Accidentally Engaged(39)
“So, will you teach me? I did well with the maani, right? I think I can make sourdough,” he said.
She smiled. So much for deflect and distract. She couldn’t abandon him now, after he’d hilariously kept sixteen distinct sourdough starters. He looked at her, those brown eyes a little sheepish. Not a trace of the confident rake. This Nadim was rather endearing.
“Tell you what,” she said. “Give me Brian and toss the rest of the starter into a plastic container in the fridge.”
“Why? What do I do with it?”
“It’ll be fine for a week. Next weekend, we’ll make sourdough pancakes, or rye English muffins, or something that doesn’t need active starter. And I’m happy to teach you to make sourdough bread in the meantime.”
He grinned widely, that unexpected dimple transforming his face. “Yeah? Brilliant.” He took one of Brian’s progeny and clutched the jar to his chest. “Can I keep one, though? I could use a pet.”
She smiled. He was just so cute sometimes. “Of course. Can we finish up with the video now? I’m beat.”
They watched the video one more time together before submitting it. Reena carefully avoided looking at Nadim’s reaction while watching. She didn’t want to know if seeing their on-screen chemistry gave him goosebumps like it did for her. She was nervous about all of this. True, this wasn’t the first cooking video they’d put out in the world. But she’d been too drunk and had no memory of submitting that last one, so it was hard to compare. This video was different. They openly said they were engaged in it. And this would be seen by the public.
She knew the chances of her parents paying the slightest attention to the FoodTV website were slim to none, but what if someone else saw it and told them? What if Saira saw it?
Maybe it wasn’t that big a deal if her family found out—she could admit they were only pretending. It would be a bigger disaster if they found out about Reena’s job. But it was just easier when her parents didn’t know about her life.
Nadim high-fived her once the video was sent. “We totally got this. Don’t forget me when you’re a rich and famous food personality and I’m just the project manager you exploited to get your way.”
She laughed. “I don’t want to be rich or famous. I just want to take that course.”
Nadim tilted his head and smiled warmly. Which prompted Reena to grab Brian, say goodbye, and get the hell out of there. Because that look on his face just made it even harder for her to figure out exactly how he felt about her.
*
Reena’s phone rang early Monday morning. Well, not really that early. She’d finally learned to enjoy some of the perks of unemployment. But despite knowing the rest of the world was awake and bringing home the bacon (or for her fellow Muslims, chicken bacon), confusion still washed over her when she heard that shrill ringtone before nine a.m. Who would call her at this hour?
She grabbed the phone and checked the call display. Crap. Saira.
“Hey, sis, what’s up?” Reena asked, schooling her voice to sound as if she’d been awake and getting ready for work.
“Reena, I’m coming over.”
Jesus. Why was her sister dropping by so much all of a sudden? “But, Saira—”
“Look, Reena. I figured out you’re not working, so no need to make up a story.”
Damnit. Saira knew?
“Do you have a job interview or something to do? If you’re home, I’m coming over,” her sister informed her.
Reena sighed. Apparently today her carefully constructed wall of secrets would be tumbling down. She rolled out of bed. She should’ve been afraid but instead just felt numb.
“I’m home,” she said. “Come on over.”
Saira arrived twenty minutes later, two vibrant green smoothies in hand. Reena tried to conceal her unease as she let her in.
“Relax, Reena,” her sister said, handing both smoothies to Reena. “You look tense. Do some yoga, or something. I haven’t told anyone you lost your job.” Saira bent to take off her boots.
So much for hiding her feelings.
“Um, okay…let’s sit.” Reena took the armchair in the living room, letting her sister sit alone on the sofa.
“So, Railside laid you off.”
“How did you find out?” Reena asked, putting the almost luminous green smoothie on the coffee table.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice that Sidecar stores are closing? Ashraf’s phone store is right near a Sidecar. They’re having a big clearance sale. I got a bunch of sweatshirts and leggings.”
Crap. She’d forgotten Saira’s boyfriend worked in the mall. “But how did you know they let me go? Railside is still open.”
“The cashier told me about layoffs. And your work email address bounced back.”
Reena’s hands fisted. This deception wasn’t sustainable.
“I’m not going to tell Mum and Dad, if that’s what you’re worried about. Drink your smoothie, Reena. You’re looking a little peaked. You should watch your blood sugar in the morning, you’ll find a power smoothie like this will boost your energy all day.”
“Why?”
“Oh, it has a combination of both complex and simple carbohydrates, plus a time-released—”