“Yeah, don’t run off on my account.” But he didn’t move.

Naya looked at both of them and raised her eyebrows. “Uh-huh. Okay.” She bolted for her room.

“I should go.” He looked down at her as he placed a hand on either side of her face.

“You’ll need your shirt.”

“That I will.” He smirked at her as he kissed her and started to unbutton the shirt.

“She’ll be out any minute.”

“I doubt that,” Daniel managed between kisses. “We’ve scared her off.”

“True.” She led him back to her room. “But I need clothes, and you really do have to go.”

AFTER DANIEL LEFT, she showered and changed and grabbed a fresh cup of coffee before peeking into her cousin’s room. Naya was putting away clean laundry.

“Hey.” Annika brought the warm mug of coffee to her lips and sipped.

Naya looked up at her, tight-lipped. “Hey, yourself.”

Okay. Annika flushed. “So... Ravi, huh?”

Naya couldn’t meet her eyes, and Annika swore she saw her cousin swoon. She’d never seen Naya quite so smitten.

Naya looked at her and tried to shrug casually but failed as giggles escaped her mouth. “Are you giggling?”

Naya shook her head as she continued to giggle. “I know it seems weird, we haven’t known each other that long, but we...fit. He’s easy. And I’ve never been so comfortable to just be myself with someone, you know?”

She did know.

“And the thing is...he feels the same way.” She giggled again.

Naya’s laughter was contagious, and Annika found herself giggling along with her cousin. “So...maybe he’s the one?”

Naya shrugged. “What about you? Pretty hot rebound guy you’ve got yourself.”

All the lightness in Annika’s heart fell into her belly with a thud. Rebound guy? Is that what Daniel was?

Naya stared at her. “He is the rebound guy. You know that, right?”

When she didn’t answer, Naya pressed on. “He’s the guy who helps you get the asshole out of your system. He’s not the settle-down guy.”

“I know what a rebound guy is,” she snapped back, not bothering to hide her irritation.

Naya held up her hands in surrender and actually looked at her with pity. “We’ve discussed this. Your parents will never go for it.”

Annika opened her mouth to protest, but Naya cut her off. “Why put them through that? Why put yourself through that? They think you should be with Sajan, and after the Steven fiasco, you’re not going to convince them otherwise.”

“They’ll never trust my judgment.”

Naya nodded, shrugging. “Maybe trying it their way will work. Plus, it’s not like you needed this guy for more than that anyway, right? And it’s not like you can trust him.”