Page 145 of Debugging Love

“Hey. I’m taking the next couple of days off work to hang out with my family. Do you want to join?”

She pulls out of my embrace. “The benefits portal. We have to redesign two of the modules.”

“Do we, though?” I can’t believe I’m saying it, but the modules are unit tested and ready to go. “I mean, I’ll do whatever you say, but... Why break what isn’t fixed?”

“Ha ha.” She drums her fingers against the counter while pondering my idea. “Are you suggesting we send two parallel architectures to test?”

I grab her waist again and pull her back to me. “Yes.” My lips find her neck.

“You are scandalous, Jyotiraditya.”

I perk up.

“That’s right. I said it.”

“I like it when you say my name, Danni,” I say, grinning.

She spins around, collapses into my arms, and sighs. “That makes two of us.”

Chapter 30

Danni

Chance emerges from the ocean, muscles glistening in the afternoon sun. He shakes his wet hair and then closes his eyes and runs his fingers through the black strands. The sight sends a tingle from my head to my toes.

I admire his muscular shins as he heads up the sand toward our blanket.

“What are you grinning at?” he asks after plopping down beside me.

“Oh, nothing.”

I’ve been face down for the last twenty minutes, soaking up rays through my SPF 100 while Chance was out conquering the waves. They’re not strong enough to warrant a red flag. Yet. Tomorrow will be even choppier, but we’re leaving tonight for a good night’s sleep before another Monday at JetAero.

“You want some more lotion on your back?” Chance asks.

“Nope. We should probably go in.”

He sighs. “I suppose. I kinda like hanging out on the beach with you, though.”

I flop over and block the sun with my hand. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

He smiles and leans over for a peck.

“However, it was your idea that I cook your family and Navya dinner. And since I’ve never fixed Murgh Kari, I’m going to need lots of assistance.”

“Of course,” he says before giving me another quick kiss. “Dadi’s going to be impressed.”

Doubt threads through my chest. Dadi’s been keeping an emotional distance. She’s been polite. Almost too polite. Too formal. “I don’t think she likes me.”

He rests his elbows on his bent knees and runs his fingers through his hair again. “Why do you think that?”

“She hasn’t said my name once. She just calls me ‘Dear.’”

“‘Dear’ sounds more intimate than Danni.”

“Not the way she says it.”

He peaks down at me. “She likes you.”

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