Accidentally Engaged(82)

Was it because she had more support? Was it because she hadn’t been drinking? Or was it because she was being honest with herself about her problems for the first time in a very long time?

And there was a big question. One that she needed to know the answer to, considering that no matter how not terrible she felt at this moment, there was nothing on the horizon that said her life was going to get any better. How could she ensure that these brand-spanking-new coping skills stuck around?

She remembered her sister’s suggestion of seeing a therapist. Before she could second-guess herself, she called her doctor and left a message that she needed an appointment soon. It was time for Reena to stop deflecting and distracting, and face this part of her life, too.

She finally left the Sparrow long after the sun set, after excusing herself from another hearty discussion with Steve about the merits of homemade hot sauces. She was exhausted. It had been a long day, and tomorrow might be even longer. She wasn’t entirely sure she had the strength to get through a day of sari shopping with her mother and sister, but she was determined to stop avoiding things that she didn’t want to do. That included talking to Nadim. His car was in his parking space now. She pulled out her phone and texted him.

Reena: We need to talk. Breakfast tomorrow? My place?

She bit her lip as she saw the three dots flash on her screen telling her he was responding. Finally, the text came through.

Nadim: Okay. Message me when you want me to come over.

Good. That was done. And at least she’d get a night’s sleep before she would see him.

Or…not. Because when she went to open her door, she realized she didn’t have her keys. Ugh. She’d had a spare made for Nadim last week—it had seemed like such a huge step in their nonrelationship at the time. And she knew Nadim was home, and awake.

Heart pounding heavily in her chest, she summoned some hidden bravery and knocked before she could change her mind.

No answer. No sounds from within. She knocked again. Nothing.

Her shoulders fell.

But then she heard the doorknob. The chain-latch lock was still fastened, restricting the door from opening more than about four inches. And his deep voice spoke with an accent fainter than the day they met, and a weary reluctance that was also new.

“Breakfast is eaten in the morning, Reena.”

“I know. I…just need my key. I’m locked out.”

“I’ll get your spare.” Footsteps trailed away from the door.

Her knees weakening, Reena lowered herself to sit on the old tile floor and closed her eyes. That optimism, the feeling of being okay, was gone. All she wanted was her key so she could lock herself in her apartment and cry until he left the country. Her bravery strolled right out of there the moment she heard that sexy, weary voice.

“I can’t seem to find it,” he suddenly said. “I may have put it in a box by mistake. I’m packing.”

Reena nodded shakily, pressing her hands against the floor, ready to get up. “It’s fine. I’ll get Marley’s.”

When she was halfway to her feet, he spoke again. “Reena, wait.”

Her butt fell back to the floor.

“Are you sitting on the floor?”

“Yes.”

She heard some movement from within his unit, a shuffling of fabric, then a hollow thump on the wall behind her.

“Sit against the door,” he said.

She shifted so her back was leaning against his door, which was being held from opening fully by the chain. She looked into his apartment and saw Nadim, his expression concerned and sad. He was also sitting on his floor, back leaning against the wall near the door.

They were inches apart now, but with a door chained closed between them, the opening just enough to see most of his face. Hair a little longer, though still firmly in the crew-cut category. Still clean-shaven; he’d given up on that douche-beard, thankfully. Without the beard, his one dimple lit her up every time he smiled. No smile now, though. Intense eyes searched hers, almost asking a question.

She took a deep breath, trying to call back the courage that had deserted her. “Maybe we should just talk now,” she said quietly.

“Do you want to come in?”

She looked around the tiny, empty hallway, and then back at the gap into his apartment. This would be easier with the door between them. She didn’t want to see his whole face, or his apartment…all packed up into boxes. This was her same old avoidance, but she allowed herself this one. “No. Let’s do it here.”

She wanted this to end on neutral grounds. Nothing was more neutral than the empty hallway between their apartments.

He shifted a bit. “Okay,” he said. “Let’s talk, Reena.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE



I’ll go first,” he said, his voice reverberating through the wall. “Jasmine and I are not engaged. We broke up a long time ago.”

She bit her lip. She was pretty sure she believed him. “In Egypt, right?”

“Yes. I’m really sorry, Reena. I should have told you about her. My father insisted I couldn’t disclose my past with Jasmine to you or your father. I never wanted you to get hurt.”

“What I don’t get is why after working for Salim Shah while engaged to his daughter, you immediately started working for his archenemy and agreed to marry his daughter? Were you some sort of corporate spy?”