Page 58 of Not In Love

Tia’s voice came out in a rush, stumbling over itself. “I overheard Grandma and Kaif Uncle talking. I know I wasn’t supposed to but I couldn’t help it.”

Kash tried not to radiate her tension into the small frame leaning against her. “Talking about what, baby?”

Tia took the end of the silk dupatta and rolled it around her thumb. “They said things are changing. That you’re doing better now and you might get a boyfriend and then…” her small face turned to look up at Kash, eyes big and teary in her face, “and then I could live with Kaif Uncle and Muriel Aunty for a while.” She swallowed hard, blinking fiercely at the rug. “I don’t want to go,” she whispered. “I like living with you. And Papa. Even if it’s sometimes in two houses.”

Kash’s stomach twisted. She tightened her arm around Tia automatically, as if she could physically shield her from everything hurtful.

Across from them, Diego moved closer, his knee brushing Tia’s skirts, grounding her. His large hand took the little one in his, in a silent reassurance to keep going.

Tia traced the knuckles on his hand, up and down, her voice wobbly. “Everything’s changing. Kaif Uncle moved back, and now he’s marrying Muriel Aunty, and I was happy about that. But grandma said I was his niece too, not just Kash aunty’s. Since he and Muriel aunty will buy a house somewhere close, I should spend more time with them regularly.” She wiped her nose on the back of her hand, blinking up at Kash like she expected to be told she was wrong for feeling it. “Is it a lot of work for you if I live with you? I promise to be?—”

“Shhh, none of that,” Kash said, her throat burning. She cupped Tia’s cheek, forcing herself to keep her voice low, steady. “Oh, baby. Look at me.”

She waited until Tia's big, anxious eyes met hers. “You are not work at all. You don’t have to do or be anything to live with me. Just be a happy little girl, yeah?” A big shuddering breath rushed out of her. “Did you know I was the first one who held you when your Mama brought you into the world?”

Tia’s eyes glowed like rare jewels. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, and you looked at me with these big eyes, then blinked and then yawned. And ever since then, you’ve been my family. A piece of my heart. I love no one more than I love my lovely girl, Tia. Everyone knows that.”

Tia hiccupped, a tiny sound. “Everyone?”

“Yes, and nothing will change that. Your papa and you and me, whatever else happens, whoever else comes into our lives, we’ll always be each other’s family first and foremost. Yeah?”

Tia looked at Diego, who nodded, and then back at Kash. With a soft cry, she launched herself at Kash.

Kash pulled her fully into her arms, lehenga skirts crackling around them, and pressed her face into Tia’s hair. Her chest ached as the slim body trembled in her arms. “If Kaif uncle and Muriel aunty want you to visit them, that’s all it is, a visit. Your home is with me and your Papa.”

Diego shifted closer, on his knees right beside them. He reached out and rested a warm hand on Tia’s knee over the thick layers of fabric, a solid, anchoring weight.

“Whatever else you hear out there, you trust your Kash aunty, sweetheart,” he said, voice steady. “You and me and her…we’re it, okay?”

Tia nodded and burrowed deeper into Kash’s side. Kash felt her small hand reach out blindly and latch onto Diego’s wrist where it rested against her skirts.

Kash’s breath hitched. Diego’s hand gently curled around Tia’s fingers.

The three of them sat there like that, tangled together in silk and certainty. Kash closed her eyes, feeling the sheer rightness of it settle deep into her bones.

Not just for Tia. Not just for now.

Maybe she could dare to want all of it. Maybe it wasn’t greedy to want him and a real family with him. The idea bloomed inside her with an audacious ferocity.

She opened her eyes and met Diego’s over the crown of Tia’s head.

His look was full of something unspoken but unmistakable.

She didn’t say anything. Neither did he.

It was enough—for now—to hold onto this tiny, fierce circle they made together.

* * *

Not a few minutes later,Tia started twitching in their hold.

“My little butterfly wants to fly away already?” Diego said, easing her out of their arms with a chuckle.

Kash tucked the last safety pin into Tia’s choli and gave her a mock-inspecting look. "Perfect," she declared. "You’re officially the prettiest one here."

Tia giggled, twirling once, her dupatta fluttering. Her eyes, which had been clouded minutes ago, were bright again.

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