Page 48 of Reasons We Break

“Of course not.”

“Good. Just making sure. They better not be bothering you, because I’ve been doing everything they asked lately.”

“What?”

Too late, she sees the trap, right after she’s said it. Rajan immediately steps closer. “Why is that so surprising? Of course I’m with them again. That was the whole point of them taking you. Wasn’t it?”

Her throat closes. “Yes, but...”Come on, Simran, think!“It’s stupid, but I was hoping they wouldn’t bother you again, anyway. I never wanted this for you.” She doesn’t have to fake her trembling voice. “What...What are you doing for them?”

He studies her. She keeps her chin lifted to maintain eye contact. His height isn’t normally intimidating. The way he normally carries himself is sounintimidating that she forgets how tall he is. But now she’s realizing he probably does that deliberately. Of course he knows how to unnerve people when he wants to.

He speaks, low. “You’re good, dammit. You’re so good.”

Her heart thunders. “What are you talking about?”

“I dunno. WhatamI talking about?”

The ensuing silence is only broken when Chandani marches up and shoves Rajan away. “That’s enough.”

And just like that, his expression transforms. The dark veil over his eyes lifts, he’s smiling harmlessly, and he backs up. “Chill out. I was only asking a question.”

“Don’tchill outme,” Chandani retorts. “Look, you’ve scared her—”

That compels Simran to speak. “I’m fine. We were talking about the Hillway schedule. Let’s go, okay?”

Chandani allows herself to get tugged away after one last glare at Rajan. Simran, however, doesn’t dare look back. Did he figure it out? No. He couldn’t have.

“Okay, what’d he say?” Chandani asks once they’re out of earshot. “That was way too intense to be aboutscheduling.”

“Scheduling can get quite intense.”

“Bitch, be serious. Do you even know why he’s stuck doing community service? It’s disturbing.”

EvenChandani’swarning her off now? She can’t help herself. “Didn’t you sleep with him?”

“So?” Chandani raises her eyebrows. “He’s not the type you bring home to your parents. He’s the type you use to get over your bad-boy phase before he goes back to jail.”

Heat rises up Simran’s neck. “You don’t know that he’s going back to jail.”

“You’re right,” Chandani muses. “He might actually go to prison. Or die first. Who’s to say?” She sighs, seemingly not noticing Simran clutching the posters in a death grip. “Tragic, really. The boy really knows what he’s doing.”

RAJAN REMEMBERS EXACTLYwhere the old LS bookkeeper used to pick up his work. That shitty café downtown, right next to a laundromat and a storefront that was perpetually for rent. Rajan’s been there a few times, dropping records off. He never thought he’d be back.

Inside, Zohra’s at the counter, elbows leaning on the table while she reads a book. She looks up when he enters.

“Where is she?” Rajan demands. Zohra laughs.

“Wow, Rajan. Maybe start with hello—Wait, stop!” She darts in front of him, because he’s reached the door to the kitchen.

He’s not in the mood for games. “Get out of my way.”

She doesn’t. “Justlisten—”

Rajan pushes her aside—gently, because even now he’s conscious of what she’s been through. When she grabs his arm, he shakes her off and continues on. Nothing’s stopping him now.

Ever since his last meeting with Kat, this absurd thought had been niggling at him. But he dismissed it every time—it was way too stupid-sounding. Simran? Running with theLions? No way. And yet, when he saw her with Chandani, hehadto ask. Just to reassure himself.

What he got was the exact opposite of reassurance. And if Simran slipping up wasn’t enough evidence, calling Nick afterward sure was.