Page 156 of Glass Jawed
But now is not the time to unpack this. Because I’m staring at Kashvi’s face—flush with red fury—and behind her, Liam’s miserable one.
I step forward until I’m beside Lucian, not behind him anymore. “Kash... it wasn’t Lucian. I think—shit—I think I may have encouraged this.”
Her eyes widen, and just like that, the fire redirects—aimed straight at me. Great.
“Are youserious?” she gasps. “You’re notthatdeep in love with Lucifer that you’ll cover for his ass!”
Oh.Ohhh.
“No, no. I’m not—” I glance at Lucian. Huge mistake. Because he’s grinning. Actuallygrinning.
I scowl and redirect. “I’m not covering for him, okay? Liam messagedme. I didn’t ask him to come here. He just... did.”
“Traitor,” she gasps dramatically.
“Sorry,” I mutter. “But IswearI didn’t tell him where we were. Just that you were withme. For the wedding.”
Lucian clears his throat and gestures toward the mansion. I follow his gaze—Dad’s walking toward us with his usual concerned dad-face.
Kashvi visibly deflates.
“Lucianbeta,” Dad calls out, voice filled with concern. “Everything alright?”
Wow. No concern forme?
My dad gives a suspicious once over to Liam as he walks past him.
Lucian starts, “Um... uncle, my—”
“This is Liam,” I cut in quickly. “He’s my friend from Canada. He’s also friends with Kash. Actually.”
Kash grumbles something unintelligible. I don’t want Liam to be here as Lucian’s friend. That puts him too far in connections for him to randomly show up here.
I turn to Liam, who looks like he just got caught sneaking into a VIP event. “Liam,” I say sweetly, eyes wide in warning. “Come introduce yourself to my father.”
His steps falter, but he manages to walk over.
“H-hi. I’m Liam Winters. Aarohi and Vee—uh—Kashvi’s friend.”
He offers his hand to my dad, who looks him up and down with quiet confusion. Probably wondering why another random white man has materialized out of nowhere during peak wedding chaos.
“Hello Liam,” Dad says, still frowning slightly. “You’re welcome to join the wedding party.”
Shit.
Then he turns to Lucian. “Beta, maybe he can stay in your room? And get him something to eat—he looks like he’s traveled far. I think therajmafrom lunch is still left.”
“Ji, uncle,” Lucian says politely. (Yes, uncle.)
Did he just—? He’s becoming toosanskari(cultural). Oh god!
Dad gives Liam one last once-over. Probably wondering why the poor guy’s dressed like he just walked out of a corporate merger. And then he leaves.
I’m trying very hard not to laugh.
“You have somenerve,” Kashvi snaps at Liam the second Dad’s out of earshot.
Lucian snorts—actually snorts—but sobers real quick under my glare.
