Page 33 of Bad At Love

Chaaru mouthed‘You say you want your freedom …’into the mic, the music weaving through her already giddy senses. Mona joined her, her voice a nice bass. The crowd cheered and laughed as they sang at different pitches, making right asses of themselves. As she searched for DP’s rugged face and broad shoulders among the crowd, Chaaru marveled at how universal and timeless Stevie Nicks’ lyrics were.

And then there he was. Standing behind their table next to Dom, dressed in a white dress shirt that hugged the hell out of his broad chest. Watching her. Wanting her with a quiet relentlessness as he’d done all these years. Even across the distance and the noise and the crowd, she could feel the leisurely sweep of his gaze as it took in how the sheath dress clung to her curves, all the way to the three-inch stilettos she’d braved for the evening.

Chaaru knew she looked good. But seeing the effect on DP was a total trip. Mic in one hand, she sank the other in her hair and did a slow roll of her body. His white grin flashed, and he lifted his glass in her direction. A new electric energy filled her limbs, dispelling the earlier fears.

God, his gaze on her and that warm smile just for her…made her pulse race. He was everything she’d wanted as a partner once and now, he could be hers fully. If she didn’t let the past ruin it…

Bewildered as she had been all evening, she knew what she’d choose between heartache and loneliness this time around. She’d had enough of the second and for this man, she was ready to brave the first.

* * *

When she andMona returned after killing ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, the table was full with the other four couples. Introductions flew. One half of the fifth couple was Mona’s oldest friend Dr. Kashmira Shah. Over the years, Chaaru and she had also grown close.

Kash was a powerhouse cardiologist and a sexy bombshell who was raising her sister’s ten-year-old daughter, after losing her husband and sister in the same car accident.

Whooping, Kash enveloped them in a hug that was like being embraced by a lush bouquet of velvety rose petals. They giggled and kissed and hugged each other some more. With her heading the cardiology department at a big hospital in Portland and now a full-time parent, they didn’t see her a lot.

By the time Chaaru could catch the eye of a waiter, Kash plonked herself between her and DP at the table. On the other side, Mona was shooting daggers at Dom, even as she played hostess.

Platters of delicious appetizers arrived. Chaaru dug into everything with a relish, even though the shapewear she had under the dress threatened to cut off her circulation.

Mouth full, she nodded and laughed and drank as the conversation flowed around her seamlessly. Other than Kash and Mona’s cousin Minty, who hadn’t arrived yet, she didn’t know the other couples and was happy to listen to the chatter.

It took her a while to note that little white square plates kept appearing in front of her from Kash’s side. Leaning back, Chaaru glanced at DP calmly preparing plate after plate with delicacies and passing them to her. An intense rush of…longing filled her at his quiet attention. They hadn’t exchanged a word in the last couple of hours. Still, she could feel him in her heart, her body, as if he had a claim on both.

Neither did she miss the easy camaraderie and the intimate body language between him and Kash. The latter had leaned in and kissed his cheek lingeringly when she sat down. Then Chaaru remembered the intriguing little fact that DP and she had been an item in high school.

Sudden violent jealousy made the seafood roll taste like grass in her mouth. “So where’s your plus one?” she asked, putting a hand on Kash’s shoulder.

“Yeah, about that,” Kash said, casting a wide smile at DP. “I didn’t bring anyone.”

“Why didn’t you let me bring someone for you then?” Mona said. Everyone around the table laughed at her offer. “I don’t want you to feel left out at the couples’ activities.”

Kash shrugged. “My mom and niece Tia are in the connecting resort, and so is my nanny.”

“Isn’t your nanny Diego, the retired soccer player?” Mona interrupted with a mischievous smile.

“He is also Tia’s biological father.” Kash rolled her eyes, a wealth of sentiment in it. “My usual nanny retired recently, and I couldn’t find one in time. For reasons I don’t get, Tia adores Diego, so I took him up on his offer. Anyway, I plan to spend a couple of hours in the afternoon with Tia. And I didn’t need some man-child complaining that I wasn’t prioritizing him. As for being left out, I have a plan.” The last she said in Chaaru’s direction.

Chaaru’s cheeks flamed. “Kash, hon, I know you’re pansexual but I’m-”

“Eww…” Kash said, eyes twinkling. “Babe, you’re like my…sister.”

Chaaru laughed. “Oh, thank God!”

Kash bent towards her. “Actually, I was hoping you’d switch with me.”

“Switch what with you?” Chaaru asked, even though she had an inkling of her friend’s diabolical plan.

“You room, silly,” Kash said, wriggling her brows. “I know you and DP came together so that some idiots don’t ruin our time with Mona and Dom.”

“Yeah, so?”

“So I heard that DP’s finally free of his responsibilities and dating again. I want to see if there’s something that can be resuscitated between us. Get it?” She laughed at her own joke.“Resuscitateour desire for each other.”

Chaaru’s smile was so fake that it was a wonder it didn’t fall off her lips. Beyond Kash, she could see DP’s lips curve. He was listening to the man next to him, even responding, but was aware of everything Kash was saying to Chaaru. Was that beatific smile because he was flattered by Kash’s interest?

He turned, and their eyes met. Pure challenge glinted in his expression before he flattened it. His eyes were red-rimmed, which meant he was already a little buzzed. Or else he’d never let her see his true feelings.

---