Kissing him was exactly what she needed to do, because it made nothing else matter except what came after the kissing, which made her matter in ways she wanted, and needed. It made everything all right. All of it, because it was him.

“You smell beautiful,” he said as they lay on her yellow couch wrapped up in each other, colorful cushions strewn on the floor around them.

She laughed. “Smart move sending Mummy over first to clean me up.” Then she stroked his smiling lips, his dimpled cheeks, his heartbreaking but super-hot stubble. “I’m sorry I hurt you. There is no one on earth who understands me the way you do. No one who understands the world the way you do. I need that, your insight, your light. You. You were right. I was scared by how much I needed you and I didn’t know how to handle that.”

“You weren’t wrong about everything. Not only was Jiggy interested in me for my last name, but Sid did befriend me because he wanted something too. You’re never going to believe what was going on. He became friends with me because of Esha, can you believe that? It wasn’t just my charm after all.” He laughed a self-deprecating laugh.

“No! How is that even possible?” she said. Then more seriously, “No, Vansh. Jiggy is Jiggy, but Sid, Hari, you made it easy for them, you made them feel seen, let them in. The way you do for everyone, because people who are terrified of other people find it easy to trust you. Ask me how I know.” She dropped a kiss on his lips. “I said horrible things to you. I’m sorry. I was trying to push you away and I’m so happy I failed.” She waited. “Please tell me I failed.”

For the hundredth time since she’d met him, she realized that having someone smile when they kissed you was the best sensation in the world. “Are you saying you want me to be more than an inflatable doll?”

She pressed into him. “I mean there are parts of you that are alarmingly easy to inflate.”

His entire body shook with laughter.

“But yes, I want more. I want everything.”

“I’m not sure. I think the matter needs further investigation.”

“Investigation?” She blinked innocently. “Whatever do you mean?”

His hands were already working on an answer and her giggle got lost in a moan. “Can I have the rest of my life to answer that question?”

“God, yes,” she said, and the game was on.

Epilogue