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“Hi, Ari,” I chirp, picking up the call.
“You got engaged to Dash Stern?” she screeches in a high-pitched voice.
“Did Mom tell you?”
“Mom? What, no,” she denies. Her tone sounds taken aback. “It’s all over the news, Bee. One of my colleagues showed me a tabloid with you standing beside Dash. How come you never told me you’re dating a freaking billionaire? Why would you keep it a secret?”
I’m still processing the news of an article being out there to hear the rest of her words. Thanks to my dad shielding us from the limelight, the media has never paid much attention to write some gossip story about me.
It means Dash is probably the reason there’s one out there, which is going to make my dad pissed.
Another complication I didn’t need.
And shouldn’t Dash have warned me that the fucking paparazzi stalks him? Just how famous is he? So many questions, not a lot of time for answers.
“Bee? You there?” Arya’s voice pulls me back to focus on the present.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m here.”
“So it’s true then? You and Dash? Do Mom and Dad know?” she asks in rapid fire succession.
“Yes. We had lunch with them on Sunday and announced the big news.”
“Was this the reason you told me to win Aryan back?”
The relief and giddiness I hear in her voice when she utters his name strengthens my resolve and reminds me why I’m going through with this charade in the first place. Love really makes us do stupid things.
“Of course, Ari. I told you everything will turn out fine. Once I’m happily married, you can ask Dad for yours and Aryan’s next year.”
“How did he take it when you told them?” Her tone is hesitant and low. “Was Ma happy?”
I wonder if I should share the whole debacle and tension at lunch because Arya has never been able to understand my complicated relationship with our parents. More often than not, she sides with them and honestly, it’s not her fault they get along. But that doesn’t mean it hurts less. Their values and desires simply align.
“They’re not talking to me.”
“Seriously? But why?”
“Because I chose the man myself and didn’t tell them before becoming engaged.” I sigh, a headache slowly forming. “It’s like I can’t win with them. The article will only make them madder.”
“They’re being silly. Dash is better than any man they could’ve picked for you, Bee,” she consoles. “I’ll talk to them.”
“Don’t you dare,” I immediately counter, shaking my head even though she can’t see.
At my firm tone, she mutters, “Fine. But we’re meeting this Sunday and you’re telling me all about your secret whirlwind romance. I can’t believe you hid it from me. God! I have so much to ask you.”
If only she knew the truth. “Sure, Ari. I gotta go. My dinner’s here.”
“Congratulations, by the way,” she replies in a singsong voice. “Bye, Bee. Love you.”
I hang up just as the doorbell rings. Shutting down my laptop, I walk to the front door and return to the kitchen while carrying the food bag. The smell of the burger, enticing and lifting my troubled mood.
As I rest it on the island, my phone notifies me about a text message. Curious, I make my way to the dining table and I pull up short when I see it’s from my mother. Arya better not have ignored my warning and talked to her.
MOM:Your father and I would like to have dinner with you this Sunday. Bring your fiancé. We’d like to meet him too.
“Well, damn,” I mutter. Maybe there’s hope, after all. But first, I need to confirm, so I text Arya.
ME:Did you talk to Mom?
