“What are we doing, Vansh?” Naina said as soon as they were in the privacy of the waiting room. “What the hell are we doing?” She pressed her face into her hands. “My whole life is upside down. Hari’s hospitalized. My work—I don’t even know what Jiggy is going to pull next.” She looked up and pointed to the door. “And my God, how did we ever think we’d be able to sneak around when people who’ve known us all our lives are everywhere? How did I let my life get this messed up?”

Vansh opened his mouth and she raised a hand to stop him. “Don’t apologize again. It doesn’t change anything.”

“I know. I shouldn’t have pushed Hari. I should have listened to you. I will do better. From now on Hari will only do what he’s comfortable doing. We’re going to get him the help he needs.” Why hadn’t he listened to her? He’d let his own experiences cloud his judgment. All his life he’d pushed himself, when the world’s pushiest family refused to push him. He’d told himself it wasn’t about them not believing in him. He’d told himself he didn’t care. But it had been a hole, and he’d tried to fill it by doing for Hari what no one had done for him.

He’d been an idiot. And it had hurt someone he cared about.

A laugh huffed out of her. “How is it so easy for you to believe that everything can be fixed so simply?”

“Why are you laughing? Is it funny that I feel like such shit?”

He must’ve looked as wrecked as he felt, because she cupped his cheek. “No, I hate that you feel like shit. You feeling like shit hurts me more than I want it to. I know you never meant to hurt Hari. I know you were trying to be supportive. I think he knows that too. But I can’t see us fixing this mess.”

He pressed her hand into his cheek, letting all his need for her show. “Of course we’ll fix it. I want you to trust me.”

With another laugh, she pulled away. “I think the fact that you can get me to trust you so easily is the problem. You knew I’d trust you. Even before you asked, you knew. Because everyone does.”

Wait, were they still talking about Hari? Or was this about them? “Are you seriously bringing our relationship into this? I should have listened to you about Hari. I should have listened to you about Mehta. I was wrong to push too hard and I admit that. But there is nothing nefarious about our arrangement. I’ve never asked for more than you wanted to give.”