Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(61)

Prem closed his eyes again. Deepak and Bunty were right. That wasn’t an excuse he could use here. Hadn’t he just had the same conversation with Kareena? “This is different.”

“Different, but you two want completely different things,” Bunty said. “Hello! You’re Dr. Dil. The cardiologist whose first name means love and who actually thinks love is an illusion. And she’s Kareena! The smart-mouthed babe who isn’t afraid to fight anyone who doesn’t believe in love. She wants Prince Charming and happily ever after and a Bollywood-style romance!”

“And that’s something you won’t give her,” Deepak added.

They were right again. About everything. And Prem hated that.

“God damn it,” Deepak burst out. “Why can’t you just admit it? Admit that you have feelings for—”

The door opened to a fully dressed Kareena with tousled hair and glasses.

“Hey!”

“Kareena! How’s it going.”

“Fancy seeing you here.”

Prem rolled his eyes as his friends looped arms over each other’s shoulder and talked over each other as they saluted her with beer.

“You look great,” Bunty said. “Love the sweater vest.”

“Uh, thanks,” she finally said. She turned to Prem, a confused expression on her face over the beautiful glow. “It looks like you have company. I should probably get going. I’ll catch an Uber.”

“No!” All three of them shouted at the same time.

“No, we were just leaving,” Deepak said. He shoved the Chinese food bag in her hand. “We just brought this over for you.”

“And beer,” Bunty said, and handed over one of the six-packs to Prem. “Just your friendly neighborhood delivery service. We’re heading out now. Have fun, you crazy kids!”

“We’ll catch up with you later,” Deepak said, giving Prem a pointed look.

Then both of his friends rushed down the hall toward the elevator bank.

Prem watched them stumble inside one of the cars and heard the soft swish of the doors closing.

He had to admit, even though they were idiots, Prem was lucky to have people like Deepak and Bunty in his life. They may not agree with him right now, but they still had his back.

“I still think I should go,” Kareena said at his side.

She held the bag against her chest, and deliberately put space between them, but Prem wasn’t ready for that yet. Space meant he’d have to process his thoughts about her, and she’d make even more excuses for them to stay away from each other.

“We just got Chinese,” he said, motioning to the bag. “And beer.”

She looked up and down the quiet hallway. “Prem, I don’t know if this—”

He opened his apartment door and ushered her inside before she could finish that sentence. Then, without hesitation, he pressed a hard, firm kiss against her mouth.

“Do you want to go?”

“Prem . . .”

“Do you want to go?” he said when she finally opened her eyes.

“No,” she whispered back.

“Then don’t do that just yet. Spend the night with me. You can sleep in one of my shirts. We’ll Netflix and chill.”

Kareena’s lips twitched. “You mean Jeopardy! and jalebis?”

He ran a hand over her hair. “Exactly. You can pick what we watch. Then sleep over.”

She was already shaking her head. “I am a terrible sleeper. I need all sorts of things just to get to bed, none of which you have here.”

“I have blackout curtains. The sun can be out, and I swear you’d think it was the moon instead.” He knew he sounded desperate, but this was important. She was important. “If you can’t sleep, I promise I’ll drive you home in the middle of the night myself.”

Kareena chewed on her bottom lip, and a small line appeared between her brows. “I don’t know, Prem.”

He kissed her again, and this time, her mouth relaxed under his. Some of the tightness in his stomach eased. “At least stay to eat with me?”

“Okay,” she replied, and this time her free hand touched his bare chest. “Maybe just for dinner.”





Chapter Nineteen

Kareena




Bobbi: How was it? Tell us everything.

Kareena: I just left.

Veera: Whoa. You spent the night?

Kareena: I SLEPT LIKE A FUCKING BABY. I can never sleep anywhere but in my bed! He woke me up with coffee at like seven! And only because he had to go to work and wanted to drive me home!

Bobbi: That’s shockingly sweet coming from someone who I expect to act like a desi fuckboy.

Kareena: I KNOW! What do I do???

Veera: Honey, I think this is a moment where you have to ask yourself, what do you WANT to do? Did he ask you out again?

Kareena: No, but it’s not like we’re really dating. This is not real!





Prem: Hey. Want to try a Turkish restaurant with me? I have surgeries this week, but I’m off on Saturday.





Kareena: copies Prem’s text and sends to friends

Kareena: WHAT DO I SAY??

Bobbi: Say yes, you fool.

Veera: Ooh, I wonder where he’s taking you?