Page 81 of The Art of Taking Second Chances

The next evening, I called Sujit again, almost absently, like I had done for the past week. Only this time, he answered.

“Hey, darling,” he said, and I was totally unprepared.

“Hi,” I managed.

“Okay, before you get mad at me, let me say that although I’ve been busy, I’ve been thinking of you all the time. I couldn’t go see Aai either, but I call in every day to check on her. I also called Sona to make sure Aai doesn’t need anything.”

My breath hitched, my chest tightened, and my eyes stung at the thought that I had so ruthlessly cheated on this kind, generous man.

“Tara?” he said when I didn’t respond.

I swallowed my tears. “I’m here.”

“How mad are you?”

“Not one bit. I could never be mad at you. Tell me about your new project,” I said, stalling.

His voice sparkled with joy as he talked passionately about software that would change education for kids with learning disabilities. By the time he hung up to attend a conference call, I had lost my appetite. How could I break his heart over the phone? I would need to go to New York and speak with him in person.

I skipped dinner and called Sameer, but he didn’t answer. A few minutes later, I got his text, It’s busy in here. Anything important?

No. Talk to you tomorrow, I texted back.

Early the next morning, I went to Cups and Cookies and drowned myself in work. I didn’t call Sameer. Sujit’s kindness stood in sharp contrast to my resentment for Sameer as he hobnobbed with Aarti’s family. I stopped myself from going down that rabbit hole, but not soon enough. I had asked him to trust me, but did I trust him? He had been upfront about his ambitions and how he thought Aarti would help him regain his lost status. I possessed neither her looks nor her wealth. Was he ready to give all that up to settle into an average life with me? Could his feelings for me coexist with the loyalty he felt toward his mother? Or would he be willing to sacrifice me for the goal that had kept him going all these years?

That’s why, when he called me that morning, I responded with a text, At Cups, working. Half an hour later, he walked in, looking way too sexy for that early in the morning. I pretended I hadn’t seen him. He got his coffee and joined me at what had become my favorite booth.

“Hey.” Slipping an arm around my waist, he kissed my cheek. “You smell like flowers.”

“Hey,” I responded without looking up from my laptop.

“Uh-oh, what did I do now?”

I kept typing.

“Cold shoulder. That’s new.”

I blazed at him with a glare.

“What’s wrong, baby? What did I do?”

“Absolutely nothing. You didn’t call me when you returned home last night. Nothing this morning. Having too much fun with Aarti?”

Amusement flickered in his eyes as he grinned. “Yes, they had a full house last night, and you know how much I love making small talk. Then Aarti found a moment to sneak me up to her room, where we had rough, hot, sweaty sex. It was so satisfying.”

I gave him a stink eye. “You think you’re funny, but given your proclivities, I wouldn’t put it past you.”

“And you’re not remotely bothered.”

I scoffed.

“Okay, jaanu, I’m sorry. I returned very late. Thought you’d be asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb you. I called as soon as I woke up this morning. But that’s not why you are upset, is it?”

I hated that he knew me so well. “I spoke to Sujit last night.”

“And?” He sat upright.

“I couldn’t do it.”

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