Page 68 of Wrapped with a Beau

“The kind with boundaries?”

“Ves.” A frustrated exhale.

“Look, I hear you, but this is what you’re not getting: the whole reason this even works is because Elisha and I are both in complete agreement that this is over when I leave. We’re not making plans for the future, which is inevitably how this always goes wrong, and I’m sorry, but a double date with my married best friends definitely qualifies as a plan.”

“But that’s the best part,” Arun says quietly. Every trace of his flippancy is wiped away, replaced by careful and considered words that reach straight through Ves’s chest and target his heart. “Having someone to make those plans with. Whether that’s running away for the weekend or just sitting down to go over the grocery list. Knowing that what you want and what they want are the same. Meeting that person who makes you forget that you ever even had a type.”

Ves scowls. Arun is using his soothing agent voice now, like Ves is one of his clients who needs hand-holding to get through a hard truth. It’s irritating and, more importantly, unnecessary.

“I get that you’re keeping it casual,” says Arun, “but how long are you going to be happy with that?”

“Not all of us want to get married by thirty,” Ves reminds him.

Arun laughs. “Please. I’m not my mother, I’m not trying to marry people off. I just don’t want you to be lonely. And the last couple of years, I know we haven’t had as much time for each other—no, that’s not fair. I know it’s on me. More clients, more work, Cade, the wedding, it’s all one giant black hole.”

Well... yes. All true. But it’s not like Ves has ever begrudged Arun his happiness.

“I’m not lonely,” he says, like it’s a bad word. He doesn’t know the words are a lie until he catches sight of his reflection in the shop window, his words replaying on a loop in his mind. And he just knows. “And, uh, maybe don’t call your loving husband the equivalent of a time suck?”

“Fuck. Yeah. You know what I meant, though.” Arun curses under his breath. “Shoot, I gotta go. Cade and I are meeting some friends at Punjabi Grocery and Deli for samosa chaat.”

“All right, have fun. Tell Cade I said hi.”

“Only if you don’t forget to tell Elisha she’s invited! I’ll text you the details. Send me more cat pics!”

Ves struggles with what to say, finally settling on “I will.” If his tone is a bit off, Arun is too rushed to notice, and Ves is grateful for it.

After hanging up, he glances one more time at the keys crammed into the jar before walking on, eager for the warmth of his house, his reheated leftovers, and to check that the cats haven’t chewed his laptop cord. But as he makes his way down Main Street, he’s no longer thinking about any of it.

He imagines a music box and a maybe, just maybe long shot paying off. He imagines New York City and Elisha in it. He imagines a Christmas with a girl he likes and the friends he loves, and he smiles.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Ves

Ves returns to the antique shop later, having knocked more things off his to-do list around the house, and waits at the register for the owner. The old man is currently helping a customer take down several ornamental picture frames from the wall in what’s clearly a huge purchase. Ves sighs, drumming his fingers against the counter.

While he waits, he reads the latest text from Elisha. She’s been coming over every day after work, but still, it’s hard not to be disappointed that she’s busy tonight.

Elisha: Spending the evening with Solana and Adam, join us at the Christmas Market later for wassail and shopping if you want! It’s open until 10 p.m. and we’ll be there until close! Might need to borrow your if I get cold

He snorts and taps at the screen with his thumbs.

Ves: Hilarious.

Elisha: Pfft. You know I look good in red.

Ves: You look good in everything.

Fuck! Why did he send that?

Elisha: Including your sheets?

His heart trips over itself and he stiffens in more ways than one.

Ves: Are you flirting with me?

Elisha: Clearly I need to be less subtle about it...

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