Page 28 of Red Flags and Rishtas
I protested half-heartedly, but I knew he was right. I wasn’t drunk, but I was well on my way. Besides, it looked like the party was more or less over. I followed him outside, waving goodbye to Ryan, who was speaking to a transportation guy in the back. A part of me felt bad that he’d have to be here for hours winding up. But this was his job, and I’d done it enough times to know there was no way around it.
‘How are you getting home?’ Aadar asked when we stepped outside.
‘I’ll call a cab,’ I said.
‘I’ll drop you off,’ he said, handing the valet his parking ticket.
‘You don’t have to do that. I’m fine,’ I said at the precise moment I stumbled on a stone.
He chuckled and mumbled under his breath, ‘Clearly.’
I puffed my mouth, ready to strike back with verbal vengeance. But the soberer part of my brain reminded me of what was on the line here. Today was not the right day to pick a fight with this man. And if he wanted to drop me home, I was going to let him. I’d spent the greater part of the evening with him. Surely, I could tolerate him for a little while longer. Right? Besides, if he was so keen to look out for me today, chances werehe’d help me out on Monday too when I would tell him and his team about the Kiara debacle.
‘So, Mr Serial Suitor,’ I couldn’t help saying once we were sitting inside his red Kia.
‘Don’t start,’ he said as he pulled out of the street.
‘I’m just curious. What’s the rush? Like why not just wait for the right person to come along?’ I asked.
‘Like you’re doing? With your incessant dating?’
‘I know you’re trying to spin this around on me, but I’m pretty happy with the way things are in my love life.’
‘Really?’ He stole a look at me and said, ‘So you’re not looking for love?’
‘I am,’ I admitted. ‘But I’m not actively doing it.’
‘One date a week? I’d say that’s pretty active,’ he chuckled.
I crossed my arms, turning sideways so I could face him properly.
‘Are you saying there’s something wrong with me? That’s why I haven’t found someone?’
‘Either that or with all 150 of the guys you’ve gone on dates with. Probability is not in your favour,’ he said.
The tension in the car was heightening, and as much as I wanted to undo it, there was no going back. I was in too deep, and my pride wouldn’t let me back down.
‘Oh, shut up. You’re one to talk,’ I exclaimed. ‘Like you haven’t rejected your fair share of prospects. And this is when your parents already vetted them for you.’
‘That’s right. I rejected them. Not the other way around.’
‘Well, I rejected you when you came to see me. So maybe the others did too.’
He let out a dry, sarcastic laugh and said, ‘I’m a catch.’
‘Why’s no one catching you, then?’ I demanded.
‘Well, I’ll get caught before you do,’ he said, pulling into the lane my apartment building was on.
It struck me that he’d driven all this way without asking for directions. He must be one of those people who remembered addresses even if they’d just visited once.
‘You wanna bet on that?’ I asked as we waited for the security guard to open the gate for the car.
‘Yeah, why not?’
‘Uh-oh,’ I said, letting out a wicked laugh, feeling my competitive spirit kick in.
He parked outside my building and shut off the engine. Then, he unbuckled his seatbelt and turned to face me.
