My So-Called Bollywood Life(33)

“Nope, but I’ve never done the expected.”

“Good point,” Bridget said.

Before Winnie could comment, an icy breeze hit her, and she shivered.

“Where’s your coat?” Dev asked.

“I was an idiot. Completely forgot it.”

After a minute he stood. “I’ll be right back.”

He was gone before Winnie could respond. Someone on the field blew a horn and everyone started cheering. Cheerleaders waved their pom-poms, and the marching bands played something peppy. The teams began pouring from separate corners of the stadium onto the field. Winnie checked her phone and then braced herself for another gust of wind. She shivered harder this time.

    “I’m going to warm up on the main level,” she said, poking Bridget in the side. She figured she’d return before Dev got back.

“Do you want me to go with you?” Bridget asked.

“I’m good. Be back in a sec.”

Winnie reached the main concourse, crammed with food vendors and people, and instantly felt better out of the wind. After scanning the crowd for Dev, Winnie headed for the restroom to check on her hair when she spotted Raj and Jenny standing off to the side. From the way Raj was looking at everything but Jenny, arms folded, shoulders hunched, he was totally getting eaten alive.

She tried to give them a wide berth as she passed. Dealing with Raj and Jenny while she was on a date was the last thing she wanted to do. She almost managed to sneak by, but Jenny swung around and stopped her.

“You!” she shouted. “You broke us up because you were jealous!”

Winnie winced. Jenny’s voice carried in the echo of the concourse level, and some people had already stopped to see where the yelling was coming from.

“Jenny, this isn’t her fault,” Raj said.

Winnie looked at the bathroom door in the distance and tried to hustle toward it.

    “That’s right, just ruin this and run away!” Jenny shouted. “You only care about yourself and your stupid movies.”

Jenny’s words had her skidding to a halt. All plans for making a quick exit vanished. She stormed over until she was standing next to Raj. “You knew Raj and I had been together for years, and you’re pointing fingers at me? Didn’t he tell you we were on a break?”

Jenny’s bloodshot eyes widened before cooling. Her tongue licked at her chapped lips. “Everyone knows that if you’re on a break, you’re broken up.”

“Why the hell do people believe that?” Winnie said, arms flailing. “But whatever—we’re broken up for real now. I told him that we were over. Your relationship is your business.”

“Well, he wants you back, so congratulations. You won.” Jenny spun on her heels and stormed off.

Everyone was going to hear about this before school on Monday, Winnie thought.

Raj leaned against the brick wall, scrubbing his hands over his face. He looked so miserable.

Winnie hesitated, and then said, “You okay?”

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

“Probably because you and Jenny obviously have something, and I don’t want to get in the middle. I never thought I’d say this, but you should try to work things out.”

“I broke things off with Jenny because you matter to me. You’re still the love of my life. It’s not just your prophecy and future at stake; it’s mine, too, since I think we’re destined here.”

    “If that’s the case, then you wouldn’t try to change me. I’m going to NYU. If you really had feelings for me, you’d help me solve this film-festival problem instead of thinking that I’m the problem. We’re officially over and in the past.”

“If what you’re saying is true, then you would’ve gotten rid of my bracelet with my movies. But you kept it.”

Her cheeks warmed. “I’ve been trying to give it back to you for weeks! You’re the one being a butthead about it.”

He pushed off the wall and stepped closer until they were only inches apart. He looked down at her, and for the first time in all the years she’d known him, he had a cockiness on his face that she’d never seen before.

“You may think I’m doing this because of your horoscope, but I’m actually doing it for me, too. For us. We’re good together. I just have to remind you of that.”

“Nope. Sorry. Not gonna happen.” She turned to leave, but he gripped her arm and pulled her back a step. It felt nothing like Dev’s touch.

“I’m fighting for you, Winnie,” he said, louder. “Like the heroes in your favorite movies. Which, by the way—I know them all. Does anyone else? No one. Maybe not even Bridget.”

Before she could pull away, his hand was ripped off hers, and he grunted as she heard a smacking sound of body meeting cement.

    Dev pinned Raj to the wall with his forearm pressed against his neck. He had a sweatshirt draped over one shoulder, and his other hand was pushing against Raj’s chest.

“Dev! What are you doing? Let him go,” she hissed. Her heart pounded as she watched them press closer, struggling against each other. Raj was a lot thinner and shorter than Dev, but he was able to push him away.

“Touch her again, and I’ll do more than put you in a choke hold, asshole,” Dev said through clenched teeth.