Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(83)

She looked out the kitchen window to the open shed doors. The front taillights were visible from where she stood. “I’ve restored as much as I could on my own. I think it’s time to bring her in.”

Dave let out a whoop and a holler. “Johnny! Johnny! I got the E30 M3 restoration on the phone! She’s ready for us!”

Kareena couldn’t help but smile. She found Dave’s shop by happenstance, and she kept going back to him for parts because he loved cars like they were his children.

She waited for him to come back on the phone before she said, “The car isn’t road ready. She’s going to need a tow to your shop. Can you arrange that for me?”

“Hell, I’ll tow that beaut myself,” Dave said. “Don’t you worry, doll. I’ll take care of her. I can be there tonight if you want.”

“Wow, um. Yeah, sure.” She was supposed to see Prem tonight. It was the only time they had together before Bindu’s engagement party next weekend, but she could cancel. This was important.

And she honestly could use the weekend to think.

Oblivious to her train of thought, Dave started rattling off information. “This is what I need from ya. Tell me when you’re ready.”

“Go for it.”

“Maintenance records?”

“I’ll email them to you.”

“List of restored, replaced, and original components to the vehicle?”

“I’ll send you the spreadsheet.”

“The list of products that you need to buy from us, along with what you want us to leave, and what you want us to take care of.”

“No problem,” Kareena said. “I’ll attach that to the same email. I still have your contact information, so as soon as we hang up, I’ll send it off. Also, the car is in the back shed, so if you have tracks you can put down so my grass doesn’t get completely wrecked, I’ll thank you forever.”

“Psh, you know I’ll come just as prepared as you are,” Dave drawled. A sound of an air compressor whirred in the background. “I’ll be there in an hour or so. Thanks for trusting us with this car, M3. We promise we’ll do your mama right by it.”

“Thanks, Dave,” she whispered in kind. “I appreciate it.”

“Hey, M3. One more thing.”

“Yes?”

Dave let out a deep breath. “Why now? You’ve been working on this thing forever.”

Kareena held out her left hand and looked at her bare ring finger. Would it be strange to feel a piece of jewelry there?

Getting engaged didn’t scare her. But getting engaged to someone who didn’t love her back? That was terrifying.

“M3?”

“Yeah, Dave,” she said, and cleared her throat. “I’ve been working on it myself a long time, and I’m finally ready.”

“Well, we’ll be there soon.”

After hanging up the phone Kareena scrolled through her recent call log and tapped Prem’s name. “Hey,” she said when he answered.

“You’re canceling,” he replied, his voice deadpan.

“Wait, how did you know?”

“Because the last time you called me, you canceled. Please tell me you’re not going to play Dungeons and Dragons with gamer dude tonight. Or FaceTime with a douchebag. Or drink cinnamon to go to the hospital.”

Kareena snorted. “No more bad dates. Hopefully. I have to stay at the house. Dave is coming to pick up my car. I’m finally done with it, and now the rest of the work has to be done by a garage.”

He let out a low whistle. “Wow. Congratulations. I know you said you were close, but I didn’t realize you were this close. How does it feel?”

Exhilarating. Terrifying. Sad. Giddy. Like she’d lost her purpose.

“I’m . . . okay,” she replied. “I know you’re on call next week and I have to help Bindu. Her fiancé’s family is coming in today. You okay meeting at Bindu’s engagement party?”

There was a long pause. “Are you okay with us telling your family about our future plans at your sister’s party?”

No. Definitely no. “Yes,” she said.

“Okay, well, if you’re sure . . . then we’ll talk every night? I’ll call you later, okay?”

“Okay,” she said. The words I love you were on the tip of her tongue, but she bit them back. “Later.”

“Later.”

She heard pounding down the stairs just as she hung up the phone. She turned, clutching her cell to her chest, just as Bindu’s wild expression greeted her.

“What’s wrong?” Kareena said, taking in Bindu’s hair piled on top of her head and the stained T-shirt that said mathlete champion—northeast regionals on the front.

Bindu’s eyes glittered with unshed tears. “There is so much going on, and I completely forgot that I’m supposed to take over halwa tonight to meet Loken’s family! Dadi said I’m supposed to make it for the prayer service they’re having? There isn’t any time! Loken just picked them up from the airport, and he’s driving them to his house right now. I have to get ready and Dadi is out at her kitty party with the aunties, Dad decided to work this weekend, and now I have to cook and wear a stupid sari! We’re Punjabi! Why can’t I wear a suit instead? But no. Loken said his mother would be more impressed if I wore a sari Gujarati style. Now she’s going to hate my halwa and my outfit!”