by Sara Desai
Liam had already told Brendan that if things didn’t work out with Daisy, he would have to leave the city. Brendan had assured him he had no issues at the prospect of Liam becoming a long-distance partner in their new distillery business. He’d already stepped down from his position at Murphy Motors, and with the pressure off, he was a changed man. They’d spent the previous day together playing with Jaxon’s new drone, watching hockey on TV, and then being shouted at by Lauren for keeping Jaxon up late.
With a hamburger in one hand and forkful of ribs in the other, Hamish laughed. “Can you think of a better way to go? My friend Duke pounded back six burgers and four pounds of bacon a day and he was as healthy as a horse. Only reason he’s not here is because he got caught in the crossfire when two rival MCs started shooting at each other at a burger bar in Montana. He died doing what he loved best.”
Liam groaned. “You’ve now put me off burgers for life.”
“Too bad. When you called to say you were coming, I bought you a birthday surprise.”
“My birthday isn’t for two days.”
Hamish handed him a cardboard container. “But you’re here today, and this is one of the best burgers in town. It’s a serious half pound of grass-fed beef topped with cheddar, bacon, pineapple, pickles, special sauce, and onions on a homemade sesame-seed bun.”
Hamish delivered as promised. The burger was delicious. They talked bikes while they ate and Liam shared his fears that the panic attack he’d had at the Patels’ might mean he would never ride again.
“You need to get back on the road.” Hamish wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Best way to get over that kind of trauma. Take it from me. I’ve had so many accidents, I can’t even count. You gotta push through it. What you want is on the other side of your fear.”
Liam walked around the store, checking out the gear while Hamish cleared off the counter. “So what are you saying? I should buy another bike?”
“I got a big shipment in the other day,” Hamish said. “Maybe you should take a look at the new XDiavel. I can grab the keys if you want to take it for a test drive.”
Liam walked through the gleaming rows of bikes in the showroom to the outdoor lot. Although dark clouds had rolled in, threatening rain, the XDiavel gleamed in the fading light.
“If you’ve got the cash, I’d say this new model is worth serious consideration.”
It was beautiful. Sporty. A devil of a machine. But something was missing. “What about the pillion seat?”
“It’s still really meant as a solo ride,” Hamish said. “I wouldn’t recommend that bike if you’re planning on taking Daisy out on a regular basis.”
“I don’t know if we’ll be together.” Liam’s voice caught and the words tumbled out before he could catch them. “Her family wants her to marry someone else. He doesn’t know her. Not the way I do. He’s not going to understand when she starts putting lists and schedules all over the house, or doodles math problems on every surface. He won’t know she likes martinis, or that her favorite restaurant is the Dosa Palace, or that her room looks exactly like it did when she was fourteen. He’s not going to understand what it was like for her to grow up without her mom. He won’t know that she can scream ‘Go Sharks’ loud enough to win a free pizza. And he won’t know that Max is a very special dog.”
Hamish studied him for a long moment and then wound his way through the motorcycles until he got to a monster bike, a blue and black Honda Gold Wing Tour. “It’s not about the ride, it’s about who you’ve got in the pillion seat, and it sounds to me like you’re done with the XDiavel.” He patted the massive black leather seat. “I think this might be what you’re looking for. The new four-valve six gives you 125bhp and it’s got a full suite of electronics. But the reason people buy this bike is the pillion seat. We’re talking super plush and super safe. It’s got armrests, a heated seat, electric screen, you name it. It’s a lounge chair for the open road. Any pillion will rightly feel like a queen.”
It was hands down the biggest, heaviest bike Liam had ever seen. There would be no pep to that motor, no leaning into corners, no zipping in and out of traffic. It lacked the style and sophistication of his XDiavel, the racetrack-ready sport bike feel. Far from being maxi-naked like the XDiavel, the Gold Wing was fully clothed—a motorcycle made for two.
