Priya in Heels (Entangled Embrace) (15 page)

“Back to you. How was the first time?”

“Are you so interested because you want to prepare for your first time with Tyler? He spent the entire night here, without lights, and you guys didn’t do anything?”

“We, uh, well…”

“Er, uh, huh,” she mocked. “With all that sexual tension between you two, I’m surprised he didn’t just rip your clothes off and pound the hell out of you!”

“Vicki!”

“Well, just the truth.”

“Do guys really just pound you when you’re having sex?”

“So naïve.”

“I’m sure you were so naïve before Raj, too.”

“Raj is gentle. We moved slowly, and we admitted from the beginning that we really liked each other. We already knew our parents wanted us to get married, so there’s no forbidden lust there. But you guys, it’s not as forbidden as you think, except you guys are letting things keep you apart. Either one of you will get tired of this game and walk away or you’re going to go at it like animals in heat. And you’re thinking about it right now, aren’t you?”

She’d caught me. Images of Ty “pounding the hell” out of me had crossed my thoughts.

“Panties wet?”

“Oh my God.”

She grabbed my shoulders. “Oh my God! You
slept
with him!”

I giggled. “Am I a hypocrite?”

“A little bit, but who cares? I knew you couldn’t keep your legs closed being alone with him all night.”

The heat in my face intensified.

“So, dish…”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Priya

I draped a cream and teal sari around me and flung the pleated end, heavy with gold
zari
stitching, over one shoulder and joined the crowd for Vicki and Raj’s engagement ceremony at her parents’ house in Dallas.

Everyone laughed, conversed, and moved along in a festive mood for the happy occasion. The older generations congratulated Vicki’s and Raj’s parents. “What a lovely match,” an
auntie
commented.

“So fortunate to arrange them,” an
uncle
added.

“A nice addition to the family,” yet another
auntie
chimed.

“The hard work of parents always pays off for their children,” Vicki’s grandmother offered.

I twisted my lips. Really? They believed all this was the willful obedience of children and nothing more? Had Vicki and Raj ever told their parents the truth? Perhaps they had and the elders pretended this was all upon their good fortune, a blessing from the gods, and the fruit of their hard work. Perhaps Vicki and Raj had kept their mouths shut and merely agreed to the arrangement, giving their parents a false sense of accomplishment. In a way, their lenient attitude toward the situation fueled the old ways that both Vicki and Raj disliked. Without speaking up about the fact that they had found one another on their own, fallen in love, and wanted to commit to marriage, allowed the elders to continue in the belief that the older generation must make these decisions for their children.

Why should I care? I was going to marry the man Mummie approved of…even though my body ached for Ty. Ugh. I was in such a hot mess.

Nonetheless, seeing Vicki decked out in finery with a grin plastered across her face had me giddy. Watching her glide across the room to shake hands and receive awkward pats on the shoulder from the older men widened my own smile.

“You’re beautiful! I’m happy for you!”

“Thanks so much,” she said.

A little girl in a black and pink
chaniya choli
with a round tummy below her bodice tugged at Vicki’s skirt. She offered a red rose from the garden. “This is for you, Vickiben.”

“So sweet, Rani!” Vicki bent down to peck her cheek. Rani tucked the stem into Vicki’s up-do and ran off to play with the other kids.

“How adorable!”

“My sister has some tolerable kids,” Vicki joked.

Her mom called her to the front, near the moderately sized altar. Her anklets tinkled with every step. She sat beside Raj, who grinned as big as Texas.

I sat near the back with Mummie and Papa. We felt privileged to attend the engagement ceremony, something reserved for family and the closest of friends. Raj’s family was friendly and obviously thrilled with the arrangement. His family consisted of his parents and two older brothers, both married with children. Three pairs of aunts and uncles and their children also attended.

Vicki’s older sister and brother-in-law sat right behind her, along with their children.

The priest at the front hummed and sang mantras. Everyone followed suit, everyone except me. Mummie elbowed me in the ribs. I mumbled along. My absence from
mandir
over the years had diluted the memory of the mantras.

Incense filled the house and light smoke from the
diya
lamps wafted up from the altar. An hour passed. I stretched my back and rubbed my knees. I wanted to straighten out my legs, but in a sari and with a row of people in front of us, stretching was impossible.

By the time the priest broke the coconut and the couple offered water, milk, honey, and sweets to the idols, my position was killing me. They sang more mantras at the end, and I silently gave thanks just to get off the floor. While others jumped to their feet, I struggled, which looked bad in a sari. Oh, so ladylike and proper, and hopefully I hadn’t flashed anyone.

