Priya in Heels (Entangled Embrace)

by Ayesha Patel

  Dad was in the living room in a button-up shirt and slacks. Pree offered her hand, but Dad walked around the coffee table and gave her a big bear hug. She gasped. A brief look of discomfort exploded on her face. Ha!

  Dad laughed deep from his chest. “You must be Pree!”

  “It’s Priya, and yes, I’m her.” She smiled.

  Her correction didn’t faze him. He hugged me and invited us to sit on the big, blue couch. He took the recliner, and I helped Mama in the kitchen for a few minutes.

  As she put together a porcelain tea arrangement on a silver platter, she commented, “She’s absolutely stunning, Tyler.”

  “I know.”

  “You say she’s a doctor?”

  “Resident doctor.”

  She put a hand to her chest and tilted her head while she gave me that I’m-so-proud-of-you look. “You’ve never brought a girl home before.”

  “I haven’t?” I thought for a minute. “You’ve met my girlfriends from school.”

  “We had run-ins. The lake, a game, study groups. Since college, no one.”

  “Oh. Huh.”

  “And never home for dinner. I can only imagine how special Priya must be.” She arranged triangular scones and patted my shoulder. I bet wedding bells and baby showers were ringing through her head.

  I helped carry the bigger platter out.

  “We didn’t know what to make to welcome your visit. I hope you like tea,” Mama said.

  I chuckled.

  “What?”

  “You assume she’s into afternoon tea because she’s Indian? Mom, she’s not British.”

  Pree slapped my thigh, hard. I jumped. My parents gawked at her. Pree forced a delicate smile and reassured them, “I’m not at all offended. It’s very flattering that you went through so much trouble. I do love afternoon tea! I don’t know why, maybe because it makes me feel classy.”

  She continued talking. “When you’re in town, you’ll have to try this English afternoon tea place. You can get a three-tiered platter and tea for a pricy amount, but it’s so worth it. They serve these little sandwiches, tiny quiches, and desserts. It’s yummy.”

  Mama commented, “We’ll have to visit you two soon.”

  I liked the sound of that.

  Despite knowing how we met and knowing about Pree’s life, my parents asked her anyway. She made it sound like a dull story. Then they probed to know more about her Indian culture, and why it seemed that all Indians excelled at math and were successful in America.

  “Mama,” I groaned. “That’s stereotyping.”

  Thank goodness my obnoxiously loud sixteen-year-old cousin skipped into the room. She was a younger, female version of me with the same wavy hair and green eyes.

  She held out her hand to Pree. “I’m Miranda.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Priya.”

  “Pretty name. Are you Indian?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a friend at school who’s Indian. Her name’s Preity.” She pronounced the name perfectly. Pray-thee. She didn’t say “pretty” like she used to. “And she’s super smart. We always tag team in math and biology projects and totally kick everyone else’s butts.”

  She plopped down next to Pree. “I love your eyes! OMG! Are they contacts, or are they real?”

  “They’re real.”

  “Calm down,” I warned.

  She rolled her eyes. “Anyway, so are you and my cousin dating?”

  “Miranda, don’t harass my friend.”

  “Friend? Right… So what do you do, cousin Tyler’s friend?”

  “I’m a doctor,” Pree replied.

  “No way! That’s awesome. Preity wants to be a doctor, too.”

  “What do you want to be when you go grow up?”

  She shrugged. “I haven’t decided. I like math and science.”

  “Then you’ll have a broad spectrum of choices.”

  “For sure! Ooh, do you, like, get covered in blood and guts and stuff?”

  “Gross, munchkin.” I gently pushed her head away.

  “Ow!” She punched my shoulder with a weak hit. I didn’t budge.

  “Sometimes,” Pree responded. “Especially in surgery, or labor and delivery, otherwise the fluid is mainly vomit…or diarrhea.”

  “Sick!” Mama gagged.

  “Awesome!” Miranda shouted.

  “Oh my.” Mama staggered to her feet and said to Dad, “Dear, come help me with the table.”

