The Trouble with Hating You

by Sajni Patel

  “Let me stop your neuroticism right there,” I interjected. “Things will go smoothly, and so what if they don’t? The important thing is sitting through the ceremony and getting the legal papers signed. Anything else will be laughable. Rohan will not get cold feet. You will not trip. But if you do trip, Rohan will catch you and it’ll be romantic. So there.”

  She nodded briskly and carefully smothered a baguette slice with goat cheese. “What’s new with you? How are things with Jay?”

  “Jay,” Preeti and Sana sang.

  I wanted to roll my eyes and brush it off, but, just like with Wendy, my lips twitched and my smile couldn’t be contained. They leaned in to hear every juicy word.

  “We’re good,” I managed to get out.

  “Just good?” Sana asked.

  “Or hot as Hades?” Reema winked.

  “That second one,” I muttered, my face heating.

  “You guys did it?” Preeti stated more than questioned.

  I nodded in silent, gleeful confirmation, biting down on my lip to keep from grinning like a fool. The girls squealed and practically flung themselves back into their seats like a bunch of teenagers.

  I expected them to ask for details, but Preeti added, “It was inevitable.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “C’mon, Liya. We could all see it. He’s insanely into you, and you are head over heels for him.”

  “Sort of.”

  Sana nudged my shoulder. “Admit it. You like a man. Like like.”

  “Yes. I admit it. We are very into each other, we’re actually in a committed relationship. I was such a prick to him, but he fought for me.”

  “Like I said, Jay is a good man. If he can fight you and win, then he can and will fight anyone and anything to keep you. I love it! What a romance!” Sana swooned. “Have you told your parents? They must be elated.”

  “My mom knows. Although we’re not thinking about marriage.”

  “Isn’t that where this goes, though?”

  “Traditionally, but we all know I’m not traditional, and Jay is fine with that.” I laughed. “That would be the best conversation with my dad. Yeah, that suitor you tried to force me to meet, remember, the one I ran out on and mortified you over, well, turns out we ended up together anyway. However, don’t expect an engagement, much less a wedding, anytime in the next decade. We’re just going to date, get it on, maybe move in together.”

  Sana turned bright red, her chestnut eyes wide and gleaming. “That’s horrible. Your poor parents will be crushed.”

  “You can’t always live for someone else. Live for yourself. I’m with the man they wanted for me. That’s all they can ask for, and that’s all they’re going to get for right now. I admit…Jay makes the idea of marriage attractive. But let’s not start planning a wedding anytime soon.”

  “I’m very happy and excited for you, Liya. You deserve a good, strong man who loves you,” Sana said.

  All right. Time to get down to business. After a long swig of wine, I confessed, “So, my company is closing.”

  “No!” Reema said. “What happened?”

  “They screwed us over. Got me to cheer on a bunch of coworkers who trusted me, to rally them and keep them working despite all the lawsuits that had been coming at us, only to dump us all.”

  “I’m so sorry. Are you freaking out?” Reema asked.

  “No. I have cushy savings.”

  “Are you sure?” She looked around, her scrutinizing gaze sweeping over my expensive style and landing pointedly on my Christian Louboutin collection.

  “Yes, I’m certain. I live within my means. I pay bills, live debt-free, buy luxuries, and save money. I’m not completely irresponsible.”

  Reema shook her head. “Sucks they didn’t tell you months ago. You would’ve had a new job by now.”

  I drew in a breath. If I couldn’t count on my friends, then what good was our friendship? “They actually recommended me to another company, higher position, better pay. It’s a company I’ve had my eye on for years. I applied to them before, but they wanted me for a lab position instead of management.”

  “That’s wonderful! I was about to worry. Where is it? Downtown?” Reema’s face lit up.

  I played with the fringes of the throw blanket. “It’s in Dallas. They made an offer today.”

  “What?”

