I need to talk to you.

“Everything okay?” Zack glances at her as they stop at a red light.

“Yeah. Just work,” Suhani blurts.

She feels a twinge of guilt as she processes that she just lied to her husband. And because of Roshan. What does he need to talk to her about, anyway? She made sure to cover her tracks. There’s no way he could have found out about anything. She doesn’t need to be scared anymore.

“Tell them you’re busy spending the day with your needy husband and can’t take care of anyone at the hospital.” Zack smiles and then makes the music louder.

Just tell him, a voice in her head says. He’ll understand.

You should be ashamed of yourself, another voice says, the one that’s lingered in her head since she and Roshan broke up.

Zack parks the car and hums to the tune of a Lizzo song. Something about the relaxed smile stretched across his face and the whooshing of the car tires against the highway solidifies it for her. She’ll tell him. Once they’re inside their apartment, she’ll let it all out.

They step into their building’s lobby. The floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with the buttery afternoon sun. Abstract art pieces line the hallways. Carlos, their doorman, waves at them as he gives a woman her Amazon packages. With a full mustache, rotund stomach, and large, happy eyes, he always reminds Suhani of a grown-up version of Mario or Luigi.

“Hel-lo to my favorite couple,” he says with a tip of his black hat. “Looks like you’ve got a visitor.”

He motions to the suede couch near the elevators. Suhani immediately recognizes the back of one of her floral-printed Rebecca Taylor dresses.

“Natasha?”

“Hey.” Natasha turns around. A frayed yellow duffel bag is at her feet, which are in Rainbow sandals. Her toenails have chipped black polish. A smattering of acne is across her cheeks, which look rounder than usual.

“Nice dress. I’ve been looking for that one for weeks.” Suhani ignores the urge to tell Natasha to wear some mascara or, better yet, toss those shoes into the nearby trash chute. “What are you doing here?”

“I, uh, need to crash with you guys for a little while.” Natasha gives Suhani a guilty smile, the same one that’s always helped her get away with things.

“What’s going on?” Zack leans forward to give Natasha a hug.

“I just can’t stay at home with Mom. She’s always pissed at me or judging me or both. I can’t work in that place.”