But then she has a sinking feeling in her stomach. It’s the same one she had when she visited Suhani in med school and saw her and Roshan together. Something was just off. Maybe it was sisterly intuition or just his vibe, but Natasha thinks back to Suhani seeming stressed, Zack’s worries about her being more closed off, and it all becomes clear. Roshan has something to do with it. She’s not sure what but she knows it’s something. And even though he’s expressing concern about Natasha now, she senses something else under his words. Power? Dominance? Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem right.

“Are you okay?” Roshan asks.

“No, I’m not,” Natasha says. “Look, I know some major shit went down between you and my sister. But you need to leave her alone.”

“Whoa, Natasha, I’m not trying to bother her, okay?” Roshan says.

“But that’s the thing. You just being around isn’t helpful for her. You think I don’t know all about you? You think she and I didn’t talk about you guys?” Natasha tries to rearrange her face into its best I’m-ready-to-intimidate-you expression. She always wished she had a solid resting bitch face. Instead, her undereye circles and puffy cheeks give her more of a girl-who-needs-rest face.

Natasha furrows her badly-in-need-of-threading eyebrows. “I’m sure you’re coming from a good place but whatever you guys went through is in the past. And it needs to stay there.”

Roshan looks surprised, then hurt. Maybe Natasha is being a little too bitchy. After all, the guy is trying to check on her.

But when she sees his clenched fists, she knows she hit a nerve. Because everything she told him is true. And if for nothing else, she has to do this much for her sister and brother-in-law.

“All right, then.” Roshan stands up. The wooden chair screeches against the floor as he pushes it with his heel. “Good to see you. Take care of yourself.”

Relief washes over her as Roshan walks away.

Go, she thinks. Leave her alone. Forever.

Now if she can only just get her own shit together. She shuffles down the hallway, ready to get back in bed.

Twenty-Three

Suhani

Three days.

Zack’s slept on the couch for three days. And she’s barely even seen him there. He’s been leaving early for work and returning after Suhani’s asleep.

She scrolls to the text he sent her yesterday.

ZACK: I still need time.