikhil. Thank you for finding me six weeks ago.”
He had so much more he wanted to say. They needed to figure out how they were going to make this work. Maybe she could come to LA. Work in a boutique there. Or they could try long distance. He was still in town for a few months. He wouldn’t have a ton of free time once filming started, but they could figure it out. And he wanted to help her with her job issue. Brainstorm ideas for what she could do now. Did she want to stay in retail? Take some time to reassess her options?
He also wanted to tell her how miserable he’d been for the last couple days without her. He missed her. He missed McQueen. He missed her ’70s throwback house and missed all the plants everywhere. He even missed the scent of her oolong tea. But he didn’t say any of that. They could talk later.
Because all that mattered now was that she was here. In his arms. He’d wanted her since the day he met her when they were fifteen. And now he was going to stay hers forever.
“Nikhil,” Nalini called down from the stairs. “Dad wants to know if you all are staying, and if you want jalebi gathiya.”
Marley chuckled.
Nikhil looked at her. “Are we staying?”
“Maybe… or… do you want to come back home with me?”
He grinned. “Yes. That’s exactly what I want.”
After packing up a few things, including some jalebi and gathiya that Dad insisted they take, Nikhil drove Marley back to her house. They were both exhausted. He told her he loved her again as they got into bed. And she said she loved him, too.
Nikhil had never been happier in his life. And he was determined—this time he wasn’t going to lose her. He’d looked for a decade for someone even half as perfect as her; that person didn’t exist. Marley was the only one for him.