  The ladies gawked, panic quickly spreading through each of them like wildfire. I swallowed down my trepidation and went on, “I’ve never been this nervous to say something. I don’t want to leave you guys, but let’s face it, Houston has ruined me. I can’t stand being near…certain people. It’s exhausting. And I want to be with you forever, but you’re all moving on. We’re growing up.”

  “Forget them!” Sana exclaimed.

  “It’s understandable,” Reema interjected. “I’m proud of you for making it this long. We’ll miss you, but it would be nice to have a place to stay in Dallas. It’s far enough for you, but not too far from us. We will be there every month.”

  I grinned, anxiety easing out of me until Preeti asked, “What about Jay?”

  “I haven’t mentioned it to him. How do I? I don’t want to feel bad for leaving, but I can’t stay here for him.”

  She sighed. “Well, sounds like you have something great, either way, and a serious discussion to be had. I’d suggest talking to Jay about it as soon as possible. He’s understanding and seems supportive. I don’t think he will try to make you stay. When would you start?”

  “Um. They have a furnished apartment for me for the first three months and they want me to start right away. The place will be ready…on Monday.” I grimaced, expecting their worst reactions to such a big change happening this fast.

  Reema almost choked on her drink. “What! Like this Monday, Monday? The day after my wedding, Monday?”

  “I wouldn’t start that early. I don’t have to move up right away, either. I haven’t decided anything yet.”

  “I’m going to miss you. This is so soon, so sudden,” Preeti said, her shoulders slumped.

  I took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I may not be as loud, but you’ll still hear me all the way from Dallas.”

  She laughed and wiped away a tear. “I believe it! Maybe you and Jay can check out the apartment together?”

  That was certainly one way of breaking the news to him. As if Jay’s ear tingled from being talked about, my phone buzzed with a text message from him. I opened the picture and my heart melted.

  Jay: Jahn took this picture when we weren’t looking.

  I caressed the screen. What a perfect moment captured of us sitting on the bench seat in Shilpa’s delivery room. I held Josh in my arms and smiled down at him. Jay had one arm behind me, on the bench, his hand on my shoulder, his body against my side, his other hand on Josh’s head, a proud smile on his face.

  Reema snatched the phone. “Is it a sexy picture from your heartthrob?”

  “Oooh! I want to see!” Preeti landed on the couch beside her.

  I didn’t fight them or the onslaught of aws that echoed around the room.

  “This is so sweet!” Preeti crooned.

  “Imagine if you two had a baby. This would be you!” Sana cried.

  I sucked in a breath. My cheeks warmed. The ladies gawked at me. And here it came…

  “Liya Thakkar did not immediately balk at the idea of having a child,” Reema said.

  “I don’t want a baby,” I promised.

  “But…”

  I grinned and replied sheepishly, “But yeah, my ovaries kind of exploded at that moment.”

  We flailed with hysterical laughter, holding our stomachs and wiping tears.

  I hadn’t ugly laughed like this in a long time.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Jay

  Did she like the picture?” Jahn asked.

  “Yeah,” I replied and helped Ma cook in the kitchen at Jahn’s place.

  “Is she coming over for dinner?” Ma asked.r />
  “She said she would.”

  “So, what’s going on?” Jahn asked.

  “Nothing much.”

  “I mean with Liya. You guys look pretty couple-ish there.”

  “Yeah, with your baby.”

  He grinned. Ma grinned. Even Shilpa grinned as she walked around burping Josh.

  “Tell us, beta, do you think I can rest now?” Ma asked. “Not having to look for a girl to marry you. I’m getting tired of fighting off all these women asking about you for their daughters.”

  “I think we’re good. Maybe not engagement anytime soon, but—”

  “That’s enough for me.” She touched my arm. “Do you understand what a headache it is to find the right girl for you? Too short, too quiet, too far, too traditional, too much trouble…” She sighed. “I hope this works out and that you keep her happy.”

  “You like her?”

