Somehow Marlene managed to frown with her nose high in the air. “Well, I’ve already booked the event room here at this shared workspace,” she said, not even acknowledging what Kamila had said. “I’m imagining a cocktail reception, but I concede to you to iron out details. You’ll need someone to work with from the committee. Most of us here have specific skills that I think would be underused in party planning. I suppose I could partner with you on this while I’m also looking at real estate—”

“I’ll work with Kamila,” Rohan said.

Marlene frowned. “Oh, Mr. Nasser, I already have you down to spearhead the organizational bylaws. With your legal expertise, you—”

“I can do both.” He looked at Kamila. “Kamila and I know each other well. We’re a good team.”

It was a little disconcerting that he was calling her Kamila instead of Kam, and she was pretty sure he only volunteered to save her from Marlene and didn’t actually want to plan a cocktail party with her, but Kamila was still delighted he volunteered. Rohan was the only one in this crowd she wanted to spend more time with (except maybe Anil). This was perfect. She loved making momos with him the other night, and this could be just as fun.

“Okay, then, Mr. Nasser is on the launch-party team. I’ll send you the contact for the venue. Three weeks should—”

“Wait,” Kamila interrupted. “Three weeks? When exactly is this party?”

Marlene gave a bothered huff. “I just said, in three weeks. The room is booked for Saturday evening.” She named the date.

“Oh fudge. I can’t, then.” Kamila cringed and looked at Rohan. “The Dogapalooza is that weekend. I’ll be busiest on that Sunday for the prom, but I’m going to have stuff on that Saturday, too.” She started listing the events on her fingers. “The canine couture show, the dog-and-car wash, the corgi high tea—”

“So, you can’t do it?” Marlene said. “Why did you volunteer, then?”

“I never actually told Kamila the date of the event,” Anil said. He looked at Kamila apologetically. “I should have asked first. But your main event is on Sunday, right? And you have a committee helping you there?”

“Well, yes—technically,” Kamila said. Tim was the co-chair of the prom. But still, it was a lot for one weekend.

“It’s your call—but I have faith you can manage both,” Anil said. His voice was full of trust. It was strange. She really didn’t know Anil that well yet, but there was something respectful about the way he spoke to her. Unlike Marlene.

Rohan said on Friday that many people underestimated her. Well, Anil was someone who didn’t.

“It’s too much to put on Kamila’s plate,” Rohan said. “She has other clients, too.”