Page 168 of Wasted Grace

So today is my last day before my New Year’s week-long leave.

“Fine. But I’m not selling Lavi to you.” He pauses. “Okay,maybe. If it’sthatgood.”

I snort. “Moron. Listen I gotta pack up, Vicky. See you tomorrow, okay?”

“Fine!”

Just before hanging up, I add, “And you’d probably give her to me just for the recipe.”

I hear him cackle. “Whipped asshole!”

Whipped indeed.

??????

“What about this one?” Gree holds out an embroidered blue salwar suit, her eyes shaky and uncharacteristically nervous.

We’re getting ready for the New Year’s party at my parents’ house and I can clearly see she’s anxious about it.

My lips curve into a gentle smile. “It’s fine, my warrior ghost. You’ll look beautiful no matter what.”

“You’re no help,” she huffs and then jumps holding a tube of product. “Oh!I found this concealer online and tested it. It can hide—”

“Wait, wait, wait,” I stopped her rant, enclosing her in my arms. “What did I just say? You. Are.Beautiful. That scar is from a life that got you back to me. Sono—you won’t be hiding it when you’veneverhidden it whenever we go out.”

Her eyes squeeze shut. “It’s your family. I don’t want them to think—”

“They’re going to think that I’ve finally managed to convince the love of my life to be with me. You know how many questions I’ve skirted in the past four years?”

She raises a brow and I laugh.

“Too many, baby.” I hug her tighter, kissing her temple. “I promise. Whatever you wear, whatever type of makeup you puton, they’re eventually just going to see the amazing womanyou are. Nothing else will matter.”

“Well...” She leans back and averts her eyes nervously. “If they’re anything like Vikram, I’m guessing it should be fine?”

I shrug. “My family will love you. I guarantee it. Now—”

I walk over to her closet in my bedroom. Yep, she’s claimed one side of my closet.

“What do you want to wear? Not what youthinkwill look good for my parents.”

She looks at me like I’m certified. “Are you... stupid? I can’t wear whatever the fuck I want. It’s afamilyevent and—”

“This one,” I cut her off and grab the fancy jumpsuit she recently bought because she loved the amount of pockets it had. “This looks hot, right?”

She stares at me incredulously. “You need serious help.”

I throw my head back, laughing at her antics. “If you knew how Navya, my cousin, dresses for such occasions—you’d be grabbing this in a heartbeat.”

She frowns, her expression speculative. “Are you sure? Shouldn’t I dress... like asanskariIndian woman?”

I snort and hand her the jumpsuit. “You should dress like my Greesha.”

I take advantage of her occupied hands and press a lingering kiss to her lips before getting ready.

A simple shirt and jeans I had planned. She stares with a slightly horrified expression like I’m committing a crime.

I can’t blame her. She’s never been to my family’s events. And she doesn’t know that we dress casually—for the most part.