  He jumped up after her.

  “Why don’t you go help,” I ordered Miranda.

  She stuck her tongue out at me. “Why? So you can be alone with your girlfriend?”

  “Why are you so annoying?”

  “Because it’s fun to annoy you!” She flung her arms around my neck.

  “Yep.”

  Miranda took Pree’s hand and pulled her up. “Come on, Priya! I can show you the house.”

  “This isn’t even your house!” I called after her as they disappeared down the hallway. I followed. Sometimes I couldn’t trust the words that came out of Miranda’s mouth.

  “So the foyer, family room, and living room are pretty boring.” Miranda jogged upstairs and showed Pree the bedrooms and bonus room, which served as a huge library.

  “Oh my God,” Priya whispered.

  She ran her fingers along the cherry wood bookshelves and the spines of worn-out books. We had everything here, including a large selection of scientific books. This had been my favorite room growing up. A brown leather couch gathered a few specks of dust against one wall beside an amazingly comfortable bamboo and white padded Papasan chair.

  “Those are Tyler’s old books.” Miranda eyed the large, flat-screen computer. “That computer screen is so big, I can read three books at once, but I like tablets to read on instead.”

  The last stop was my old room, a classic bedroom with maroon bedding, a study desk, and a bunch of nerd memorabilia on the dresser and movie posters on the wall.

  “I guess you’ll be sleeping in here,” Miranda sang as if she were speaking to one of her teenage friends about a boy.

  “Um, and where will Tyler sleep?” Priya asked.

  Miranda gaped at Pree as if she were a loon, then snapped out of her daze and skipped downstairs when Mama’s voice rang for dinner. I shrugged when Pree looked at me for an answer.

  “Do they think we’re…?”

  “Dinner’s ready,” I said.

  The downstairs smelled like childhood. Mama had made lasagna, goat cheese salad, garlic bread, and steamed veggies. Thank goodness she didn’t serve hummus and curried lamb. That wasn’t even Indian cuisine, but Mama thought it was all the same.

  According to Mama’s instructions, Pree sat between me and Miranda, while Mama sat across from us next to Dad. They spoke about my childhood and reminisced about the rascal I’d been in high school. Then the conversation shifted toward Jenny’s wedding.

  “Jenny’s my sister,” Miranda explained. “She’s getting married in a few months. Are you coming to the wedding?”

  “It’s not your place to invite people,” I scolded.

  “You can bring a date. Your date should be Priya.”

  I winked at Pree. “I’d love a date with you.”

  Everyone watched for her reaction, waited for an answer. How could she say no to me? “Sure.”

  “Don’t have a heart attack with all that unbridled enthusiasm.” I grinned, squeezed her thigh under the table, and left my hand there.

  After dinner, Pree tried to help Mama with the dishes, but she insisted, “Don’t try to touch this mess. Go! Sit in the living room, hang out in the backyard. Go for a walk.”

  “Are you sure? I feel so bad that you went through all this trouble and I can’t help.”

  “Yes, yes!”

  I took her by the waist and swept her out of the kitchen. I held her hand as we strolled outside.

  “How about a walk down a country road?”

  My parents didn’t live in the heart of the
city, or in a major subdivision. They lived in a nice, upper middle class suburb steering toward ranch country. The lots were large, near an acre each. Towering oak trees lined both sides of the street. Dry grass splotches dominated front yards, and prickly bushes replaced absent flowers.

  A few cars were parked on the street, but most were in driveways where they belonged. Some neighbors were out watering their yards. Kids played on the sidewalk. A couple of children teased two puppies.

  “Can I come!” Miranda’s high-pitched voice echoed from behind us as she sprinted past three houses to reach us.

  I groaned as she squeezed in between us. “I told you she was your girlfriend!”

  Pree sidestepped away from Miranda, hands down the craziest girl in my family. Miranda hooked arms with hers and skipped along. I half-expected her to call Pree “bestie” and giggle over the two boys who were washing a car and checking her out. Miranda waved at them, and they whistled.

