37. JAKE

When the whistling gets too loud, we pull apart.

It's her Bebe, fingers still in her mouth. Patel winces at the noise. Like her, I, too, need quiet and space and to be somewhere completely else so I can figure out what the fuck just happened.

No chance of that.

Patel's father has popped by. He's telling us to marry?! More accurately, to squeeze our wedding in this week because it will be cheaper as everything is already paid for. Patel's mother bats him away, calling him too pushy, which would've been convincing if her words didn't sound like a question.

Other whispers start behind us. I hear the word inappropriate a few times.

So either they can't believe Patel and I are together, or we are acting like we are too much together? I want to tell her she shouldn't take stock in people's opinions, especially when they clash back and forth like this.

But she's not meeting my eyes.

Someone on the speaker announces that the Maiyan is over. They order guests to vacate the venue, so the staff can start setting up for the evening Jago party. There is an option to walk around and sight-see the town, but it seems most guests are going back to the hotel to rest while they can.

A crowd moves around me.

I can't see where Patel has gone.

Good. Great. We need distance.

I nearly groan at the memory of her mouth.

It's only been minutes, but I can already tell.

I already know.

Fuck.

This is going to follow me.

I was never supposed to know what she tasted like.