Page 15 of Better Catch Up, Krishna Kumar

“Taking the bus or train might be easier.”

“But we’d be saving money if you drove us there. Plus, it’d be safer if you came along.”

Rudra leans forward with his elbows resting on his lap. “Why exactly do you want to go to Goa?”

It’s a fair question and one that Priti doesn’t have an answer for, not really. It’s weird enough that she was surprisingly easy to convince in the first place, but the way I don’t have even an inkling of what her ulterior motive might be is altogether super sus. Before I can dig into that thought, though, Priti turns to look at me. “Are you going to say something?”

Rudra turns his gaze toward me, and I find myself tongue-tied. The old apprehension and embarrassment at revealingwhycomes back. Earlier, I almost backed out because I didn’t want to give Priti another reason to mock me. It seems silly trying to make such a big deal out of a first kiss. But it’s important... tome, at least.

“I have to go to a wedding,” I say, straightening up. “The one Amrit Acharya’s attending.”

I school my features to look secure in my decision, because unless I’m one hundred percent convinced about chasing this wild fantasy, I can’t convince Rudra.

“It’s Friday today. The mehndi’s tomorrow, sangeet day after, andthe shaadi and reception are on Monday. I have to reach Goa before then.”

“Tell him why you want to go,” Priti prods.

I take a deep breath, look Rudra square in the eyes, and blurt it out. “I want to kiss him.”

Rudra blinks. “What?”

“You heard her,” Priti says. “She wants to kiss the Acharya dude. He apparently sent her a text this morning—”

“Not apparently,” I interject. “Actually.”

“Whatever. He promised her a smooch and Krishna wants to go do that.”

“Wait a second.” Rudra holds a hand up. “You want to go all the way to Goa for a kiss? Why not just wait for him to come back andthenkiss him? Not exactly the fastest, but it’s less tedious.”

“You literally attended my going-away party last night,” I say, scoffing. “You know I was supposed to leave today.”

“But you didn’t because... you want to kiss Amrit?”

“No.” Ohmygod. Rudra Desai sure asks a lot of questions for someone who’s hardly spoken to me before. “My flight got canceled because of some staffing shortages. My parents rescheduled it to Wednesday, which is why I’m in a hurry. And Amrit doesn’t come back until next weekend, so I can’t wait around for him.”

Priti already has the map—where we saved the route details earlier—open on her phone. “The plan’s to leave this evening, stay over in Pune tonight, leave early morning tomorrow, drive to Goa nonstop, stay overnight there, and intercept the sangeet on Sunday. Krishna fucks Amrit; we leave Monday and get back that night or Tuesday morning, tops.”

“I’m not going to fuck Amrit,” I say hotly.

“You’re certainly not going to bejustkissing him and hopping back into the car right after.”

“And you both just expect me to drive you there and back?” Rudra cocks his eyebrows.

“Yes,” Priti and I say in unison.

“No.”

Priti jams her thumb into the button at the recliner’s side and it pops upright, straightening her with it. “Why not, asshole?”

“I have work to do. You know I have to complete my final internship module before leaving for Juilliard.”

“It’s just a few days, Ruds!”

“Wait a second,” I say, frowning. “Juilliard? As in,theJuilliard?”

“Yeah,” Rudra says, almost shy.

“I didn’t know you were going to New York,” I say dumbly, because I make it sound like I should’ve known that when I know nothing about Rudra at all. “I mean, Priti didn’t tell me. But you have an acceptance already?”