“Have their own opinions. But they don’t run my life. Or yours, for that matter.”

“But you agreed to this setup. You’re a lawyer when you want to be a chef.”

Ravi nodded, though a frown creased his face. “All true. I agreed to the setup because I wanted to meet girls.”

Annika and Daniel smiled at each other.

“I’m a lawyer, so I make good money and I can pursue my dream to be a chef on my own.” He stood directly in front of Naya and tilted her chin up to him. “Or I can join the Peace Corps with the woman I love.”

Daniel smiled at this, and Annika melted.

“You—what?”

“You heard me. I’m going with you.”

“But—”

“But what?”

“That’s crazy.”

“Is it crazy for me to want to be with you while you fulfill your dreams? You told me about the Peace Corps on our first date. I’m not an idiot. Nothing is going to stand in your way. Not me. Certainly not my parents. And it’s not a reason to break up. We’re in this together.”

Relief washed over Annika. Ravi was a good guy.

“I don’t want to come between you and your parents.” Naya’s voice was small. Her resolve was weakening as her feelings for Ravi took over.

“You won’t.”

Daniel was watching Annika, his eyes wary. He had heard everything Naya had told her.

Annika reached out and laid her hands on either side of his face, standing on her toes to reach. “I’m not rebelling. Maybe I dated Steven as an act of rebellion. But I’m with you because I love you.” She pulled his face down to her, gently sliding her lips over his. “I’m with you because you are incredible. Because now that I have you, I don’t want to be without you. I can’t even remember what my life was like without you. I love you.” She breathed the words into his mouth, kissing him harder, closing the space between their bodies, willing him to find in her kiss whatever he needed to believe her.

It was completely true. She did love him, and he was the one for her. Her judgment was not off. This felt right, the way teaching felt right—like it was a part of her. Daniel was a part of her.

Daniel pulled back. “But your family—”

“Is being unreasonable. They don’t even know you.” She smiled. “Nilay thinks you’re the coolest.”

“What about her?” He motioned at the door.

“You mean the girl who is considering leaving the man who adores her because she can’t stand not being accepted immediately? She likes you. She doesn’t like the idea of you.”

Ravi’s agitated voice and Naya’s sob broke through. Daniel’s gaze flicked toward the door, then back to Annika.