First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,35
I told you we’d visit as soon as we were able. Don’t you want us to come there?”
“Of course I do, but not to meet some guy.”
“This will kill two birds with one stone,” Farzana said briskly. “We see you, we meet this prospective groom for you.”
Was it her imagination, or was it hot in here? Jia unpinned and unwound her head scarf and dropped it next to her, taking her stretchy net underscarf off next. She didn’t bother to fix her hair, which was sticking up everywhere. “He’s not my prospective groom.”
“Fine, fine, the boy you are talking to.”
Jia’s hands clenched in her lap. Oh dear. Tell them the truth now. They would be so much more disappointed when they got here and there was no Dev.
What if there was?
Wait, no. That was impossible.
Or is it?
It was.
Or, hear me out . . . is it?
To what end, though? Even if Dev was willing to play along, she’d have to tell her family eventually that she and Dev weren’t dating.
“In the meantime, please be discreet. It won’t do for your aunts and uncles to recognize you in any photos. No need for anyone to think you went off to California and started acting wild once you were away from us.”
Jia raised an eyebrow. That was the first time she’d heard her mother speak of her career with any semblance of pride. Or look at her with that level of approval.
Actually, her sisters were looking at her with approval too. It was like a drug, making her feel heady and invincible. Is this how it felt, for people whose families believed in them?
“I am so proud of you, Jia.”
She nearly whimpered at her mom’s words. She could do this. She didn’t have to tell them the truth right now, and she wouldn’t have to do it when they came here. She could maybe even keep this charade going for a while, until she figured out a way to make them so proud of her in other ways that they didn’t care that she wasn’t marrying a Bollywood legend’s grandson.
“You are finally getting your life together, MashAllah,” Noor remarked.
She’d had her life together. Kind of.
“Keep this up, and we’ll all worry about you less,” Zara said cheerfully. She was holding her phone and moving through her house. Her daughter, Amal, was screaming something in the background. “I’m off. Noor, we’ll be over in ten minutes.”
“I don’t need—” Noor began, but Zara winked out. That was the way in their family; state the intention and then disappear.
Noor sighed. “I have to tidy up. See you later.” She hung up.
Her mom gave Jia a bright smile. “Wait until I tell your father. He’ll be so happy.”
Jia almost whimpered again. She was lying to her dad too? About this fake man they’d never meet? Oh God. Was she catfishing her parents? “Dev’s very busy and . . .”
“I’m sure he’ll make time for your family,” Farzana said firmly. “He knows what’s expected. I’m very excited. You don’t know how much we’d all worry less about you if we knew you were settled with a good boy.”
Jia licked her lips. “Cool.”
Farzana glanced over her shoulder. “I have to go, love.”
“Okay. Love you.” Best to be superagreeable. She hung up with her mom and stared at her wall. Then she sent a message to her twin. IF YOU GET THIS CALL ME ASAP PLS 911.
Slowly, she collapsed back onto her couch. Had she truly invented a fake boyfriend to impress her family? One who was an international star she’d had no intention of seeing again, let alone producing to her family in a few weeks’ time?
Welp. Someday she’d learn not to dig herself into a deeper hole while getting out of one.
Wasn’t she still furious with Dev? Or had her anger at his offer of money and his family been drowned out by needing him now? Or by the faux nuzzle?
Even if she could control her negative emotions, how was she going to get Dev on board?
I wish there was something I could do to make this all up to you.
Jia raised an eyebrow. Maybe that part wouldn’t be an insurmountable challenge, actually.
Chapter Nine
DEV RECLINED on the sofa in his trailer. His script was in his hands, but his brain was a million miles away. Across the ocean, even.
Legend’s Grandson. His inner ambitiousness was annoyed by that. He’d worked hard to make a name for himself. It was the main reason he’d chosen a completely different medium.