“That’s the bike,” he said. “I’ll take it, but I need it now.” He wasn’t going to sit around and wait to be chosen. He wasn’t going to let fear stop him from going after what he wanted. He was going to Daisy’s house and he would show her family that no one was more worthy than him.
“I’ll put a dealer plate on it and you can take it for an extended test drive while I do the paperwork.” Hamish handed him the keys. “You need any gear?”
“Full armor. The best you’ve got. And helmets. For two.”
* * *
• • •
LIAM had it all planned out. He would park his new Gold Wing outside Mr. Patel’s house. Daisy would be waiting on the front step. There would be hugs and kisses. Tears and congratulations. Mr. Patel would come out to shake his hand, telling him it had never really been a choice. They had always wanted Liam, and welcome to the family.
The first part of his plan couldn’t have gone better. The dark clouds parted as soon as he left Hamish’s shop, and a sliver of sunshine lit his way to the Patels’ house, where he found a parking space right out front. He eased the bike to a stop and turned off the engine, his gaze flicking to the porch to see if Daisy was there. That was when he noticed the decorations.
Paper lanterns, streamers, flowers, and shiny twirling spirals dripped from the overhang above the front door. A birthday perhaps? Or maybe an anniversary? After securing his helmet, he rang the bell. No answer. He knocked on the front door and sent Daisy a quick text. When she didn’t respond, he took a quick peek through the windows and felt the first stirrings of concern.
There could be many reasons why the furniture had been removed to make way for long tables covered in colorful tablecloths, each with a centerpiece of brilliant flowers. Or why there was a pile of presents in the hallway, wrapped in paper decorated with wedding bells and cartoon brides and grooms. Maybe they were hosting a relative’s wedding celebration. Or opening a party shop. Or maybe he’d won the battle, but lost the war.
He heard a bark and saw Max playing fetch with an elderly woman in the adjacent yard. He walked over and introduced himself as Daisy’s friend, then crouched down to give Max a pat.
“Any idea what’s going on next door?” he asked the neighbor. “Looks like they’re having a party.”
“I think it’s the wedding.” She smiled down at him. “Nadal was so excited. He was swinging Daisy around and they were dancing on the driveway. She looked so beautiful in her dress. Poor Max wanted to go with them, but they don’t allow animals at the Golden Gate Club.”
Fear slid icy fingers down his spine. Was he too late? Had they picked Roshan?
Thunder boomed overhead and the sky darkened, the sliver of sunlight disappearing beneath the rolling clouds.
Hand shaking, he pulled out his phone and texted Daisy. Maybe her neighbor was mistaken. Maybe there was another explanation. How could his plan go so wrong?
Max stood on his hind legs and pawed at Liam’s chest, tail wagging, furry face nuzzling until Liam stood and lifted him into his arms. Max licked his face and Liam’s tension eased.
He won’t know that Max is a very special dog.
“He sure likes you,” Daisy’s neighbor said. “He’s not usually that friendly with strangers.”
“I’m not a stranger.”
He doesn’t know her. Not the way I do.
Daisy loved him. She was his humraaz, the light in his soul. There was no way she would marry Roshan.
He gave Max one last cuddle. And then he got on his bike to find his queen.
* *
*
• • •
AS expected, Mehar Auntie had hogged the dance floor at Daisy’s father’s sangeet.
“I can’t believe her.” Layla crossed her arms and glared at Mehar Auntie as she tore up the dance floor at the Golden Gate Club with an overly rehearsed version of “Galla Goodiyaan.” “It’s supposed to be a family dance. She should have saved her solo performance for something like ‘Tamma Tamma Again.’”
“We could join her,” Daisy suggested as she loaded her plate from the buffet. “Once we start dancing, everyone else will come.”
“But then she won’t speak to us for weeks. How will you run the dance class with her?” Layla’s brow creased in a frown. “I’ll tell you right now, she better not do that at my wedding. I want everyone on the dance floor.”
