Whereas Neha was the sporty, uptight one, and I was the smart-mouthed, type-A one, Priya was the hippie free spirit. She wanted nothing to do with the family business and made a living painting portraits of other people’s beloved pets.
Secretly, I thought she was fleecing her customers because no dog portrait was worth a thousand dollars, but she was too bubbly and earnest for anyone to say no to.
“Last I heard, she joined an artists’ commune or something. Or maybe it’s a cult.” I clicked into the group chat while Ayana continued my husband hunt. I was half afraid she was going to drag some poor schmuck over and lock us in a closet until we kissed. “I’ll just mute—”
My sentence broke off abruptly.
The first thing I saw in the chat was a photo of Priya and her boyfriend beaming at the camera.
The second thing I saw was the glittering diamond on her finger.
PRIYA
Ben and I got engaged!!!!
A string of congratulatory texts ensued, followed by a scolding from our mom, who couldn’tbelievethat Priya broke the big news over WhatsApp instead of in person.
I stared at the photo until the ring blurred into a taunting mass of white and platinum. Sourness stung the back of my tongue.
Priya was engaged. My sister, who was five years younger than me and had, up until she met Ben, insisted she “didn’t believe in tying herself down to any one person,” was engaged.
The sourness sharpened into something more acrid.
“Are you okay?” Ayana asked. I looked up to find her and Sloane staring at me with concerned frowns. “You’re a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” I forced a smile. “Priya’s engaged.”
“Your sister? Oh my God! That’s amazing.” Ayana faltered, obviously picking up on my distress. “Itisamazing. Right?”
“Of course it is.” I upped the wattage of my smile until my cheeks hurt. “I’m surprised, that’s all. I didn’t—we didn’t think it would happen so soon. They’ve only been dating for six months.”
I was happy for my sister. Truly.
But a secret, shameful part of me resented her for reaching that milestone before me. It wasn’t a competition, yet I felt like I’d fallen behind.
No one would let me forget it either. If my mom had been insufferable with her matchmaking before, Priya’s engagement would send her into overdrive. I dreaded finding out what she had in store for me now that I was her last single daughter left standing.
“Hey, Luna.” Xavier came up beside us, breaking the tension. He kissed Sloane on the cheek, and despite the cramp in my stomach, I couldn’t help but smile at the way her entire body softened at the sight of him.
With his smoldering dark looks and plethora of tattoos, Xavier looked like the ultimate bad boy until he smiled. Those dimples of his could melt even the iciest heart.
He bestowed those dimples on me a minute later. “So, I hear you need a proper date for your cousin’s wedding. Someone who’ll blow everyone else away.”
“I do, but I can find one on my own. You don’t need to… you know.” I gestured vaguely around us.
“Oh, it’s no problem.” Xavier’s grin widened. He appeared unusually thrilled about the situation. “I’d bedelightedto set you up. I already have someone in mind.”
That was fast. “Who—”
“Who are you trying to set up now, Castillo?”
My smile vanished.
Sebastian joined our group, dressed down but irritatingly gorgeous in jeans and a black shirt. He greeted Ayana and Sloane warmly but didn’t acknowledge me.
I wanted to crawl under a rock when Xavier said, “We’re helping Maya find a date for her cousin’s wedding.”
Heat scorched my neck and chest. Sebastian was never going to let me live this down.