Page 75 of Everything She Wanted

“Great. Dev’s team was awesome.”

“Yeah, I saw the clip you posted of them.” I stare down at my cup. “And the one with Sonia’s Giddha team.”

“Nish, come on. I didn’t know she would be there.”

He takes his cup in one hand and goes to the other side of the counter, taking a seat on the barstool.

I clench my teeth so hard, my jaw hurts. “You just had to take a picture of her.”

“Yeah, I actually did. The outfits they were wearing are from the shop,” he says, his tone razor sharp.

I stare down at the floor, but I can’t let this go yet. Even though he has a reason for everything. “Dev was home just after one a.m. Why were you out so late?” I glare at him but keep my voice calm.

He shifts back in his seat. “Nish, he had rehearsals every night this week for the performance. He was baked. He left early.”

“And you stayed out until three a.m.?”

“Yeah, I ran into some guys I went to high school with,” he says as he takes another sip of his steaming cha. “Seriously, stop it with this shit.”

His words are like a slap in the face. I feel tired and hollowed out, and I need to stop creating drama where there isn’t any. I was the one in a bathroom with Nick last night, and here I am questioning Eshaan.

I wander over to him and sit beside him.

“Sorry, I just got anxious when I saw the picture.”

“It’s cool. But watch what you say next time.” He takes the last swig of his cha and gets up to put his cup in the sink.

Frustration bubbles in my chest. I already watch everything I say around him.

“Hey, I got you something. Be right back.” His harsh tone from earlier is gone and I sag into my stool. I watch as he retreats to his room and returns a moment later with a tan shoebox. He hands it to me and I read “Christian Louboutin, Paris” on the top of the box.

There’s no fucking way.

I place the box on the counter and lift the top open. The interior is a bright red. I carefully unwrap the shoes and then lift one out and gasp.

It has two clear straps and it’s encrusted with gorgeous blue, yellow, and pink pastel jewels.

“Eshaan, these are stunning.”

“I thought they would go with your engagement lehenga perfectly.”

I hold it like I’m holding Cinderella’s slipper, turning it this way and that in the light.

“Try them on.”

I lift out the other one and slip them on my feet and do a model walk in the kitchen. They fit like a dream.

“These must have cost more than my outfit.” I stop in front of him. With the heels I come up to just above his shoulders.

He wraps his arms around my waist.

“Only the best for you, babe.” He gives me a sweet smile. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to give you my credit card for anything else you need for the engagement.” He reaches for his wallet on the kitchen counter, slips out his card, and hands it to me. “Here.”

“I already have almost everything,” I say in a rush.

He leans in for a kiss.

“Keep it just in case.”