Page 37 of The Matchmaker

“That’s great,” Azar says. An awkward silence falls over us.

I clear my throat. “What about you two kids? Up to anything fun and exciting?”

Kids? Fun and exciting?I cringe. Why am I being so awkward? Also, how does she manage to look drop-dead gorgeous in blue scrubs and orthopedic footwear?

“We took a break to grab some dosas,” Azar says. “Zayna introduced me to a hidden gem.”

“We were going to check it out a few weeks ago, but I think something came up for you, Nura,” she says. “Some kind of emergency?”

“Sorry again about that, Zayna,” Azar says. “I shouldn’t have gotten up and—”

“No,I’msorry,” I interject. “I called him and made it seem like it was a big emergency. It was a strange—”

She waves a hand and cuts both of us off. “It’s fine. Water under the bridge.”

When they leave, I look at Darcy. “That was…”

“Awkward?” Darcy finishes. “Um. Yes. A little bit.”

I watch them walk toward Azar’s SUV. The last time I met someone he dated for any length of time was our freshman year in college. He and Amara lasted barely two weeks, parted amicably, and she’s still my friend. But I get a sinking feeling Zayna won’t be interested in a friendship with me. His hand rests on her lower back as he opens the passenger door. This is as serious as Azar’s ever gotten. It won’t matter how long I’ve known him. How deep our roots go. If she hates me, the door between me and Azar will close forever.

“I’d say, given that her boyfriend doubles as your pretend fiancé,” Darcy says, “if she’s a bit cagey around you, it’s understandable.”

“She doesn’t need to worry about that anymore. He officially dumped me.”

“What?” She looks stricken. “She told him he couldn’t attend weddings with you anymore?”

“He said it was eating up too much of his free time.”

“There’s no shortage of people to pair you up with for a plus-one. Samir’s got a really cute best friend, and he’s single. Maybe you could even go on anactualdate.”

“I don’t want anyone else. Azar was enough.”

“Oh?” Her eyes shine.

“Darcy! Not like that.” Heat rises to my face.

“If you say so.” Darcy purses her lips, considering. “Okay. Fine. How about I accompany you to Lena and Tanvir’s wedding? I’ll be your date.”

“You’re overloaded as is right now. I know I’m throwing myself a pity party here, but I can handle attending a wedding by myself. I do it all the time. Maybe I’ll buy a wedding band and say my dashing husband is putting our kids to bed. That could be my new routine going forward.”

“Honestly, I’d love to go. It’ll be nice to see them off. It’s supposed to be the wedding of the decade, right?” She hooks her arm through mine as we near our cars. “Plus, I like spending time with you.”

I squeeze her arm. “The feeling’s absolutely mutual.”

I slow down in front of the chaat house across from our vehicles. The scent of coriander and cumin wafts through the air. I scan the glossy menu pasted against the front door. Per usual, the place is packed with people. I eye the crowded tables. Maybe I can grab an order to go.

Wait.

I inch closer. I look at the man sitting by himself near the window.

It’s Logan Wilson.

He’s alone. His eyes are fixed on something on the table. It’s likely he’s watching something on his phone. He doesn’t notice me watching him.

Ever since this chaat house got Zagat rated, the place draws just about everyone. If he’s in town for business, it’s not out of the question that he’d hunt down one of the best eats around.But to be in the exact same area at the exact same time as me? Atlanta isn’t some quaint pastoral village. We’re a sprawling urban development nightmare. Why is he here?

“What’s the matter?” asks Darcy.

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