Page 110 of The Art of Taking Second Chances

I nodded. “My father and I have a complicated relationship, and he used you to get back at me. All I can do is apologize, but believe me when I say that I was going to tell you everything. I just didn’t want to ruin the day for you.”

I rubbed my hands over my face, then dragged them through my hair. When I held them out for Aarti, she stared in disbelief. Tara lent her a smile, and she reluctantly trusted her hands to me. I kissed them and said, “I have to come clean with you. I’m truly sorry to have misled you, but the truth is, I would’ve never loved you like you deserve. I would’ve always been in love with Tara. You are a phenomenal, successful woman, and you don’t deserve to wallow in the loss of a relationship that wasn’t worth it in the first place.”

“But I do love you, Sameer.” She burst into sobs.

“I know, and I am sorry,” I said, unable to meet her eye.

Tara put a soft hand on her arm. “It will hurt,” she consoled tenderly. “For a while.”

“Until you find the one who appreciates you for who you are,” I said. “For me, you were a ticket to the big league. I never deserved you. And I’m not saying this to make you feel better. I know you’ll still be angry and hate me, and you have every right to.”

Tara made sure I saw her reassuring smile. My father was right. I was lucky to have her by my side. She was the one who would stand up for me, fight alongside me, make me happy.

When Aarti left twenty minutes later, she didn’t look angry, but tomorrow would be another day. After she had talked to her family and friends, their reactions would determine how much damage this particular train wreck would cause.

I held Tara in my arms. “I’m sorry for what Aarti said about you.”

“We hurt her, Sameer. We’re the reason for her anger.”

“She liked you. I know her. She wasn’t faking her admiration for you.”

“And I caused her so much pain.”

“We,” I said, and let out a unified exhale.

“Do you want to finish dinner?” I asked.

“The meat must be dry by now…” she mused distractedly.

“Cake?”

“Sameer, I’m very proud of you,” she said with a hug.

“Why? I cheated on her and hurt both of you. What’s there to be proud of?”

“What you confessed today couldn’t have been easy.”

“Nothing’s too difficult if the outcome is a life with you, Tara. I’ve had enough. I’m tired. I need you, and now I’m going to be stubborn about it.” I placed my head on her shoulder and closed my arms around her waist.

“I’m here, my jaan,” she whispered in my ear and caressed my hair. “I’m sorry the evening didn’t turn out quite as you planned.”

“But it’s done, and I’m glad.” I raised my head to look at her. “And I have you to thank for it.” If Tara hadn’t insisted, Aarti would have darted out in anger with only half the truth in her grasp. Emotions would have festered, angers flared, families would’ve gotten involved, and a drama of epic proportions would’ve unfurled. Tomorrow would have been too late. Tara prevented it all and saved me yet again.

“What do you think will happen now?” she asked quietly.

“Oh, I do expect a heavy backlash and the possible loss of some big accounts, but it’s insignificant compared to how happy you make me. The only person I need to protect from the fallout is Mom, but this time it’s different. This time, I have you and Mihir in my corner. I’m not afraid. Not anymore.”

She smiled and cupped my cheek with her cold palm.

“Are you alright?” I gripped her icy hands between mine.

She nodded. “We did the right thing, didn’t we? I mean, we’ll be happy together, right?”

“Tara, look at what’s happened in the past month and a half and what has occurred in the last decade. If we’re still here, I’m willing to bet anything we’ll make it.”

She hugged me for what felt like both a moment and an eternity. “I have an idea,” she finally whispered against my neck.

I looked at her with raised brows.

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