chapter 9

Continuation

[Enter: Riya] (Aarya’s Best Friend, 22, Journalist-in-Training, Fierce but Warmhearted)

The bell above the café door chimed.

Riya

(Cheerfully) Aarya! Your favorite person is here!

Aarya’s lips twitched, a small relief breaking through the tension in her chest. Riya always had that effect—like a fresh breeze in a room full of stale air.

Araya(fl)

(Smirks) You’re late.

Riya

(Dramatic sigh) Blame the traffic. Or better yet, blame the universe for not inventing teleportation yet.

She dropped into the seat across from Rehan—completely ignoring his presence—and turned to Aarya.

Riya

(Grinning) So, what’s up? Any hot gossip?

Aarya hesitated. Her instinct was to brush it off, to change the subject. But Riya had known her too long. She could smell a lie before it even left Aarya’s lips. Before she could answer, Riya’s gaze finally landed on Rehan. She blinked. Then looked at Aarya. Then back at him.