Rohan stared at her. Now he was very angry. There was even a vein throbbing on his forehead. Good. “Jesus Christ, Kam. Do you even listen to yourself? God forbid someone take you down a peg from that high mountain you imagine yourself on. You’ll only accept fawning and adoration from us all, nothing else. You know what? Maybe it’s good Jana makes you insecure. Maybe you’ll learn to be more like her. When Jana’s going through a rough time, she doesn’t take it out on her friends. And she lets them live their own lives. Not you—you only allow your friends to be who you want us to be. To act the way you want, dress the way you want, to date who you want. I can’t even be friends with people you don’t approve of. We’re all your toy soldiers to play with, here to entertain the whims of Kamila the Exalted One. You don’t care about anyone but yourself, Kam.”

He took a long gulp of his wine. Kamila didn’t know what to say. She looked down, blinking. Is that really what he thought of her? Was it all true?

“I don’t need this.” She wiped a tear. “Not from you.” She walked past him and went back outside.

Rohan started the movie when he came back out, but he didn’t say anything. It was near impossible for Kamila to enjoy the film, though. Even watching a delightful comedy while Anil made hilarious commentary in her ear didn’t help her forget what Rohan had said.

You don’t care about anyone but yourself, Kam.

This should have been an amazing night—all her friends gathered, watching a movie on a rooftop patio under the stars. But instead, it was soured because of Jana again.

About a half hour into the movie, Kamila’s phone rang. She checked the call display.

It was Jana Suleiman.

Absolutely not. Hadn’t Jana already done enough tonight? Why was she calling Kamila?

But curiosity got the better of her and she answered the phone.

“Kamila,” Jana said, sounding like she was in a car. “When I got home, your dad was complaining about chest pains. I’m taking him to the hospital.”

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Kamila closed her eyes as her phone dropped out of her hands.

Chest pains. Hospital.

Suddenly there was someone at her feet. Taking the phone off her lap.

“This is Rohan,” he said into the phone. “What happened?”

Kamila didn’t hear what Jana said. Because that’s how phones worked. Someone was rubbing her back. Anil.

Dad is on his way to the hospital. That’s what Jana had told her.

Kamila’s hand went to her face, scrubbing away the sharp pain she felt over her whole self. She needed to pull herself together. She had to get there. She stood. “I need to be at the hospital.”