Chapter Text
Devi greeted the California morning with a smile. It was comfortable waking up in her childhood bed. Her fingers brushed over the bedsheets. They smelled familiar and were just the right thickness. She could sink into the fluffy pillow without tousling her long hair. And the sun didn’t shine into the room until the afternoon, giving her lots of time to sleep in.
She inhaled deeply and opened her eyes. It was Tuesday, and she usually had to be at work, but she had taken the day off. She couldn’t stifle a grin even if she had wanted to. Paxton would land at LAX today!
There was warmth in her chest. So long in her life, she just wanted to be close to him, couldn’t get enough of him—to feel his touch on her. And now she could have him all summer.
Just a few more hours and he’s here, she told herself.
She slipped out of bed and walked to the windows with a bounce in her step. The hook creaked, but the window still opened with ease. She had lost count of how many times Paxton had climbed through it into her room to sneak past the watchful eyes of her mother. But he didn’t need to do that anymore—he was her official boyfriend now.
Fresh morning air entered the room. Devi pulled up the sleeve of her wide t-shirt to cover her shoulder when she saw the neighbor across the street pruning trees in the garden. The woman waved at her.
“Good morning, Ms. Crow,” Devi called out.
Birds chirped, making the scene appear peaceful. It reminded her of a time when life seemed easier—well, in retrospect anyway.
“Kanna, are you up?”
Devi gritted her teeth at the sound of her mother’s voice. She had hoped to avoid continuing the argument from last night a while longer. Oh, well. “Yes, Mom.” Why wasn’t her mother at work yet?
Without so much as a knock, Nalini came into the room. “That’s great. You can help me with—”
“Mom, you can’t just storm into my room like that!” Devi felt blood rush to her cheeks.
“Come on, since when is that a problem?”
“Since always!” Devi put her hands on her hips. “And now I’m an adult. You need to give me some privacy.”
“But you’re still in my house.”
“Whatever, Mom. We need some boundaries.”
Nalini nodded slowly. “I guess we do—especially around you and your involvement with Paxton.”
There it was—the argument they had started last night. “I know you don’t like it, but I will pick him up from the airport.”
Nalini clicked her tongue. “Kanna, the networking event is tonight. This can really help your career. You need to make connections in town.”
“I already have an internship for the summer.” Devi crossed her arms. “That is why I came here so early.”
“But you have to look beyond that. All the major employers in the health field will be at the event.” Nalini’s face softened. “Including research facilities like Turner Med, which is something you’re so interested in. Liam Turner himself is going to be there.”
Devi made a puking sound. “They are clients of Ben’s dad.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“It doesn’t exactly speak for them.” Devi threw her arms in the air. “Don’t you understand I miss my boyfriend? I promised I’d pick him up from the airport. We’ve been looking forward to this for weeks.”
“And you both promised your,” Nalini winced, “relationship wouldn’t get in the way of your career.”
“I know, but…”
“There’s no but! Don’t make me rethink our deal.”
Devi swallowed. “I guess he and I did say we would make the relationship work around our careers.”
“Kanna, you still have the entire summer to hang out with him.”
Devi nodded, but her lips pressed tightly against each other.
Her mother turned and walked to the door. “Now come down for breakfast.”
Devi’s stomach knotted. She went to the nightstand and picked up her phone. Unsure what to write, she plopped down on her bed. Her chest felt heavy as she imagined how disappointed he would be when she wasn’t coming. She brushed her finger across the screen to unlock it. That was when she noticed a couple of new messages. From Lisa and Fabiola and... Paxton! He had sent pictures of his packed bags. The caption said, See you soon, and was followed by a heart.
Awww. He could be so sweet.
But then her face fell and she growled. To keep the peace at home, she had to wait a while longer until she could meet him. “Stupid networking. Did that have to be today?”
She opened the chat with Rebecca, his sister.
“Devi, come!” called her mother from downstairs.
“Just a moment!” She went to the bathroom to freshen up, where she wrote and rewrote the message several times until she finally sent it to Rebecca. She hated disappointing the people she loved.
Her phone beeped when she walked down the stairwell. Nalini raised an eyebrow.
“It’s Paxton’s sister,” said Devi, taking a seat at the table. “I told her they need to pick him up instead.” She glanced at the response. “And she said they’ll do it.”
“See, it’s all working out.”
Although Devi wasn’t hungry, she had to admit the food smelled delicious. Such a nice blend of hearty spices.
Nalini already finished her first dosa. “I need your help in the office this afternoon before you’re going to the networking event. We’re getting some new equipment delivered.”
“Is that why you’re not at work?” Devi pulled up her t-shirt, which kept sliding off her shoulder.
“Also to make sure you’re going to the event.” Nalini gestured at the steaming rice. “And apparently to make sure you eat something.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Devi picked up a dosa.
Nalini interrupted eating and just looked at her daughter. “I’m happy you’re back, kanna.”
“See, that’s one good thing about dating Paxton.” Devi smirked playfully. “Without him, I might have looked for an internship in New York.”
But her mother didn’t take the bait. “Don’t be silly. I have much better connections here.”
“I know and...” Devi’s voice softened. “I wanted to see you too, Mom.”
They shared a smile until the phone beeped again. It was a message from Rebecca, and she asked if Devi had told Paxton about the change in plans. I will, Devi sent back quickly and put down the device before her mother could start her usual rant about cell phone use during meals.
Besides, she really didn’t want to write that message to him. Like her, he had been so excited about seeing her at the airport. His fingers had drummed on the laptop when he had said there was something important he wanted to tell her in person. He had sounded happy and yet concerned at the same time. Was he planning to move in together with her so they wouldn’t have her mother looking over Devi’s shoulder all the time? No... whatever it was, it seemed to weigh on him.
“Kanna, the food is getting cold!”
“Sorry, yes.” She picked up her dosa again.