Page 12 of Since You Came Along

‘How did you guys manage it?’

Swayam shrugged. ‘I called Siya at ten last night and we came up with this impromptu plan. We’re heading back tomorrow afternoon.’

‘And work?’ Meera asked.

‘I have a few online meetings today, and Swayam worked on his manuscript during the flight so we could take a day off.’

‘It means a lot to me,’ Meera told them. Swayam ruffled her hair and went back to playing with Alpha. Siya disappeared into the house to freshen up, no doubt planning to raid her wardrobe for something comfortable to wear.

Later that afternoon, they sat in the garden, passing around the plate of cookies and fudgy brownies Meera had baked.

‘So, are you nervous about meeting his friends?’ Siya asked.

Meera sighed, her nerves creeping up. ‘Honestly, yeah. From what we’ve talked about, I can tell he’s close to them. I’ve already met Abhay, and while he seemed nice enough, I got very little chance to talk to him. Another friend, Luv, is going to be there too, if I remember correctly.’

‘You’re great with people, don’t worry,’ Siya assured her.

Meera rolled her eyes. ‘This is different. I don’t have many guy friends, and the one here’—she gestured to Swayam—‘isn’t exactly much help.’

Swayam was too busy devouring brownies to take offence, his focus on the manuscript he was reading. They shared anamused look at his expense, and Siya nudged him to join the conversation.

Swayam reached over and squeezed her hand. ‘Don’t worry too much, Mihu. Just be yourself, and everything will be fine.’

Meera nodded, but the heaviness in her chest refused to ease. She’d try not to worry, but she wasn't sure she could pull it off.

In the evening, Raghav parked his car in the dimly lit restaurant lot. As they walked toward the elevator, Abhay checked his emails, his fingers flying over the screen. He had to cut a crucial meeting short, all because of Raghav’s irritating habit of showing up half an hour early everywhere. It was a quirk that never failed to test Abhay’s patience.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and as they ascended, Luv gave Abhay a playful nudge. Looking up from his phone, Abhay caught Luv’s gaze and followed his pointing finger. Raghav was up ahead, his hand running through his hair, then adjusting his cufflinks.

As they took their reserved seats, his eyes flickered between his phone and the door, as if waiting for a call. Abhay chuckled, knowing that Meera had promised Raghav she would call once they arrived. It seemed Raghav had forgotten they’d arrived at the restaurant so early.

Abhay knew Raghav like the back of his hand, and these fidgeting gestures were a dead giveaway. He was amused that the man who never broke a sweat in boardroom meetings was a bundle of nerves over meeting Meera’s friends. So, Abhay made up his mind to do whatever it took to make the evening go smoothly for both of them.

To calm his nerves, Raghav ordered a glass of single malt whiskey. The warmth of the drink eased him, just enough to take the edge off. A moment later, his phone buzzed, and a smile tugged at his lips when he saw her name on the screen. She was here.

He had never been more thankful that she didn’t share Abhay’s love for being fashionably late. His heart raced as he watched the entrance, the soft clink of glasses in the background fading to nothing.

Then, he saw her.

Meera walked in, her burgundy-highlighted hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. She wore a faded blue denim dress that gracefully hugged her figure. When she smiled at him, his breath caught. There was no other word for it; she was simply stunning.

‘Hey,’ Meera greeted, waving. Raghav stood as they approached, and her heart skipped a beat. The dark navy suit he wore fit him, accentuating his tall frame. The sight of him made her stomach flutter with unexpected heat.

‘Hey, you,’ Raghav replied with a smile.

But before either could say anything more, someone cleared their throat. Meera shifted her attention to Abhay, who nodded at her in greeting, and then turned to the guy standing beside him.

‘Hi, Abhay,’ she greeted, then, glancing at the other man, asked, ‘And Luv, right?’

‘The one and only,’ Luv winked at her, his grin broad and cheeky.

Meera then turned and began introducing her friends.

‘It's great to meet you all,’ Siya said, but it was clear to Abhay that her sweet words didn’t match the anger in her eyes. Without thinking, he let out a mocking snort, which caught everyone’s attention.

‘Really, Ms Kashyap?’ Abhay asked, his tone dripping with amusement, his gaze fixed on Siya.

Siya shot him a glare that could have melted steel. ‘Just couldn’t shut up, could you, Mr Agrawal?’ she replied, her sharp words aimed at Abhay.

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