Tristan composed himself and worked very hard not to gape at Anjali because she was Colleen’s friend. “I have a different philosophy about dating and marriage.”
“Well, you should reconsider that.”
A glimmer of a thought zinged through Tristan’s head. “Did she say something to you?”
“No, no, no,” Anjali said, her head dancing side to side and her eyes closed as if she could not bear to look upon how stupid he was. “Colleen is a very modest and quiet girl. She would not say something like that. But I think she looks kindly upon you. You should consider proposing marriage.”
“What?”
“You have asked her to travel with you. That is not good for a girl’s reputation. A girl should have the reputation of liking to stay home. You are not doing good things for her, so you should take some responsibility.”
“Do you have a reputation for liking to stay home?” he asked her.
Her prim blink spoke volumes. “I am getting a degree in computer engineering. My parents would never have a problem finding a husband for me.”
Tristan tried to wrap his head around their conversation and failed. “I think I need to carry this monitor upstairs.”
Anjali followed him up the stairs, providing color commentary about the sidewalk made uneven by underlying tree roots and the ragged edges of steps that he must be careful not to trip over, all while her high-heeled sandals clicked on the cement, and they reached Colleen’s apartment with no incident.
Inside, Tristan placed the monitor on the upper level of Colleen’s computer desk and began connecting the cords to the computer tower.
The two women sat on the mattress, chatting while Tristan did the grunt work.
Colleen said to Anjali, “Hey, so the guy you liked at the airport, Jian Laio, Tristan’s assistant-type person, how’s it going with the texting?”
“Yes, and I thank you very much for introducing us. We have been talking to each other over text, and that is all.”
“Just texting? I mean, he’s been here in Phoenix since last night. I though you two might meet for a late-night snack or something. I thought he seemed pretty nice. He’s got a dry sense of humor, which takes a little bit of getting used to, but I think he’s funny. Did you guys not hit it off after all?”
“I think I would like him very much, but we are only talking by texting, and that is all.”
Colleen asked, her voice gravelly with the faintest bit of sarcasm, “Is it, though? Is that all you’re doing?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Colleen told Anjali, “You’re wearing club clothes, what with the sequined miniskirt and the sky-high boink-me strappy sandals, and it’s Wednesday morning.”
“I do not see what you are getting at.”
Tristan stole a look from under his arm, watching Colleen gently skewer her friend.
Colleen stated, “You would never wear clothes like this to class, Anjali, and your eyeliner is running down your face.”
“It is not. I have washed it off.”
“Not very well.” She swirled her finger in the air, indicating everything about Anjali. “This is a walk of shame.”
“It is not.”
“I’m just surprised you didn’t change clothes when you went home to get my monitor this morning before you came here.”
Oh, this was getting juicy. Tristan sat in the computer chair and angled it sideways so he could watch the drama out of the corner of his eye.
Anjali said, “I put your monitor in my car trunk last night after we texted while you were on the plane. I thought you might want it last night.”
“So you haven’t been home yet this morning?”
“That is none of your business, Colleen.”
“Anjali, did you spend the night with Jian Laio?”
Anjali scowled at Colleen and didn’t say a word.
So that was why Jian had jumped at the chance to check into Tristan’s presidential suite at The Boulders for the night. Tristan bit his lip so he wouldn’t crack up.
Colleen started laughing so hard that she rolled backward on the bed with her knees tucked into her chest.
Anjali scolded her, “This is some thanks I get for bringing you your computer monitor when you are going to need it. I am a grown woman. I can date who I want to. And I can get engaged to whoever I want, too.”
Colleen stopped laughing and sat up. “Anjali, did you get engaged to a guy just because you spent the night with him?”
“Not just because of that.”
“You’ve known him for one day!”
“It is really excellent that you can read a calendar so well.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“We are not going to tell our parents until we have been engaged for some time, so we can consider it. And now, if you will excuse me, I am going to my apartment to get some clean clothes.”
“Are you going back to him? What happened to waiting three days to text a guy after meeting him?”
Anjali looked at the floor. “Sometimes, when you know, you know. In my culture, it is very acceptable to marry someone you have not known for long. Our families and social structure will help our marriage succeed. It is different than it is here, where two people get married and then they are all alone. I would not like that.”
“Okay, honey. I just don’t want you to do something you’re going to regret.”
Anjali flipped her fingers in the air, and Tristan saw the resemblance to how Colleen brushed words away. “We will not tell our parents for some months. We know how to do this.”
The girls hugged out their goodbyes, and Anjali left the apartment, sneaking an embarrassed glance at Tristan as she left.
Colleen was shaking her head, practically not blinking with shock. “I cannot believe she’s engaged.”
Tristan said, “I can’t believe Jian did it. I need to talk to him. I hope he didn’t get roped into something he doesn’t want.”
She frowned at him. “Anjali would never rope someone. She wouldn’t pressure a guy. As a matter of fact, she’s actually said a couple of times that she planned to reject any proposal at least twice. She said that if the guy asked her three times, then she’d know he was serious.”
Wow. The games.
Tristan didn’t play games like that.
Maybe he was just too oblivious to play games like that.
Because when a woman said no to something, he believed her, and that was all.
Did he need to play games? He didn’t think he needed to play games.
He said, “I cannot believe that my PA, Jian Laio, the most stable and deliberate man I’ve ever met, asked a woman he’s only known since yesterday to marry him at least three times last night. I don’t believe it.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Tristan. I’ve known Anjali for almost four years. When she says something like that, she’s serious. Maybe they got engaged so she wouldn’t feel guilty about boning him, and they’re going to break it off in a month or so. That’s something her twisty brain would come up with.”
He smiled. “Twisty, huh?”
“Oh my God, you twisty people will be the death of me. I see you got the monitor all set up, though. Why did you want it back anyway?”