Page 57 of Everything She Wanted

“Cut the crap. He sent me a photo.”

I want to scream. Of course he did.

“That’s the guy you went to the conference with.” He swerves into a parking spot in front of my building, stopping too aggressively.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on between you and this asshole?”

“There’s nothing going on, Eshaan.” I look straight ahead, resignation and outrage fuelling me in equal measure.

“Bullshit. You’re mad because of a few innocent texts with my ex, but god only knows what you’re up to while you’re away for work.”

“Shaan, stop. There’s nothing going on between us. I had a headache, and he was just showing me an acupressure point to help.” I was right to think this would sound pathetic and stupid—it does, and I immediately regret saying it.

“Fuck. You’re unbelievable, you know that, and so naive. Guys will say all sorts of shit.”

“He didn’t, he wouldn’t,” I stammer, even though I know he did and he would. My heart races thinking about that kiss, that night.

“Tell me the truth, now.”

“Shaan, stop. There’s nothing to tell.” I finally turn to him and notice that he’s about to lose it in a way that I haven’t seen before.

“I’ll give you this one chance to come clean, but later, if I ever find out you’ve been messing around on me, we’re done. I don’t give a shit if we’re engaged. I won’t protect you either. If anyone asks why it’s over, I’ll tell them you were fucking around.”

Humiliation and tears sting my eyes. It took me nearly a decade to get over the scandal with Sunny. This would destroy my reputation, and I don’t think I would ever recover.

“You can tell your friend to stop spreading shit because he has nothing going on in his own sorry life,” I spit out, channelling my anger at Dev.

“Don’t take this out on him.”

“You’re always protecting him. You believe him over me.” I’m being petty and childish, but I don’t even care.

“When he has evidence, I do.”

“Evidence of what, Shaan? Listen to yourself.”

“I didn’t realize you’re okay with other guys touching you, but wow, okay.”

“Whatever. I can’t do this right now.” I open the door, and he grabs my arm, hard.

“This isn’t over.”

I pull my arm away. “Believe what you want, but I didn’t do anything wrong.” The words are shaky. I’m horrible, and now I’m lying, and this could mess everything up. But I know that with Shaan’s jealousy, coming clean isn’t an option. If he’s this crazed over a guy touching my hand, I can’t tell him that he kissed me, too. I get out and slam the door of his precious fucking car, knowing how much it will irritate him.

He speeds away, and I use the last bit of strength I have left to head up to the condo.

My life is a fucking mess and I’m the creator of it all. Is this what Rachel meant when she talked about taking charge of our destiny? I doubt it and myself more than ever.

19. Hot in Here

Nick glances at his watch while I pull out my phone and scan the display for the time.

“We can’t go.” I look up at him, unsteady on my feet, maybe from my too-high heels, or maybe from my proximity to him.

“Oh, we have to go.” He gives me a smirk and runs a hand through his lush golden locks. His navy half sleeve collared shirt is tight across his chest and his hair glistens in the noon sunlight as we stand on the sidewalk on Davie Street. We just finished our meeting with Henrik, an investor from Europe. He was so impressed with our pitch he signed on the spot and then gave us passes to the brand-new Nordic spa he’s also part owner of.

“Another hour won’t make a difference, especially not now since we roped him in,” he says casually as he glances over at me like it wouldn’t make a difference if I said yes or no, but his eyes tell a different story. He pops on his aviators as I shield my eyes with my hand and turn to look at him.

“Okay, fine, but if we get busted, it’s totally your fault.”