“Don’t worry. I have a plan. You’ve given me lots of time to prepare. Unlike my dad.” Her father was smiling and clapping his hands, oblivious to the amount of stress he’d caused Daisy by deciding to have a quickie wedding. Even with Salena Auntie’s contacts and the entire family pulling together, she’d struggled to get everything organized in time. But that was her dad. Even his wedding had to be extreme.
“Where’s Liam?” Layla added a samosa to her plate. “Sam wanted to compare sword sizes with him. After he found out Deepa had given Liam a bigger sword, he went to trade his in. At this rate, there won’t be room for me beside him at the wedding.”
“I didn’t invite him.” She scraped her teeth over her lip and looked down. “Sanjay is coming and I didn’t want to ambush him and possibly cause a scene when this is supposed to be a celebration. I thought it might be better to wait until after the party so I can break the news gently. He never talked about how he felt about Liam leaving, but I’m sure he was just as devastated as Dad and me.” She still felt guilty about ghosting Liam for the last two days, but how could she explain she was organizing a party to which he wasn’t invited when, for all intents and purposes, he was her fiancé?
Layla shot her a curious look. “So does that mean your dad gave his approval? I hope so, because all the aunties and uncles loved him, and after he saved your life, I definitely hate him a little less.”
“He said he wanted to talk to Sanjay first.” She checked her watch. “He should be here any minute. He’d made arrangements to take leave when he heard about my accident, and then Dad and Priya announced their engagement, so it was perfect timing.”
After they finished their plates, they headed to the bar and Daisy introduced Layla to her new favorite drink, a pink lemonade martini. Rainey had made it for her as a postcoital refreshment at the Rose & Thorn.
“I see nothing has changed,” a deep voice said behind them. “The two of you are still stuck together at the hip and gossiping like aunties.”
Daisy whirled around, her eyes widening when she saw her brother standing behind them. “Sanjay!” She threw her arms around him. “I was getting worried you wouldn’t make it.”
Tall and lean, with wide cheekbones in a sculpted face, his shoulders slightly stooped like their father, and his dark eyes streaked with gold like their mother, Sanjay was a perfect mix of their parents both in temperament and form.
“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” He released Daisy and gave Layla a quick hug. “Congrats on your engagement, cousin. I heard you’re marrying a doctor. I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
“He took some getting used to,” Daisy murmured. “But now that he’s part of the family, he’s mellowed.”
Sanjay ordered a beer and they moved to a quieter corner to chat about his posting in Somalia and his plans to stay in the city for the next eight months to do a fellowship in emergency medicine. “It’s like I haven’t been away.” He laughed as he checked out the room. “Mehar Auntie is up to her old tricks, Hari Uncle is already drunk, the kids are running wild, and the rishta aunties are trying to set people up like it’s a game.” He gave Daisy a nudge. “I’m surprised they aren’t over here with someone for you.”
He’d given her an opening. Should she tell him? Daisy looked to Layla for help, but her cousin just shrugged. “I . . . met someone.”
“Do tell.” His eyes widened with interest. “Who has managed to capture the heart of our fair Daisy?”
Daisy put down her glass and took a deep breath. “Liam Murphy.”
Sanjay froze, his glass halfway to his lips. “Liam? My old friend Liam? He’s here?”
“Not here here,” Layla said. “He didn’t come to the sangeet. But he is in San Francisco.”
Sanjay ran a hand through his dark hair. “I can’t believe it. He’s back. And . . .” His forehead creased. “You’re together?”
“Not just together. They’re practically engaged except for the pesky matter of your dad’s approval.” Layla grinned. “But you know what the two of them are like. They can’t get out of their own heads. It took a broken menstrual pad dispenser, a chance encounter, an inheritance, a failing company, a distillery, a rishta auntie, a hapless suitor, a spreadsheet, seven dates, a sword, extra-hot pork vindaloo, an Irish brawl, a sick dog, endless games of Guitar Hero, a hockey game, Shark Stew, a broken bed, a walk of shame, a quiz night, back-office shenanigans, a jealous ex, a motorcycle crash, a crisis of conscience, a break up, six pints of ice cream, four pounds of gummy bears, a partnership offer, a heart-to-heart, a family interrogation, a grovel, and a death-defying midnight climb to get them together. And now, apparently, it’s all up to you.”
