Page 17 of Reasons We Break

And Nick—Nick stands there grinning, like this was his intention all along. To show Rajan just how pointless this whole going-straight thing was.

And once he realized that, of course, he’d come crawling back.

Severely pissed off, Rajan heads for the exit. He’s hurling his rumal into the used basket when someone catches his arm.

“Wait,” Simran says.

Startled, he looks at her. For the first time today, she’s showing emotion. Her eyes are wide.God, those big brown doe eyes should be registered as a weapon.

“Who was he?” she asks quietly.

Does she want to ban Nick from the kitchen? If so, he’ll gladly help. He puts his cap on. “I know him from before. He’s a filthy-rich prick. You should definitely not let him come back.”

Her brow furrows, clearly with more questions. But then someone from the admin office calls, “Simran! Come here!”

Simran looks over her shoulder. Rajan reaches for his shoes. “You should go.”

She turns back to him instead. “Is everything okay?”

Why does she care suddenly? “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” He looks down at her sharply, because it occurs to him that he could call her out on it. “And what about you?”

She blinks. “What about me?”

He stares her down. “Everything cool withyou? Because you’re acting fucking weird today.”

“I’m acting—weird?”

“Did you not notice? Because I did. A lot. If you have something to say, say it.” He nearly spits this last part out. He wants her to bring it out in the open.

And yet...he’s terrified in the silence that follows.

Eventually, Simran’s gaze slides away from his. “I don’t. Everything’s fine.”

He stares at her another moment, then laughs. Because of course Simran is avoiding the elephant in the room. If she addressed it, she’d have to give him a chance to explain. And clearly she doesn’t want to. Clearly, she’s heard enough.

That sinking feeling comes back, times a hundred. He pushes out the door. The last thing he hears is people calling Simran’s name.

AS THE DOORswings shut behind Rajan, Simran makes her way to the admin office, still shaken. What happened back there? How did Rajan notice she was acting off? For the last few days, she’s been going to class and her volunteer shifts and everywhere else pretending she’s fine, and it’s worked. Just because she thinks about her mom’s diagnosis twenty-four seven—researching it when she’s supposed to be studying, scheduling her mom’s scans, constantly ruminating over the conversation she overheard—doesn’t mean it’s written on her face. Which feels surreal. How is it, really, that Simran can walk around carrying all this heaviness and nobody sees it?

But Rajan did.

Although he seemed different, too. More vigilant, somehow. He scanned the street every time he went out for groceries. She’s not sure he even realized he was doing it.

She glances back at the food line, only to find the guy who provoked Rajan studying her. Before she can react, he turns to leave.

She shakes her head and enters the admin office. Inside, she’s surprised to find the whole team crowded around the desk. “What is it? Did something happen?”

Kamaljot Uncle waves this away. “We’re concerned about you.”

Her hackles immediately go up. Did they notice she’s been off, too?

“You shouldn’t go anywhere with that boy alone,” Kamaljot Uncle adds. “What were you thinking, grabbing his arm? He might’ve hurt you.”

Oh. They’re talking aboutRajan. She relaxes slightly. “It’s fine. There was just someone in here antagonizing him.” She doesn’t know that for sure, of course, but the man who was grinning as Rajan got kicked out likely didn’t have the best intentions. “There’s no need to inform Hillway.”

Rupi Auntie snorts, already filling out the paperwork. “Of course there is. Don’t fall for his charm, Simran. Have you not heard? What that boy did?”

Simran pauses. She doesn’t know, and it hasn’t occurred to her until right now that she almost...doesn’t want to.