When Dimple Met Rishi(99)
Rishi stepped toward her, his heart pounding like it was trying to make an escape. He circled his arms around her waist. “Because, Dimple Shah, I am stupidly, idiotically, annoyingly in love with you. You were right about so many things. I was afraid. I was terrified of doing what I wanted and of hurting my parents. I was carrying this huge weight on my shoulders without even realizing it—without even needing to. You’ve made me braver. It’s like you have this paintbrush, dipped in brilliant mauves and teals and golds, and you just totally redid my monochromatic life. I need you; I need your paintbrush.” He pushed a shaky hand through his hair, terrified and exhilarated and breathless. “Wow. I’m not even sure if that made any sense.”
Dimple tipped her head back farther and smiled up at him in a way that made his heart do some very interesting things. “It makes total sense. I was the same way. I said you were cowardly, but I was just as terrified, Rishi.” She shook her head, sunshine glinting on her glasses. “I was so afraid of going down the same path as my parents, of ending up in the same domestic life, that I forgot to consider one thing: This is our life. We get to decide the rules. We get to say what goes and what stays, what matters and what doesn’t. And the only thing I know is that I love you. It hurts too much to be apart from you.” She stopped, her eyes glittering with tears.
Rishi breathed deeply, the loneliness and the doubt and the brilliant pain of the last month finally dissipating. “Same,” he whispered. And then, louder, “I’m sorry it took me the rest of the summer to realize it and come after you. But I’m here now. You’re here now. So what do you say we do this the right way this time around?”
Dimple grinned, her ears pounding with the rhythm of a thousand Bollywood love songs. “Yes, please.”
And she closed the gap between their lips.
This book would never have happened without my amazing editor, Jennifer Ung. Not only is Jen a talented editor with an uncanny ability to mind-meld, she’s also working tirelessly to bring diversity to children’s book publishing, an undertaking near and dear to my heart. And as if that weren’t enough, she’s also the master of sending relevant dog memes via e-mail. Thank you so, so much for all you do. I’m beyond excited that we’re going to be continuing to work together!
To my indefatigable and completely lovely literary agent, Thao Le, thank you for bringing this opportunity to me. I was in a complete writing slump until I got that e-mail from you—on my birthday, of all days.
To the entire Simon Pulse team, from my exceptional designer, Regina Flath, to the publicity and marketing team, and everyone in between—thank you, thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Pulse has been like a warm and welcoming family. I couldn’t have asked for a better house!
To my family, who support me without question and with unbridled enthusiasm always, I want to say, you guys are my lobsters. I love you, and I can’t wait for more mountain adventures!
And last but definitely not least, I want to thank YOU, dear reader. You, who felt moved by Dimple and Rishi’s story, who rejoiced with them through the joyous moments and cried alongside them through the hard ones. I hope you were able to see yourself in this book, no matter who you are or where you come from. I’m pretty sure kismet led you here—and I know Rishi would agree.