Page 41 of Pretend for Me

I’ll admit, the ring is larger than I would have ever chosen for myself, but it’s not the size but the sentimental value it holds that makes me love it.

But it’s not yours, Piper. It belongs to someone else . . . someone who’ll wear it, not because she’s Dev’s fake fiancée, but because she’ll truly own his heart. Something you’re not trying to do. The sooner you remember that, the easier this will be when it comes to an end.

“You could signal a damn UFO with this thing!” Sarina gasps, moving my hand this way and that to catch the light. “I love the vintage setting.”

And despite just lecturing myself not to get attached to it or the sentimental value it holds, a smile tugs on my lips. “It’s his mom’s. He gave it to me in front of her last night.”

My thoughts wander back to the image of Dev kneeling in front of me last night, hope brimming in his eyes, his hand trembling as he wiggled the ring over my finger. Like he thought I’d say anything but yes. Like I’d change my mind in front of his sick mother.

As if that was even a possibility.

I’d said yes without having met her. And now that I had, I couldn’t fathom the thought. Not when I knew how much it meant to her to see her son settle down.

Not when it was her last and only wish, and I could help make it come true for her.

“So, meeting the parents went well, then?” Nisha asks, eyeing me curiously.

I chuckle softly. “Depends on which parent you’re asking about.”

My friends, including Joshua, who’s both typing something on the computer and listening to the story, give me puzzled looks.

“His mom, Claire, is beautiful inside and out,” I start, using the tips of my fingers to rub at an ache between my ribs. It’s been there since last night. “I honestly don’t know how Dev and Deena will cope with her loss. How does anyone, really? But to lose someone as wonderful as her?” The corners of my eyes prick and I shake my head. “You can tell she’s their rock.”

“It’s heartbreaking,” Sarina murmurs in agreement.

I smile, thinking about Claire. “She’s something else. Warm and loving. It took me meeting her, seeing her light, to fully understand the depth of their family’s tragedy. To realize how fleeting life can be, you know what I mean?” I ask my friends rhetorically. “Seconds after meeting her, I felt like I’d known her my whole life.” I swallow. “And it sucks that I won’t have more time with her.”

For a moment we all fall silent, me looking down at my ring that feels heavy, not because of its size but because of the weight of her impending loss.

Nisha’s eyes soften and she pulls me into a hug. “I can’t imagine how hard this time must be for them. But as much shit as I gave you for doing this for their family,” she pulls back to search my face, “I’m so proud of you, Piper. I don’t think I tell you it enough, but there’s not a person on the planet with a heart bigger than yours. A crazy, fun-loving, and free-spirited heart,” she smiles, “but the biggest one of them all.”

I squeeze her back. “You’re right. You don’t tell me that enough. Maybe, let’s make it a weekly thing.”

Nisha rolls her eyes. “Let’s not go crazy.”

“What did you mean by, it depends on which parent you ask,” Sarina asks, reminding me to finish my story. “Did Dev’s dad not like you?”

I snort, recalling Deepak’s patronizing comment. “I don’t know if it’s so much about like or dislike as it is his expectationsfor his son. He made it clear he didn’t approve of me, basically insinuating that I’m illiterate.”

“What?!”Sarina and Nisha both gasp at the same time.

“Who the fuck does he think he is?” Sarina asks vehemently. “I don’t care how many billions he has in the bank, he doesn’t get to act like a self-righteous pig!”

“He’s totally living up to the stereotype of an elitist and egotistical Indian dad, I guess,” Nisha adds indignantly, right as the phone rings. Joshua answers it, typing something on the computer as Sarina, Nisha, and I move toward the sitting area to continue our conversation without disturbing him.

We’re fifteen minutes from opening the salon and I still need to review my client list, but I also know that if I don’t answer all my friends’ questions now, they’ll bug me the entire day.

“Our dad isn’t like that, though. He’s sweet and supportive,” Sarina clarifies, as if I don’t already know. He’d practically been like a second dad to me growing up.More like the only dad.

“Did Dev defend you or did you have to take his dad down a peg yourself?” Nisha asks, straightening magazines on the coffee table that don’t need straightening.

I nod, recalling his words. “Yeah, he made it clear he didn’t want to hear anything more about it from his dad.”

“Well, that’s good.” Nisha nods, getting up to pull a chair so it is exactly in line with the one next to it.

She reminds me a lot of my fiancé that way—overly organized, with a penchant for cleanliness that borders on sterility.

I smile to myself, thinking about how we returned from his parents’ last night. After a rather quiet drive back, Dev headed straight for his home office, where he stayed until God knows when. I was long asleep . . . but not before finishing yet another crossword puzzle he’d placed neatly on the corner of the living room table. Two clues were still unsolved. And myreasoning was that if he didn’t want me to finish them, then he shouldn’t be leaving them in the same spot every day.

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