  “What the hell, Miranda?” I snatched her arm down. “Don’t get flirty at your age. Boys are only after one thing, and they sure as hell ain’t getting it from you.”

  “You’re so old school.”

  “For the love of all that’s sacred in this world, please tell me you’re still a virgin.”

  “That’s TMI.” She looked at Pree. “Besides, girls do it young now, right? Nothing wrong with it.”

  Pree glanced at her from the corner of an eye. “I’m not getting into the middle of this.”

  “You have to tell Tyler it’s normal, and natural, for girls my age to be doing things. I’m sure you did, right?”

  “No.”

  Through clenched teeth, I said, “She didn’t. It’s rude to ask someone you barely know about their sex life.”

  “It’s girl talk. When did you lose it, anyway?”

  Pree opened her mouth to reply but snapped it shut.

  I answered on her behalf. “Maybe she hasn’t. You could learn something from her.”

  “For real? You’re old.” Miranda twisted her lips and Pree snickered.

  I tapped an irritated foot on the edge of patience. “Get back in the house, Mir, and first thing in the morning I’m telling your parents.”

  “You can’t!”

  “I will.”

  “Why do you want to get me into trouble?”

  “I don’t want to get you into trouble, but you’re too young for this stuff, and your parents need to talk to you. They know what’s best for you, and you’re too hormone inundated to make the right decision. These teenage boys don’t think with their heads, or at least not the right one.”

  “Gross! They’ll send me to an all-girls school!”

  “Then keep your legs crossed and knock out any guy trying to hit on you.”

  She turned on her heel and stomped toward the house. Miranda was such a melodramatic child.

  “Sheesh,” Pree muttered. “She’s going to hate you.”

  “Nah. She loves me. She acts like she won’t listen to me, but she will in the end. But that’s my job, you know? She’s like my little, annoying, neurotic sister.”

  Pree hooked elbows with me and rested her head against my shoulder, right where she belonged. “You’re so sweet.”

  Something warm bubbled in my chest and spread out. I kissed her head and continued the walk. “I know you don’t have siblings, but didn’t your older cousins look out for you?”

  She rolled her eyes. “No. I’m pretty sure they started rumors, though. They were the ones who were screwing guys in college and wearing ho outfits. But they went to temple every week, and both parents were active at temple and seen in the Indian crowds, so they got away with it.”

  “So they judged you for what?”

  “I dunno. They don’t like me.”

  “I can’t imagine that.”

  “Long story. Their parents hate my parents and manipulated their kids into hating me.”

  “I’m sorry, babe. Why do you let them get to you? Why do you still go anywhere near them?”

  “For my mom. She’s adamant about overlooking that stuff and forgiving.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “It’s difficult to explain to an American.”

  “I’m not stupid. Try.”

  “Her culture, her society, her temple, her heritage, is everything.”

  “I see.”

  “Do you really?”

  “Yeah, I do. I respect it. Just like I respect my coworker who has more breaks than me because he has to pray five times a day, and his wife who isn’t allowed to show any skin or look at me. The Korean gal I know who believes she has to do all the cooking, cleaning, raise the kids, and serve her husband like a lord.

  “I don’t necessarily agree with certain beliefs, but I respect them as long as they’re not abusive. But if a friend wanted me to save her because she thinks her culture’s viewpoint on who she can date and marry sucks, I’d save her.”

  “Hmm, think of yourself as a superhero, huh?”

  “Hey, just because I’ve saved a certain woman before doesn’t mean I wouldn’t save her again…and again, and again,” I said in a lowered voice.

  “Maybe we should head back.”

  She averted her eyes as I stroked her hand. She dropped her arm from the elbow link, but I took hold of her hand and tugged her back. She smiled and squinted up at me in the sunshine. Her hair had a bright gleam from the light, her eyes sparkled, and her skin glowed as if she’d just dropped down from heaven to say hello. I brushed her hair out of her face and caressed her jawline.

  “What are you staring at?” she asked.

  “You.”

  “Why?”

