“Ree, I know I haven’t known you that long, but I … I really like you. And that is completely because of who you are. You’re funny, and competent, and generous, and … I can’t lose this friendship. Remember when I told you that I don’t know who I am most of the time? I’m not like that with you. I feel like me with you. This … connection we have, it’s completely separate from our families. I would never, ever want something from you that you didn’t want, too.” He took a deep breath and held out the box. “This ring cost me thirty dollars, but it won’t turn your finger green. Will you keep it as a promise to never marry me?”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

She blinked. “You’re giving me an engagement ring?”

He smiled nervously and raised one eyebrow. “No. It’s an un-gagement ring. I called my father and told him things were going well at work and with your father, but you and I will not be getting married. The deal with your dad will still go on. I bought this ring because … I thought you’d need a better ring for the contest, and … ” He bit his lip. “I don’t know … I just … ”

That look on his face. He thought he’d screwed up again. But he hadn’t. This ring was … it was lovely. The first thing Reena needed to do was to wipe that look off his face. She let a small smile reassure him. “It’s a beautiful ring.”

But inside, her mind was spinning faster than a food processor blade. An un-gagement ring? Who ever heard of such a thing?

Only Nadim. The man who’d made her laugh, both intentionally and unintentionally every time the walls closed in on her since the day they’d met. Who shared gin gimlets in her local dive bar when she lost her job. Who rubbed her feet after several hours under bright lights for a cooking contest she wanted to enter. And now, when faced with the terrifying prospect of facing this lonely life alone again, he bought her a fake ring to prove his real feelings.

It couldn’t be more perfect. Reena didn’t want to hide the truth anymore—she was coping and surviving thanks to this man.

Fuck it. Salvaging the friendship was one thing, but this ring, this remarkable, extraordinary symbol, didn’t mean commitment, family, tradition, or forever, but only meant he cared for her. Just her. Whatever this thing between them was, it was as real as this diamond was fake, and maybe it was time for Reena to trust the feelings that were threatening to consume her whole.

Reena grinned widely and pushed his shoulders down. He fell back on the living room floor with an umph, legs stretched out in front of him. He still held the ring.

Chuckling, she lowered herself on his lap, straddling his firm thighs. She leaned in to kiss him softly on the neck before presenting her left hand to him. “You’re so weird,” she said, “but yes, I’ll accept your un-gagement ring.”