  “Of course I like her! Do you think I would’ve kept my mouth closed if I didn’t? Or that I would allow her to sit in our family dinners? Or that I wouldn’t have shoved her out of Shilpa’s delivery room?”

  Shilpa cackled from across the room. “Ma would’ve kicked her out!”

  Ma added, “Her parents asked for another dinner, you know, to sit down as a family and discuss if you two are interested in moving ahead with dating. She must not have said anything to them.”

  “We haven’t discussed where we’re going. We’re just going. We’ll see when we get there.”

  “That sounds very romantic,” Shilpa said and opened the door when the bell rang.

  Liya’s energetic voice carried through the hallway. Ma hurried around the counter to greet her and hug her. Jahn and I watched, sort of dumbfounded. He grinned and pushed me toward her.

  “Oh, hi,” Liya said when I was suddenly forced in front of her.

  “Glad you could make it,” I said, moving my hands behind me because suddenly I didn’t know how to greet her in front of my family.

  “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Really?” I asked, smiling.

  “Yes. I must see this handsome little man named Josh. Gimme, gimme.” She went straight for the baby, and my family laughed at my expense.

  Liya held him with natural affection, at ease, and smothered him in kisses, alternately saying, “So cute!” over and over. And then she broke down into baby talk, and Ma looked at me with arched brows and cocked her head, like, go get her pregnant right now!

  Jahn cracked up and whispered, “Marry her first.”

  Liya held Josh for most of the evening, even while eating. How could she not read the looks my family gave her?

  “You’re attached to him, aren’t you?” I asked, sitting beside Liya at the table.

  She ate while Josh slept peacefully in the crook of her arm. “Aren’t you? He’s freaking adorable.”

  “My family is looking at us like we should go back to my place and do something about this baby business,” I muttered in her ear.

  She paused, her cheeks pink. “Oh, no.”

  “Oh, yes.”

  “Not every woman wants to be a mother,” she said even as her skin flushed.

  Shilpa took Josh to feed him when he squirmed and cried. Jahn helped Ma clear the table. I placed an arm on the back of Liya’s chair and whispered, “You look good with a baby.”

  “You better shut up with that baby talk,” she warned, her mouth stern but her eyes playful.

  I stroked her thigh under the table. “I mean if you want, I could take you home and put a baby in you.”

  She laughed. “Hell, no.”

  “You don’t want my baby?” I teased.

  “You want me to have your baby?”

  “Yeah.” I licked my lips and her gaze dropped to my mouth.

  “How did we go from monogamous dating to baby-making?” she asked, tilting her head in amusement.

  “You didn’t answer my question. You don’t want my baby?”

  “You must have me confused with someone else.”

  “That’s not a yes or a no,” I teased.

  “I…”

  I touched her cheek.

  “Your mom is watching.”

  “She’d love another grandchild.”

  “Maybe. One day. Not this year. We’ve only…once…” she whispered.

  “Then let’s practice.” I grinned.

  “You are so much trouble. I’m telling your mom.”

  “Telling me what?” Ma asked, and we both shut up quickly.

  I moved away from Liya and cleared my throat.

  Ma smiled and sat down in front of us. “I’d like to speak with you two.”

  Liya sighed. “I know what this is about.”

  “Do you?” Ma asked.

  “About how much time Jay and I spend together. I knew that you’d eventually hear the gossip and step in.”

  She waved off Liya’s remark. “I don’t care about what others say. All I need to know is that you’re dedicated to Jay as much as he is dedicated to you and that you won’t hurt him. It’s obvious to all of us that you’re good for him and that he’s crazy about you.”

  She blushed. “Thank you. Aren’t you in the least objecting to us?”

  “No. Believe it or not, you remind me of myself when I was much younger.”

  “Really?” we both asked in unison.

  “Yes. I had such a smart mouth on me. My parents practically died every time I opened it. Sarcastic and witty. Oh, no one messed with me, and it took a brave man to marry me. He never expected me to change, saw me for every good deed and every blemish, but loved me like in the movies. You better believe how mean people were to me. In India, at that time, pushing myself to become educated and independent, society did not like that. I enjoyed a party or two, I tried a drink. Jay’s father and I snuck out a time or three before the wedding.”