A hand appeared in front of me. I looked up, surprised to find Manuk standing there. I took his hand as he helped me up, all the effort in his arm. He wore a traditional long-sleeved, knee-length, maroon
kurta
with white
pajama
bottoms.

“Thanks. I thought I’d be stuck there after two hours of not moving. What, um, what brings you here? You know Raj?”

I only realized then that the front door had opened and closed many times since the end of the ceremony, though the draft had caught my attention.

“My parents are friends with Vicki’s parents. They invited us for dinner.”

“Small world.”

“I’m glad I came now.”

I smiled nervously in an attempt to keep the uneasiness away.

“You look incredible.”

“Thanks.” I fought the urge to cover myself.

He released a soft chuckle. “Ah, shy around me still?”

“Apparently.”

“Well, don’t be. Come on, let’s congratulate the couple and eat.”

I mindlessly followed, and without thinking, gave Raj a light side hug. Neither he nor Vicki seemed to mind, but a few
aunties
raised their brows at the social taboo.

Everyone moved into the kitchen to eat on a plastic-sheeted floor. Vicki’s mom placed another covering that snaked out of the kitchen and into the hallway toward the living room to accommodate everyone. Sometimes the men and children ate first because it was easier in smaller spaces, but the women were hungry today. Besides, it wasn’t fair to make Vicki wait or have only her eat with the men.

I wanted to sit between Mummie and Vicki, but now that Vicki was an engaged woman, her place was between her mother and her fiancé, and one day between her husband and their children. A new chapter to our lives had opened. When Manuk sat cross-legged beside me, I feared a new chapter to my life was beginning soon.

The dinner population doubled to include friends outside of the sacred inner circle. Tulsi and Jeeta arrived and several Americans joined in as dinner progressed. Blond and red hair stood out, as did the American clothes and fair skin.

I passed my gaze over them, all huddled in one line across from me, perhaps strength in unity when they were outsiders here. I almost choked on rice when I saw Ty. He wore a button-up dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves and black slacks. He ate with his hands like the rest of us, and chatted it up with Raj and others.

He looked up from his meal and winked at me, returning to his conversation as if this entire thing was normal. I tried to remain inconspicuous, glancing around to see if anyone had caught that. Manuk ate with lowered eyes, but Mummie and Papa glared at me.

Holy crap.
Ty’s indecent behavior would be the end of me. Suddenly, I was sure everyone in the room knew I’d had sex with him.

“Not hungry?” Manuk asked, nudging my shoulder with his.

Somehow, his touch didn’t raise any suspicion among the Indians. Perhaps everyone figured our arrangement would go through. I couldn’t help but look at Ty to gauge his response. It wasn’t approving. His jaw was clenched and his eyes brooding.

“Not too hungry.” My stomach hurt, and the pain had nothing to do with my increasing intolerance to Indian food.

“Did you have a nice trip up here?”

“Yeah. I stayed overnight with Vicki, and my parents drove up from Austin this morning.”

“That’s cool.”

I kept my eyes downcast and pushed around the food on my plate. With a shaky hand, I took a sip of water. “How do you know Vicki, again?”

“Our parents know each other from
mandir
. I’ve met her on occasion, but usually one of us is busy when our parents get together. They do stuff together all the time. You guys are close friends?”

“Best friends.”

“That’s awesome. I’m happy for her. She looks excited. So does Raj.” He glanced at them.

“They’re very happy.”

“Did you guys grow up together?” he asked.

“Yes. Went to high school and UT together. She moved to Houston for work, and I moved in with her during med school.”

“So you’re roommates?”

“Yes.”

“Are they getting married soon? Where will that leave you?”

“It doesn’t matter when they get married. I’m just going to move in with them,” I joked.

Manuk chuckled. “I’m sure they won’t mind keeping you company until you get married.” He nudged me again, a smile on his face, confidence in his eyes.

To be polite, I gave a friendly smile, the closed-lip kind that didn’t reveal teeth, but my insides burned. Mummie and Papa were pleased, judging by the grins on their faces. They sparked up a conversation with Manuk over me, one that sounded like white noise.

Ty had unclenched his jaw long enough to eat, and he returned to his normal, sane self when Raj drew him back into their conversation. Vicki offered me a pitying look as if to apologize. I knew she wanted me to make a decision, but she was wrong if she thought I’d ultimately choose Ty. I wouldn’t jeopardize a steady, content future for a wild fling. Ty had to realize that as well. He didn’t own me. We were nothing more than friends—well, friends with a few spectacular benefits. That had to end.

