There's Something About Sweetie(65)

“Oh, sorry. I’m at IHOP. It’s sort of where everyone goes to pull all-nighters. All-you-can-eat pancakes for twelve dollars. We have a giant project coming up in art history about the cuneiform script that the Sumerians developed.”

Ashish smiled. “Dude, don’t rub your wild college life in my face.” He was happy for bhaiyya. It seemed like college—and SFSU’s art program in particular—really suited him.

“Sorry, sorry. Tell me, though. Who’s this girl?”

“Her name’s Sweetie Nair.” He rushed to add, “Yeah, yeah, she’s desi.”

Rishi let out a theatrical gasp. “You dating an Indian girl?”

“I know, I know. And get this: I even let Ma and Pappa set me up. I figured if it worked for you and Dimple …” Ashish frowned. “I’m surprised they haven’t told you all this yet.” Usually his parents and Rishi were like BFFs. As weird as that might sound to other people—Ashish included—it really worked for them.

“I haven’t called them in a while,” Rishi said, sounding guilty. “College has just taken over my life. Between that and sneaking visits in with Dimple when I can …”

“I hear you.”

“So Sweetie, huh? Is she helping you move on from the breakup?”

“Yeah, she is, actually.”

There was a pause. Ashish tried to decide how to say what he wanted to say, what he felt deep inside.

“But?”

“But I’m not sure if it’s going to work. We’re so different. She’s … I’m … My relationship track record sucks. And Celia … she really messed me up, Rishi.”

Rishi’s voice was soft when he spoke, judgment-free. “That’s understandable. Celia was your first love, Ashish.” He paused. “As for your track record—look, everyone’s gotta start somewhere. You have to turn it around somehow. Why not begin now?”

Ashish swallowed and looked at the lit swimming pool in the distance. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

“So this Sweetie girl … is she good?”

Ashish felt a small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, she’s the best.”

“Then give this a chance. You might surprise yourself. But you have to let go of everything that happened with Celia, all the hurt and confusion. Just cut the strings and let that … that kite fly.”

Ashish raised an eyebrow. “That kite, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s late, gimme a break.” Someone called Rishi’s name frantically in the distance.

Ashish chuckled. “You should go. Sounds like an art history emergency.”

“It’s a dangerous world, but somebody’s gotta live it,” Rishi said valiantly. “You okay?”

“I’ll be fine. Talk soon, bhaiyya.”

“Okay. Bye.”

Ashish hung up and sat back, letting the cool breeze wash over him. Rishi hadn’t really said anything earth-shattering, but Ashish still somehow felt better. Like he really would figure things out somehow, like maybe he wasn’t as emotionally stunted as he feared.

His phone beeped again.

Sweetie: you up?

Huh. This was new. Sweetie didn’t usually text after ten p.m. He typed, yeah but why are you? Thought you said you were an early-to-bed-er

ugh econ project don’t ask

uh oh

i need a break so … I have a question

shoot

will you meet me at the corner of McAdam and Harper near where I live? And bring your tennis shoes

He smiled a little as he responded. is this another race? I think you’ve proved that you can kick my butt any day of the week. You don’t have to try when I’m tired and weak

haha no this is something else

very intriguing

so you’ll come?

obviously

k see you in 20

Ashish felt a little burst of energy as he walked inside to get his shoes on and refresh his deodorant (just in case). (He also brushed his teeth. Just in case.) If he was going to be sleepless, then sleepless on a midnight rendezvous with Sweetie was by far the most interesting option. He grabbed his keys and left a note for his parents, but he was sure they wouldn’t be up until the morning. Sleep came easily to everyone in their family. That had included Ashish until very recently.

He drove down to Sweetie’s neighborhood and parked along the curb on Harper Avenue. Looking around, he saw immediately why she’d asked to meet him there. A small basketball court surrounded by a chain-link fence stood on the corner, quiet and empty. Smiling, he walked over to it, sat on a bench, and waited.





CHAPTER 23





He was just about to text Sweetie a picture of himself looking all woebegone and lost when his phone beeped.

Celia: hey, you up? what are you doing?

He stared at the text for a long moment. He remembered what Rishi had said: Cut the strings. He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“Hey.”

Ashish spun around on the bench to see Sweetie walking up, her high ponytail bouncing, her smile bright like a sliver of moonlight in the near darkness. “Hey yourself.” Standing, he reached out and pulled her into a hug. Without even meaning to, he inhaled the scent of her in one long, deep breath, which he let out slowly. His shoulders instantly relaxed.