Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(74)

“Get away? Like where?”

“I don’t know. I’m not on call, and they’re doing a rerun of one of my old episodes because there is supposed to be a special broadcast conflicting with the time slot. We can go to the beach if you want?”

“You mean the shore,” Kareena replied. “You’re in Jersey. It’s the shore.”

Prem kissed her again, this time longer, and with a small lick of his tongue. “Fine. The shore. Come with me.”

“I’m helping with my sister’s engagement party,” she said.

“Fuck it.”

These bubble moments with him were . . . amazing. She felt like she didn’t have to worry so much when it was just the two of them. “Fine,” she said before she could change her mind. “Let’s do it.”

“Great. Front door code is my birthday. Let yourself out whenever.” He started walking backward, juggling his bag, files, coffee mug, and keys. “We need to talk, but I have to go. I’ll text you later.”

Kareena nodded and waited for him to close the door behind him before she picked up her fork again. She’d just agreed to go with him on vacation to a place that would be especially hard for her to leave.

Her mind turned back to focusing on the eggs. The last time anyone made her eggs with chaat masala was when her mother was still alive. It was so special. Those Sunday morning breakfasts with eggs, and hot milk with just enough tea in it to make her feel special.

Kareena took another bite, and then a third.

Prem took her out on the most fun dates she’d ever been on. She’d never had mind-blowing sex the way she’d experienced with him. And most importantly, he listened to her. She could sleep when she was with him, and he was constantly feeding her.

She took her time finishing the eggs, and when her plate was clean she sat back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

She’d been prepared for almost every scenario: losing her mother’s house, living alone in some rental property, and having to sell her car. Or worse, settling for someone she didn’t love at all.

The one thing that Kareena hadn’t prepared herself for was falling in love with a man who could never love her back.





Chapter Twenty-Four

Prem




Prem: Mom, don’t freak out, but I met someone.

Mom: Oh my goodness, really?? My beta, I’m so proud!!

Mom: ::religious meme::

Mom: ::religious meme::

Mom: ::party meme::

Prem: It’s Kareena. The woman who interrupted my show.

Prem: . . . Mom?

Prem: Mom, did your phone die?

Mom: No, but you killed a part of my heart. That woman?? The woman who practically ruined your reputation?? Why her?

Prem: Would you rather I stop talking to her and go back to being single?

Mom: Is she from a good family at least?

Prem: Mom.

Mom: Whatever, you’re thirty-five, she’ll do.

Prem: MOM. Can you at least PRETEND not to be a mess?

Mom: What’s the fun in that?





Prem knew that Kareena had never gone away for a weekend with a man. With her friends, sure, but alone with another human being for an extended period of time?

She was going to put up walls.

Or at least he expected her to put up walls.

Instead, she’d relaxed in his passenger seat, trading in her sweater vest for a V-cut strappy ankle-length dress made out of gauzy cotton that had a row of buttons from the center of her breasts down to her knees. When she’d changed at his apartment, he almost dragged her back into his bedroom, but she had a wild, excited energy around her. Prem never thought a night away at the beach would make her so happy.

They’d spent almost two hours stuck in traffic with the windows down and a Taylor Swift playlist blasting through his speakers. They barely paid attention to the music, though. They were so busy talking. Podcasts, college, favorite restaurants, movies, bucket lists, travel plans.

And Kareena made Prem laugh. Really, truly laugh.

The first time they’d slept together, he knew that he’d wanted to keep her. To be with her. It was a gut reaction that didn’t go away.

But now, he didn’t know what would happen if she didn’t want to keep him right back. Because she still wanted something that he couldn’t give her.

“Come on,” he said after parking in the assigned spot for their rental condo. “Let’s dump the bags and get some food.”

“You read my mind.”

It felt like the easiest thing in the world to be with her in that moment. After putting their bags inside the master bedroom, he linked fingers with her and walked down to the boardwalk toward the small Mexican restaurant.

Unfortunately, there was a horde of people standing outside. Prem hadn’t gone down to the shore as much as she apparently had, because it took Kareena two seconds to pivot and submit a takeout order.

“Let’s go eat on the beach,” she said as they grabbed the white plastic takeout bag from the hostess up front. “It’s dark, but the weather is great.”

Prem didn’t argue and led the way down into the sand and toward the water. They found a quiet dune illuminated by the boardwalk lights behind them, but dark enough for privacy.

“I bet you get this kind of weather in California all the time,” Kareena said as she set up their takeout containers.