She stayed busy for the next few days. Client meetings, plus the Aim High paperwork. She’d had to hit three different stores to get the ingredients for the Malaysian noodles. Wednesday, she worked from home so she could keep an eye on Dad, but she was steadily busy until five, when she tag-teamed with Rashida Aunty to keep Dad company so she could rush to the shelter for a puppy prom meeting. Thankfully, Asha brought the puppies to the meeting, so that alleviated a lot of Kamila’s stress.

“Potato!” Kamila squealed. She pulled him into her arms. “Look how big you are!” She buried her face in Potato’s soft neck while he squirmed in her arms, trying to lick her face.

Asha laughed. “I figured you needed some puppy time.” She unclipped the leashes from the rest of them. They all promptly ran straight for Kamila, jumping up to her lap to join their brother.

Kamila laughed. “I did. I totally did need these guys.”

“Oh, sweet mother of Alanis Morissette—puppies!” Tim said from the doorway. Which made the puppies leave Kamila and attack the new person in the room.

It took them a while to get settled, of course. But eventually, the three of them were able to get some work done, each with a puppy or two in hand. Soon they had the final list of sponsors, the itinerary, and the menu for the prom sorted out. Kamila wished all charity committees were like this. Puppies might even make the Aim High meetings pleasant. After wrapping up, they headed to Boba Noodle for dinner, since Rashida Aunty was still with Dad.

“Hey! Look who’s here!” Tim said as he opened the door to the noodle shop. Kamila was behind him so she didn’t see who he was talking about, but she assumed it would be Maricel, finally coming to try Kevin’s Earl Grey.

She was three steps from the table when she saw it wasn’t Maricel who Kevin was chatting with, but Rohan. Alone. His suit rumpled, his tie loosened, a big bowl of beef noodle soup in front of him, and a bright-green boba tea.

Rohan.

Why was he here? He was clearly as surprised to see Kamila as she was to see him, because they were staring at each other.