Page 17 of Pillow Talk (Rally Romance #1)

S en and Sam were sitting at a sticky table, drinking beer at the shady pub, Scotty’s.

‘I’ve missed this,’ remarked Sam.

‘You wanted to get married,’ Sen teased.

‘How’re things with you? Not dating anyone?’

Sen shook his head.

‘I figured. You’ve been more here than in Durban. I know you keep your dating life out of Rally,’ Sam replied.

The door opened and Shona’s little sister and an athletic guy walked in.

Sen had never really understood the sisters’ relationship. He was an only child so he didn’t have first-hand experience with siblings, but he was closer to Kaavi, his cousin, than Shona was to her sister.

Aruna was never around when they were growing up. Sen didn’t know if she was at home because he’d never been in the Shah’s home. He always met Shona and Anni at the ugly statue in town square.

‘What do you make of this whole Shona thing?’ Sam interrupted his thoughts.

‘What thing?’

‘The whole drama with her parents and the shop,’ Sam replied.

‘I don’t know much about it to form an opinion,’ Sen said.

‘Neither do I but Anni’s chuffed that Shona has walked out. But I’m just…I don’t know…I don’t like the estrangement. Maybe it’s because I’m close to my parents and can’t fathom a separation,’ Sam replied.

Sen nodded. He really didn’t know what to say. The fact that he knew nothing about Shona’s big walkout was still a sore point, but he hid this from his friend.

Sam sipped his drink, looked around and then back at Sen.

‘You honestly didn’t know she had a crush on you back then?’

‘Yep.’

‘And if you had, what would you have done?’

Sen shook his head.

‘Sam, it was a long time ago. Shona was my friend. Is my friend. Nothing more,’ he lied.

‘You’ve never been attracted to her?’

Sen looked away and rubbed his left eye. Damn! His friend knew he had a tick when he lied.

Sam watched him intently.

‘What’s this about, Sam?’

‘I don’t know. I guess I’m still surprised by Shona’s confession the other night,’ he replied.

‘Don’t be. It’s just Shona. She’s complicated,’ Sen said nonchalantly.

‘I guess you’re right. Anyway, did you watch the game last night?’

Shona woke up in a sweat. She’d dreamed about her grandmother again. They were in the shop. It was dark and she was hiding away from the fierce old woman.

She didn’t analyse it. It was obviously linked to her fallout with her parents. She needed advice, but not from Anni – she knew her friend would always side with her.

After a shower and breakfast, she worked on orders for Felicity. When she finished the sixth one, she looked up and noticed the lighting had changed in the room. She looked out the window. Sunset!

She stood up and stretched. Her back ached but it was a good ache. She loved her work. She went to the kitchen and heated some leftover pasta while scrolling through social media.

Boring.

The microwave pinged.

She carried her plate to the couch, switched on the TV and ate absentmindedly. After supper, she cleaned the kitchen and walked around her apartment, looking for something to do.

Then she had an idea. She put on her running shoes. It was still hot in the evenings so she was glad she was still in her shorts and graphic tee. She grabbed her phone and went out, taking the stairs. As she left the building, she ran into Sen, who’d just jumped out of his car.

‘Sen?’

‘I should have called before I came over,’ he said, embarrassed.

‘It’s fine. I’m just heading out. Raincheck?’

‘No,’ he replied.

Her eyebrows shot up.

‘Excuse me?’

Sen put his hands in his pockets. ‘I’m coming with you.’

She shook her head. ‘That’s not necessary.’

Sen took a step closer.

‘This is not pillow talk. This is a friend supporting a friend. I don’t know where you’re going but I’m not letting you go out there when you look like you’re about to cry.’

Shona looked away.

‘Sho, I was your friend before I got into your pants. I am a friend. Now tell me where you’re going,’ he said.

‘The cemetery.’

His jaw dropped and then he quickly recovered. ‘And why are you going to the cemetery at…’ He looked at his watch…‘8pm?’

‘I’ve been having nightmares about my grandmother. You know what, forget it. It’s a silly idea,’ she replied.

He walked to the passenger side and opened the door. ‘Get in, Shona. We’re going to the cemetery.’

As they drove towards Rally’s Cemetery the inscription read: Ira Shah – wife of Yuvraj Shah and mother of Karam and the late Laksh.

Because her grandmother had died when Shona was about to leave school, she knew only what it was like to be on the receiving end of the old woman’s mean-spirited treatment, and there were many things she didn’t understand. But this evening, that inscription infuriated her.

Her mother had given up her ambition and connection to her own family to support Dad in that blasted shop, while Shona and Aruna had worked every day in it.

They’d put up with a cruel woman called Ira Shah but their names didn’t deserve to be on her tombstone?

They were not acknowledged, as per her grandmother’s wishes.

‘You witch,’ she hissed.

She took a step closer.

‘You fucking witch,’ she shouted.

Sen gritted his teeth and shoved his hands in his pockets. He had to let her do this alone, even if it was killing him to watch her in such agony. Shona didn’t really let him in. He had a snapshot of her childhood. Now he knew her but didn’t really know her; she only displayed glimpses of herself.

Her voice cut through the silence. Then she sobbed inconsolably.

‘Fuck it,’ Sen muttered and rushed to her side.