  “Oh, lord,” I muttered, not wanting to know this side of my mother.

  “We were full of passion and fire, and yes, we argued sometimes, but we never stopped loving one another.”

  “Ma…” I mumbled.

  “Oh, hush. You’re an adult now. You know what we did to make you.”

  “Lord,” I muttered under my breath and offered Liya an apologetic glance.

  She laughed. “I love your mother.”

  Ma went on. “You can be different, free, opinionated, be all those things but be a good person.”

  “Were you a feminist?” Liya asked.

  “Still am.”

  “But this whole finding a wife for your sons?”

  “It’s a parent’s duty, isn’t it? To make sure their children are loved, fed, taken care of. That they get through college, build a career, and marry the right person to spend their lives with, someone who will make them happy. I’ve always kept an eye out for special women for my sons, but it’s always up to them. I don’t force them. I wouldn’t force my daughter to marry a certain man, either.

  “Notice that Shilpa is not a quiet girl. Oh, no. She will stand up for anything she believes in. She’s a hard worker, an equal partner in her marriage. She respects me, I respect her. She doesn’t expect me to tell her what to do, and I wouldn’t expect her to obey me if I did. She’s independent and, thankfully, out of the goodness of her heart and the fact that we get along so well, she’s more than happy having me live with her and help with the baby.

  “And don’t you think I know how hardheaded, competitive, and assertive Jay can be? He wouldn’t want a quiet girl, either, but a special woman who can put up with him, put him in his place if need be, but more than ever, build one another up.”

  “I’m sure by now you’ve heard all the rumors, in detail, about my wild ways. Aren’t you concerned?” Liya bit her lip and glanced at the table between us and Ma.

  “No. Some of us have had our wild times. Yours is in the past and Jay is your present. Love is love. If you’re committed to my son, and only my son, I’m happy. What else is there? You’re everything to him. On top of tha
t, you come from a good family, have a career, good friends, are a hard worker. It’s not as if you’re having relations with other men at the same time, or are you?”

  Liya shook her head vigorously. “Oh, lord, no.”

  “Good. I approve, in case either of you were concerned.”

  “That means so much to me,” Liya replied, her eyes glistening.

  I took her hand beneath the table and squeezed.

  “I enjoyed dinner. I’ll leave you two,” Ma said and went upstairs.

  “I didn’t mean for us to get ambushed like that,” I said after Ma left.

  Liya shrugged. “That’s not an ambush.”

  “Look, I know where you stand on marriage and kids and all that, and you know where I stand and what I’m willing to compromise on. There’s no pressure here.”

  “There was no pressure from her, either.”

  “Good. As long as we’re honest with one another, we’ll be good.”

  She squeezed my hand a little more. “Speaking of, you know how I said I might have a new job lined up?”

  “Yeah.”

  “My boss actually recommended me for a job,” she said, albeit a little nervously.

  “That’s great! Is it nearby, or do you have to drive through this nasty traffic?”

  She rubbed her hands against her lap. “The job is in Dallas, and they just made an offer.”

  “What?” My heart sank at her words.

  “I’ve been debating another city for a long time, particularly this company in Dallas.”

  I swallowed. “What’s there to debate about?”

  “I hate living here. You know that. Been trying to get away for a long time, and this company has been on my radar since graduation.”

  “You’re trying to run?” I clenched my jaw.

  “Not from you.” She touched my cheek. “I promise I’m not. But there are tumultuous things here, corrosive people. I also have my friends here.”

  “And me,” I reminded.

  “And you,” she said gently.

  “But the fact that you’re aiming for Dallas says a lot about what you think of us.”

  She swallowed. “I have always wanted to get away from Houston. I didn’t think you’d be the type of guy who would hold me back from this kind of opportunity.”