Accidentally Engaged(72)

What the hell did they want her to say? That she hadn’t asked him about his past and instead listened to apparently incomplete gossip? That she hadn’t been willing to be honest with him, so she let him keep secrets from her?

That she wasn’t surprised that the first time she thought a relationship was real, it turned out to be a giant illusion.

Reena was disgusted with herself. He actually gave her a fake ring, and he never pretended it was anything more. Only she did. This was all on her.

Bile rose from the bottom of her throat. She dug this pit herself, and she wished she could bury herself in it.

“That’s it,” Saira snapped. “I’m not listening to one more word of this. Do you even hear yourself, Mum? Reena not caring about the family? Can’t you see what she’s going through?” Saira put her arm back on Reena’s shoulder and clutched tightly. “Do you two remember what happened when I found Joran with that woman? You were going on about what people would say and ordering me not to tell anyone, and you”—she pointed at Dad—“were going on about how this wouldn’t have happened if I’d gone with a good Muslim boy. Reena was the only person in this whole screwed-up family who realized I was in pain. For once in your life, have some goddamn compassion.” Saira pulled Reena up by the arm and picked up her purse. “I will not stand around and watch this…C’mon, Reena. Ashraf, get us out of here.”

Shaking, Reena gave Ashraf the keys to her car once they were outside, well aware that she was in no state to drive. She opened her backseat, sat down, and buckled the seat belt.

Saira sat in the front passenger seat, talking quietly to Ashraf, who gently stroked her arm. “Sorry,” Saira said, turning to look at Reena. “I kinda lost it. I’m not sure that helped at all, but I couldn’t deal with them anymore. How’re you doing?”

How was she doing? She put her hands over her face, rubbing it to reassemble all the pieces that scattered when Dad said Nadim was engaged.

“I’m fine. Not like I’ve never been dumped.” She closed her eyes, willing away the deep throb that had settled between her brows.

“Jesus Christ, Reena, I don’t think I’ll ever understand you. The asshole was engaged the whole time! Don’t say you’re fine! Be upset! Feel this stuff!”

Ashraf started the car. “Where am I going?” he asked.

“Just take me home,” Reena said.

“Fine,” Saira said, nodding to Ashraf. “But we’re staying to run interference in case the dickhead shows up.”

But Nadim wasn’t there when they got to the building. Or at least, his car wasn’t there. And Reena wasn’t feeling generous enough to wonder where the fuck he had gone.

Ashraf and Saira spoke softly to each other as soon as they were in Reena’s apartment. He kissed Saira on the forehead and left, with a sad smile to Reena.

“He has to work,” Saira said.

Reena shrugged, lowering herself onto the sofa.

Saira sat next to her. “What a fucking tool. You had no idea? Did you know he worked for Salim Shah at least?”

Reena shook her head. “No.” A tear escaped her eye. She rubbed it away. Fuck. She needed a drink.

“Ugh. I hate men. Should I call Amira or Khizar? I’m sure you want someone better than me to talk to.”

“Amira.” Reena’s brain wasn’t working right, but Amira would tell her what to do.

Saira opened a video call on her own phone, and Amira answered with a concerned voice. “Saira. What’s wrong?”

“Reena’s in crisis. She’s here, hang on.” She passed the phone so Reena could see the worried face of her best friend.

“What happened, Ree? You okay?”

“Yeah. Just…at brunch…” Her voice cracked.

Saira took the phone back and spoke into it. “Nadim is a lying cheater. He’s been engaged to the daughter of Dad’s nemesis for a year.”

“What. The. Fuck?!”

Reena leaned back and closed her eyes. She’d woken up so happy in Nadim’s arms in that hotel room. He had kissed her leisurely at dawn before moving on to rub her feet. That was just a few hours ago. Now, she had no idea if she would ever see him again.

Reena closed her eyes while Saira told Amira everything she knew. Which, admittedly, wasn’t a whole lot.

And none of it really mattered except that he was engaged. And that he had lied to her.

“I’m on my way, Ree,” Amira said the moment Saira got to the part about Nadim’s engagement. “Give me about two hours.”

“Amira, don’t.” She took the phone from Saira. “You have to work tomorrow. By the time you get here you’ll have to turn around to go home. I’m fine.” She was not fine.

“It’s not you I’m coming to see. It’s that snake. I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

“It’s okay, Amira,” Saira said, taking the phone back. “I’m already here. I’ll pour sugar in his gas tank or something. That’s a thing, right? Ashraf offered to disable his phone service remotely. I know it’s not the flashiest revenge, but it’s the thought that counts.”

“Enough, guys,” Reena said. She didn’t want revenge. She rested her head back and closed her eyes. She didn’t even want to think about this right now. All she wanted was to escape to a world where none of it was happening.