He turned her in his arms and held her tight. Her head on his heart, she wept on his chest.

Sen glanced at the tombstone as Shona sobbed.

Shona had a dead uncle? He didn’t know that but it did explain the name of the store: Shah he wanted to be there for her.

But he knew Shona. When they were 8, 12, 15 and now, she just wouldn’t let him in.

He didn’t mean that much to her. She said ‘no strings attached’ because she really had no emotional attachment to him.

And it hurt. It sucked. But he couldn’t change that.

Shona finished the 15th veil for Felicity. The orders were not due for months, but she had time and wanted to get it out of the way. She also worked on modifications for Maddie’s dress.

She had to keep busy. It was three days since she’d been to the cemetery and she had more unresolved feelings than before she’d gone.

She still couldn’t believe that she hadn’t had contact with her family in almost two months.

She also felt incredibly guilty. She couldn’t keep dragging Sen into her problems. It was 4pm on a Wednesday.

The shop would still be open. A part of her wanted to march down there and plead for forgiveness from her parents but another part wanted answers about why they’d written her off.

She knew she couldn’t move forward without making things right with her parents. She wanted their blessing, dammit.

Her doorbell rang. Shona wasn’t expecting any packages. Without thinking, she ran a hand through her hair, which had a mind of its own, and opened the door.

‘Sen.’

‘I know you wanted to be alone but I couldn’t stay away.’

Shona didn’t know what came over her but she threw her arms around him and hugged him. He was motionless for a split second and then wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. They stood like that for a few seconds before Shona pulled away.

‘Come in. I want you here,’ she said. Sen followed her into the living room and stood there awkwardly as Shona took in everything about him in one appraising glance.

He was in a tailored suit – not from her family shop – his hair was perfectly styled and his chiselled features, which always made him stand out from the crowd, were as irresistible as ever.

Sen obviously knew he was a catch. Yes, he was confident but never ever arrogant about it.

He had transformed from that scrawny far-too-tall-for-his-age boy to a far-too-handsome man.

‘I know you didn’t want to talk. And I know I agreed to no “pillow talk” as you call it, but Sho, something’s got to give,’ he said.

Shona nodded.

‘Sen, you’re right, it’s complicated and messy. I’m complicated and messy and you don’t want that,’ she replied, avoiding eye contact.

Sen ran a hand through his hair.

‘I shouldn’t have said that. I was frustrated. I gave you a chance to be honest with me and you still lied. And then I was also offended that you didn’t trust me to tell me something so big,’ he explained.

‘Maybe I was afraid you would judge me?’

Sen shook his head.

‘When have I ever judged you?’

‘You did call me complicated and messy…’

Sen pinched the bridge of his nose.

‘And I’m sorry for that,’ he said.

‘Have you had lunch yet?’

Sen raised an eyebrow and Shona suspected that he assumed she was deliberately changing the subject.

‘I have eaten.’

‘Supper plans?’

‘None,’ he replied.

‘Then let me make you supper.’

‘Nuggets?’ He winked.

Shona laughed.

‘You should be so lucky. That’s reserved for fine dining,’ she joked.

Sen smiled. Genuinely smiled. She gestured for him to follow her to the kitchen and invited him to sit on one of the stools next to the centre island.

‘I’ll cook and we’ll talk,’ she said.

She opened the fridge and took out a beer for him, then began to prepare the food. The truth was, she wanted to have this conversation without having to make eye contact. Cooking and walking around the kitchen allowed her to avoid it.

Sen watched her hesitate at the air-fryer.

‘If you’re trying to impress by cooking lamb chops in the oven instead of the air-fryer, don’t. Lamb chops in the air-fryer are just as good,’ he said kindly.

‘And how do you know?’

‘Sho, I do have to eat. I cook and I love my air-fryer,’ he replied.

‘I just realised that I’ve never been to your apartment,’ she said, after setting the timer on the air-fryer.

‘Really? Actually, you’re right but yours is better.’ He took a sip of his beer.

‘No way. You live in the town’s only high-rise,’ Shona said and winked.

Sen chuckled.

‘Six floors is hardly a high-rise. But I’m serious: your apartment is homely, it reflects who you are. Mine isn’t. My mother is always nagging me about at least putting up a picture. You know how mothers are,’ he said.

Shona shrugged.

‘I’m surprised your parents are cool with you living alone,’ Sen added.

‘I can understand that. My parents appear traditional and maybe even controlling but they’re liberal about a lot of things. What about you? Your parents’ home is massive. You could have stayed there when you moved back to Rally,’ she replied.

Sen shook his head. ‘That would never happen. I spent years at boarding school. I love my parents, but I don’t think I could live with them. Of course, I go home often for a home-cooked meal but haven’t lately.’

‘Because you’ve been here almost every night,’ Shona said.

She sat down opposite him. ‘I think I didn’t want to tell you about me walking out because I was embarrassed.’

Sen was taken aback. ‘Embarrassed? Why?’

Shona bit her bottom lip before answering. ‘Because you have it all together. I’m exactly what you said I am, complicated.’

‘Shona, you’ve had it all together since you were nine years old. You knew what you wanted to do and be long before me,’ he said.

Shona sat back, taking in the full measure of Sen’s words.