“Me?” Sanjay folded his arms across his chest. “Why is their happiness suddenly in my hands?”
“Because they’re still afraid.”
Still reeling from Layla’s all-too-accurate description of her relationship, Daisy bristled. “That’s not true. Dad said he wouldn’t approve the engagement unless he talked to Sanjay. He wants Sanjay to hear Liam’s side of the story, like he did.”
Sanjay stilled, his voice thickening. “Liam told you what happened?”
Layla took Daisy’s glass and discretely backed away. “I’ll go get you a refill and let your dad know Sanjay is here.”
“Not everything,” Daisy said after Layla had gone. “He didn’t tell me the name of the friend who was with him that night.”
But she knew. Now that Sanjay was standing in front of her, guilt and regret etched in every line of his familiar face, the pieces all came together. When Sanjay had come home the night of the prom, his face had been battered and bruised. He’d told their father he’d been in a fight, but she’d known he was lying when he came into her room, an emotional and physical wreck, to babble a semi-coherent apology that Liam hadn’t been able to take her to the prom.
“It was you,” she whispered. Her brother wasn’t so perfect after all.
“He saved me, Daisy.” Sanjay’s chest hitched, his throat bobbing as he spoke. “You wouldn’t believe how many times he pulled my ass out of the fire over the years. What he did that night . . . what he sacrificed for me . . . I wouldn’t be where I am now if not for him. I’m the reason you had no date for the prom. I’m the reason he had to leave town. If I hadn’t been so stupid . . .” He took a deep, pained breath and closed his eyes. “My actions that night hurt so many people. I wanted to make it up to Liam, but he’d disappeared and I couldn’t find him. I decided to use the gift he’d given me—the chance to go to medical school—to help people in desperate need. I try to save lives to make up for all the pain I caused in the past.”
He looked haunted, so broken that Daisy wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Everything worked out in the end. He was able to get his mother out of a terrible situation. He found his passion and joined a venture capital firm in New York. And I dated all the wrong guys so that I knew the right one when I found him.”
“Liam.” He pulled away and smiled. “I can’t think of a better man for you. I w
ould be proud to have him as part of our family.” He looked around. “Why isn’t he here?”
“I didn’t want to ambush you at the sangeet. I didn’t know what you would think.”
Sanjay frowned. “If he’s your fiancé, he should be here, regardless of what Dad or I think. Do you really love him? If we didn’t approve, would you let him walk away?”
Daisy’s mouth opened and closed again. “I haven’t really thought about it properly. In the beginning our relationship wasn’t real. We pretended to be engaged and went on a series of dates to legitimize a marriage of convenience that would help him get his inheritance, save my company, and get the aunties off my back. The family introduction was the final step in the plan. I told him I wouldn’t go through with the fake marriage unless the family approved . . .” She trailed off as something that had been niggling at the back of her mind suddenly became clear.
Sanjay saw it, too, and his voice softened. “You gave yourself an out. But don’t use the family as an excuse. If you really love him, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks. This is your life, Daisy. I know you’ve been hurt and it’s made you afraid of commitment, but of all the people I’ve met, Liam is worth the risk.”
He was right. Of course he was right. She’d told Liam she loved him, but some part of her had been afraid to take that final step—going off-plan and committing to something real.
“I’ll text him right now.” She pulled out her phone and saw the messages she’d missed while she’d been busy at the party.
Saturday, 11:06 A.M.
LIAM: Confirming Date #8 in expectation of family approval. Sunday, June 24, 3 p.m. Las Vegas. Objective: Wedding.
Saturday, 12:15 P.M.
LIAM: At your house. Couldn’t wait any longer. Not much time to get sherwani and book flights. Not taking no for an answer.