Page 41 of The Matchmaker

“For the thirteenth time, yes.” This is the real reason he’s calling. The real reason he’s allegedly craving wedding food. Like everyone from Borzu to Genevieve to Darcy, he wants to pop me into a protective bubble. “There are ten different cameras around the agency and my house. Pretty sure the neighbors suspect I’m on some kind of reality television show,” I say.“Borzu made sure my phone and car were clear of trackers. I’m okay, really.”

“Have there been any more cat sightings?”

“None.” My voice breaks. “I don’t know how to live with myself, Azar. Khala trusted me with her cat, and I lost her.”

“Nur. Don’t do that. Beating yourself up isn’t going to make it better.”

Even if I deserve it?Hoping to change the subject, I ask, “What are you up to tonight?”

“Not much. I might go for a run, but other than that, it’s a television and chill kind of night.”

“Arun?” My eyebrows shoot up. “Since when did you pick up running?”

“I run sometimes!” he protests.

“That 5K I dragged you to sophomore year does not count.”

“Well, forgive me for wanting to be a little more physically active.”

“I can swing by after I’m done at the wedding. I’ll see if I can finagle you a doggy bag. Running can build up quite the appetite.”

“Uh, yeah. Sounds good.”

I arch an eyebrow up. When you know someone as long as we’ve known each other, you know when they’re not saying something.

“Is Zayna coming by?”

“Zayna? Not sure. Maybe.”

Which means definitely yes. He’s probably fluffing up the couch pillows and preparing a carpaccio dinner for two as we speak. Zayna’s probably the reason behind his recent interest in running too. I think back to her photo holding up a marathon medal. I’ve been on him to run with me since middleschool, when I begged him to join me on the cross-country team. I guess running wasn’t a priority until he found the right person to make it one.

“I’m almost at Khala’s,” I tell him. “Talk later?”

“Have fun, and, Nur? Stay safe.”

We hang up and I yank down the sun visor to avoid the sun’s glare. I need to get my head in the right space—and trying to figure out Azar’s love life is the exact opposite of the right headspace.

As soon as I pull into Khala’s driveway, my pulse ticks up. What do I say if she asks about Gertie? It’s been ten days since her cat went missing. I wake up multiple times a night at the scraping of a tree branch against my window. Hoping it’s her. Hoping I can put this nightmare behind me.

I need to get it together. Get my game face on for Khala. It will be good practice for the game face I’ll need for Lena and Tanvir’s mehndi. For a few hours tonight I’ll slip into the welcome relief of work mode. Darcy’s coming to babysit me, but she knows how to have a good time too. It’s not every day she joins me at weddings, and given her upcoming sabbatical and marriage, who knows how many more events like these she’ll have time for. I want to make tonight count.

I park in Khala’s driveway and attempt to maneuver out of the car in my bulky sari. Driving while wrapped in seventeen feet of fabric is more complicated than it may seem at first glance. Or maybe—I look down—it’s exactly as complicated as it looks. Approaching the house, I check my watch. Even for someone who’s usually on Desi Standard Time, I’m running a tad behind, but Khala’s platinum set inlaid with diamond-shaped sapphires will match perfectly. Days when I feel the most vulnerable are when I need my armor most ofall.

“You look like a princess,” Lilah announces when she seesme.

She hops up from the couch where she was sitting with Nina, a puzzle splayed out on the coffee table. Nina barely acknowledges me.

“Thanks,” I tell her.

I peek at the wall; to my relief, the stain from the ill-fated mural is completely gone.

“I don’t like princesses,” Lilah clarifies.

“Oh yeah?” I tickle her. “But you like this one, don’t you?”

“No!!! Yessss!!!” She squeals with laughter.

“Mom’s in her room,” Nina tells me. Her eyes are on her phone. She’s in sweatpants and an oversized T-shirt. Her hair is rumpled. “It’s…it’s not the best day for her.”

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