First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,80
I’m sorry I’m not able to explain myself better. But the truth is, this morning, I was already thinking along these lines anyway. I’m sorry this happened in such a manner, but I do believe fate works in mysterious ways. Would you do me the honor?”
She licked her lips, and then gave the slightest of nods.
He gently tied the fabric around her ring finger, making a silent vow. From now on, he would do his best to make sure everything was in her control. “You call the shots,” he said quietly. “What we tell anyone, whether we stay together, whether you want to meet my grandmother, everything. I’ll back you up.”
Her phone gave another vibration, distracting both of them. She released his hand, her fingers curling in to hold the fabric in place. “We’re engaged,” she announced, in a clear, firm tone that shouldn’t have surprised him, given what he’d witnessed of her resilience already. “I’m going to call my family and tell them it’s true, that we’ve been talking for a while, it got more serious than I’d let on before. I’ll tell them that I don’t have a ring or anything, that you were waiting to ask their permission when you met them in person. They’ll love that.”
He nodded. “I will keep to this story too.”
Jia’s phone vibrated yet again, and she came to her feet and scooped it up. “First I need to shower. I need to get clean and dressed and put on fresh makeup, and then I’ll be able to think.”
“I think that’s a fine plan,” Dev said gently. “If you don’t mind, Luna will be home soon from her sleepover, and I need to break this to her before someone else does.”
Jia jerked. “Oh my, of course. Luna! I completely forgot about her.”
“She and I are something of a package deal. In case you wish to factor that into your decision-making.” He tried to be as delicate as he could. He didn’t blame her if she didn’t want to take responsibility for a thirteen-year-old right away, but Luna wasn’t going anywhere.
Jia gave Dev an impatient look that relieved him instantly. “Of course she’s a part of this. I have no issues with having a niece right away. I’d like to spend more time getting to know her. Should we break the news to her together?”
“Let me talk to her alone for now.” Best to see how his niece reacted first.
“Right. Go home and be with her. I’ll text you once I’m done with my family. Here, let me show you out.”
He followed behind her. She opened the front door, and he paused, awkward. How on earth did someone take leave of another after something like this?
She seemed to sense his confusion, because she gave a wry smile. “Can we hug?”
Oh thank God. “Yes, please.” He opened his arms and she flowed right into them. He looked down at her upturned face and the vulnerable curve of her cheek. It was a perfect cheek to kiss. Surely, as an engaged man, he could kiss his fiancée, yes?
Lights flashed in warning.
Oh, wait, that was him. He leaned away from the light switches on the wall. “Ahem.”
She disengaged from him. “What a wild road trip this was, huh?”
“I agree.” His smile felt more genuine than any smile he’d had in a while. “I will talk to you soon, Jia.”
Chapter Eighteen
JIA TOOK five deep breaths. Then another five.
Her hands were shaking so hard she could barely flip open her laptop. This was it, the turning point on her family’s opinion of her, the moment they decided she was either past redemption or the same silly but benign Jia.
She’d responded to Ayesha’s frantic warning texts first, telling her everything was handled, then sent a message to the family group chat that they could have a phone call, but she’d also messaged Sadia privately. The whole gang would be on this call, but she wanted to speak with her middle sister first.
Jia leaned back against her headboard and played with the cord on her sweatshirt as she waited. The piece of handkerchief Dev had turned into a makeshift ring lay next to her.
I wouldn’t mind it.
Yes, exactly what every prospective bride wanted to hear regarding marriage to her. Yikes.
The problem was, when he’d first proposed a real proposal . . . she really hadn’t minded it, like kind of wanted it? And that was, um, a very big problem. Because all he could say was that he wouldn’t mind it.