When was dinner over? I couldn’t get up fast enough after the meal. In fact, I might’ve been the first adult to leave. I joined the children in the living room, content to be away from the stifling tension. Others emerged from the kitchen in groups. Manuk came in the second group, and to my horror, Ty was right behind him. Ty tapped Manuk on the shoulder. My heart jumped into my throat and stayed there.

At any point, the situation could turn hostile. Manuk shook Ty’s hand. They talked for a few minutes, Manuk’s back to me. Their chat seemed friendly enough, despite Ty’s impassive expression. He cocked his chin toward me. Manuk turned, gave me a judgmental sweep, and returned to Ty.

I groaned. That was it. Manuk would know I was sleeping around and retract his offer. My family would disown me for bringing shame to them.

Then the guys laughed, and Manuk went on his way.

I jerked my head to the side. Ty followed me into a corner of the living room, still in public view but far from meddlesome ears.

With raised brows, I asked, “What was that?”

He grinned and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

“Ty, don’t mess with me, not here.”

He shrugged.

“You are so not mute.”

“Just asked a little about him. The dentist from Dallas, huh?”

I slumped my shoulders. “Yes.”

“Tall, moderately attractive, successful…what’s a girl to do?”

“Priya!” Mummie called from across the room. She approached us. “Tyler? What a surprise. Did Vicki invite you?”

“Actually, both Vicki and Raj. Raj and I are good friends. Nice to see you.”

“
Hmm
,” she replied softly. “That’s nice. Are you staying long?”

“No. I’ll be leaving soon.”

“You drove all the way here from Houston for a dinner?”

“Well, like I mentioned, we’re good friends. I can’t wait until the wedding. Actually, they asked me and my band to perform at the reception.”

“Oh, I forgot you’re a musician, too.” The way she said that denoted a hint of condescension.

“Yep. Excuse me while I say good-bye to the couple, and a hello and good-bye to Mr. Patel.”

That simple greet and go took longer as Raj introduced him to family and close friends. Raj’s teenage female cousins swooned over him, all amok over Ty’s obvious hotness. Even the
aunties
floundered a bit.

When Tulsi got to him, my stomach clenched. She had a way of being all over a man without actually being all over him. She also did it so no one else noticed. Ty noticed. He took a respectful step back and returned to chatting with Raj.

“Be careful,” Mummie muttered.

“What?”

“That man has an interest in you. You should tell him to stop.”

Telling Tyler O’Connor to stop liking me was like trying to tell a fish to breathe air.

“You’re going to get engaged soon. No one needs to think you’re doing something with this American.”

“The one who saved me?”

“We’ll always be grateful for that, but there are boundaries. Make sure he knows them.”

Ty shook hands with Papa, who surprisingly drew him in for a side hug. Papa had a soft spot for Ty that I couldn’t quite figure out. Yeah, he’d saved me and protected me, but Papa must have made the same observations as Mummie had. Then Ty disappeared.

“Papa is happy to see him. Did he tell anyone what Tyler did?”

“No!” Mummie whispered. “So people will think you live in a bad neighborhood, or that you did something evil in your past life and karma seeks retribution, or something else might’ve happened between you two?”

“Right.” Leave it to gossipy Indians to turn a heroic act into fuel for malicious accusations.

“Papa is happy to see everyone. I’m happy to see Tyler again, but not if he thinks he can take you.”

“I’m not a piece of property.”

“You know what I mean. Be careful,
beti
, that’s all I ask. You’re such a sweet, trusting girl, huh? I’m going to give thanks to the priest.”

At least Mummie didn’t ask me to show reverence to the priest as well. He cost a pretty penny—actually, lots of pretty pennies in the form of hard cash.

My bladder threatened to burst so I searched for a bathroom. The downstairs quarter bath was occupied, so I wandered upstairs. The first floor had a full bathroom in the downstairs guest room, but Vicki’s relatives spent the weekend there and had claimed it. The second floor had a large game room and four bedrooms, including the master bedroom and an office. Down a long hallway, the main full bathroom was situated between the room Vicki kept as her own when in town and her sister’s.

As I approached the bathroom, Ty opened the door. We paused at this deserted, reclusive end of a quiet floor.

“I thought you’d left. What are you still doing here?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow. “Well, hello to you, too, gorgeous.” His gaze scoured down my body and I practically burst into flames. “Very nice.”

I crossed my arms. “You can’t.”

“Can’t what?” He stepped forward.

I backed away. This could end badly.

“I
am
a close friend of the couple’s.”