Page 63 of Carnal

She's going to back out.

Twelve excruciating seconds pass. She leans back into the seat, opens her tray table, and smirks. "I didn't have any exciting plans this weekend, so that works."

My insides relax. I pull my table out and mumble, "Sounds like you have an awesome social calendar."

She huffs, as if she's insulted. "I have an amazing one."

"Says the woman who has nothing going on this weekend."

She arches her eyebrows. "So you canceled your plans to kidnap and take me out of the country?"

Danika saves me from answering. She chirps, "Hope you're hungry. These portions are huge!" She lifts a silver lid and places a plate on Pina's table.

A mix of colors fills the plate. Indian spices flare in my nostrils before Danika sets my meal in front of me.

Pina's eyes light up. "Is this from the Indian grocery store near my work?"

"Sure is," I boast, happy I choose the right dinner.

Pina leans closer to me. "You know I love that place."

"So you've said only a thousand times over the years," I point out.

Danika pours champagne for Pina and a beer for me. She asks, "Need anything else?"

"I think we're set," I state.

"Yes, all set. Thank you," Pina echoes.

"Very well. If you change your mind, let me know." Danika lowers another tray table and places a basket of garlic naan on it. "Don't forget this," she says, then disappears.

Pina glances at her plate filled with saag paneer, chicken tikka masala, and lamb rogan josh all over a bed of basmati rice. "Mmm," she moans, inhaling deeply.

I chuckle. "You're so predictable."

She shrugs. "You can't get my favorite meal and claim I'm predictable." She takes a bite of lamb and groans. "So good."

"Seems like I can," I claim, suddenly hungry and shoving a forkful of chicken in my mouth. The earthy Indian spices mix with ginger, turmeric, coriander, and cumin. I wash it down with a sip of my beer.

"If only all of New York knew how good this food is," Pina declares.

"It is crazy they make it in a grocery store. This is better than any five-star Indian restaurant in the city," I admit.

"Right!" Pina practically shouts, then eats the saag.

I pick up a piece of the garlic naan and add a scoop of rice and the lamb rogan josh. We eat in silence, and I pat myself on the back for getting dinner right.

Pina puts her fork on the table, drinks half her champagne, then turns in her chair. She tilts her head. "Do you really not know where we're going?"

I swallow my beer and shake my head. "I have no idea."

She studies me a moment then says, "That's so unexpected."

Unsure how to take her comment, I inquire, "Meaning?"

The gold in her eyes brightens. "Dante would never go anywhere without having every last detail planned."

I grunt. "Well, I'm not Dante." I finish my beer and then push the call button.

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