  “You’re just…absolutely beautiful.”

  She rolled her eyes and blushed, turning from me to face the house.

  I laughed. “No snappy comeback?”

  She pushed me with her shoulder, and I kept her close as we walked back to the house. This felt right. This. Walking without a care, on a nice day, with a girl I…what? Liked. Really, really liked.

  Pree squeezed my hand and my heart raced a little faster. I slowed the pace. There wasn’t any reason to get home in a hurry. This smart, amazing woman at my side didn’t seem like the type who needed saving, but something in the corner of my mind told me maybe she did. Maybe she needed someone to step in between her and her pitiful relatives, shield her, protect her, and put them in their place.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “You got quiet.”

  “Just thinking about what you said.”

  “And?”

  I shrugged. “Maybe you do need a hero.”

  She laughed, the sound like wind chimes that told me maybe she thought I was joking. But I wasn’t. I gave her a sidelong glance and smirked, looking at her, for the first time, past this moment, past this day, and into the possibilities of an ever after.

  Pree swallowed and stared straight ahead, seemingly uncomfortable beneath my gaze—the way she often was. She babbled on about people’s yards and plants, or lack thereof.

  When we returned to the house, Miranda greeted me with a big, overenthusiastic smile. I had been right about Miranda. Before my eyes, she changed from a narcissistic, boy-crazed problem child to a level-headed, serious student.

  She brought me chocolate cake as an offering. “I cut your slice extra-large, my favorite cousin ever.”

  “Mmhmm. Bribery doesn’t work.”

  “I love you, Tyler!”

  “Doesn’t mean you’ve changed.”

  “I promise I won’t do anything stupid. I wasn’t going to. I’m going to med school, like Priya, and that doesn’t involve getting pregnant or distracted by losers.”

  Wow. Mood swings and bipolarism were interchangeable with teenage girls.

  “Better be the truth, Mir, because your parents will be here in the morning.”

  She pecked my cheek. “Good night, forgiving, forgetting cousin.”

  “Mmhmm.�
�

  Miranda kissed my parents on the cheeks and hugged Pree before running off, texting on her cell phone and skillfully whistling a tune at the same time. My parents called it a night soon after.

  I nudged Pree’s foot with mine.

  “Where are you sleeping?” she asked.

  “In my old room.”

  “Miranda said I was sleeping in there.”

  “You are.”

  She kicked my foot. “I’m not sleeping in the same bed with you, Ty. That’s inappropriate, especially in your parents’ house and after you reprimanded Miranda.”

  “They think we’re dating, anyway.”

  “And that makes it okay for you to sleep in the same room with a girl under their roof?”

  “Pree, I’m a grown man. They know what grown men do. This isn’t India. Besides, Miranda is sleeping in the guest room and the fourth bedroom is a mess from the wedding stuff.”

  “You can sleep on the couch.” She stood and walked upstairs.

  I bounded up the steps and followed her into my room. I closed the door and stripped off my shirt, throwing it to the floor. I playfully went at her, but she pushed me.

  “Ty!” she whispered.

  “What, babe? They can’t hear anything.” I kissed her neck, reveling in the taste of her. My hand was already beneath her shirt, where her abs met her waist.

  “Ty.” The force of unyielding obstinacy crackled into unstable determination. Pree wavered, turning to mush in my arms. She liked it. Her body responded, no matter how hard she tried to stop herself. She even let a moan escape, and that completely derailed me. All I wanted was a kiss, but the taste of her tongue, the sound of her moans, made me forget where we were.

  It took everything in me to stop when she pushed me away again. She slipped under my arm and backed into the door, opening it behind her.

  “Guess I’ll sleep on the sofa, then.”

  I called her bluff and tossed a quilt at her. She caught it and smiled, then left, closing the door to the bedroom and closing the door to the bonus room so I couldn’t sneak up on her.

  With hands on hips, I waited a few minutes. When she didn’t return—and knowing her pride, she wouldn’t—I swung open the door to the study, strode across the room, picked Pree up, and carried her into my bedroom.