“Nadim and I were pretending to be engaged for a national cooking contest on FoodTV. We find out tomorrow if we made the finals, and they’ll film it in two weeks.”

Saira raised a brow. “I thought you told us all your secrets?”

Reena shrugged. “I forgot one.”

Dad frowned, then shook his head. “I may not have fired him, but his father pulled his investment in the Diamond project and forced Nadim to resign. He has been summoned home to Tanzania.”

Reena swallowed a lump in her throat. “When does he leave?”

“His last day working for me will be Friday, and he’ll be on a plane next week.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

After the drive home, Saira pulled up in front of Reena’s building and grinned widely. “That was actually kind of fun. We should do Mum next.”

“Do what to Mum?”

“You know, ambush. Confront. Although let’s not do it when we see her tomorrow. I don’t want to risk her not paying for my wedding sari.”

“We’re seeing Mum tomorrow?” The last thing she wanted was a second parent interrogation. Even if she was the one doing the interrogating.

“Reena! We’re going shopping, remember? For bridal clothes? We planned it last Sunday! You’re still coming, right?”

Of course. With her life falling apart and all, she’d forgotten about the sari-shopping date with Mum. Ugh. Maybe she should try to get out of it?

She looked at her sister’s hopeful face. No. it was time for Reena to move past her own self-absorption and be there for her sister. Her sister, who had been there for Reena every day since she’d found out about Nadim’s secret maybe-fiancée.

“Of course I’m coming, Saira.”

“Great. We’ll pick you up in the morning. I’ll text you before I leave.”

“Okay. Thanks for taking me today.”

“You’re going to talk to Nadim, right?” Saira asked.

Reena exhaled. “Yes. I’m going to talk to him.”

“Good. See you tomorrow.”

Reena got out of the car, and Saira drove away.

As she walked up the sidewalk, nerves fluttering her stomach, she resigned herself to a truth that she probably always knew—deflect and distract didn’t work. She’d been sweeping things under the rug for so long, but it only left her with a lumpy and treacherous floor. She was going to talk to Nadim, now. They may not have a future, but she needed closure.

Reena looked at the lot next to the building. Nadim’s car wasn’t there. She took a breath.

She’d talk to him later. This wasn’t deflecting, just … postponing. She didn’t want to be alone, though, so instead of going to her apartment, she walked to the Sparrow.

She didn’t drink. She had two bowls of lentil soup, several ginger ales, and played three rounds of darts with bar regulars. She had a long, almost existential chat with Steve over their shared love of smoked peppers, and she sat in on a hilarious new card game about sushi. No drama, no self-pity.