Page 105 of The Ex Factor

Tara looked at me with incredulity. “Is thereanythingpeople don’t gossip about?”

I shook my head and sipped my whisky. “Not much.”

“It’s a really,reallysmall world, and I’m very claustrophobic,” Tara said with a graceful sigh.

I looked up at her, and suddenly, I was glad she found the man she loved and who loved her so intensely. She deserved it.

“I heard the wedding was beautiful,” I said amicably.

She looked down at her glass. “Yes.” She held the silence for a moment, then, looking up at me, said, “I’m sorry it has been awkward for you. When I broke up with Sujit, we ended on a positive note. I don’t doubt that I hurt him, but we had a chance to talk it through, to put all emotions out in the open. I realize you never got that chance with Sameer, and I’m sorry for that.”

“You aren’t the one who should be sorry,” I said when her words roused up memories of hurt and humiliation, razing through my heart like a tornado.

“I also realize I never apologized to you,” she said, and I looked into her eyes, where I saw warmth and concern, not contempt or deceit.

“You didn’t cheat on me,” I replied.

“But I did betray your trust.”

“Maybe, but I was never angry at you, Tara. I did say some horrible things to you, and I’m sorry, too, but it wasn’t about you. I thought I was going to have this wonderful, happy life with Sameer and suddenly, it was gone like sand slipping from between my fingers. I opened my fist, and it was empty.”

As her eyes traveled down to her glass again, I caught Sameer from the corner of my eye walking toward us. He wore a perfectly tailored suit in a shade of blue that I used to love on him. And yet, he didn't take my breath away. It didn’t shake me to my core as I’d experienced with only one man.

“How’s it going? Everything alright?” he asked with diligent caution as he approached us.

Tara looked up at him. “I’ll join you when we’re done.”

He looked at me and sucked a quick breath. “Yes, sure. Take your time,” he said to her. Then quickly whispered, “People are talking and wondering if it’s going to get heated.”

“What, like we’re going to end up in a catfight?” Tara scoffed. “I thought you knew us both better than that. Are your parents worried?” She glanced around him toward the crowd.

Sameer shook his head. “Mom also knows you both well.”

I took the opportunity to spot my parents again. I saw Mom eyeing me with concern, but I gave her a knowing nod and a smile. She nodded in relief and turned around to join her group of friends.

Tara put a hand on Sameer’s arm. “Go on,” she said with a love-filled smile. “I’ll join you in a bit.”

Sameer smiled at her first, then at me, and turned to leave. “And let them talk,” Tara said to his back. Sameer turned his face and gifted her a most brilliant smile.

“I never loved him, Tara,” I said when Sameer was out of earshot. “I thought I did, but now I know it wasn’t that.”

She nodded gently.

“I know because I met someone and felt something.”

Her eyes bulged wide before softening with a warm smile. “I’m very happy for you.”

She ran her finger on the rim of her glass, gazing into it. I understood why Sujit had a high regard for her. Now that I knew the full story, I got it, too. I thought she had stolen Sameer from me, but he was never mine.Iwas the other woman. Even if I had married him, I would’ve always been the other woman.

“How did you know?” I asked, and she looked up. “How did you know Sameer was the right person for you and not your New York boyfriend?” I purposefully left out Sujit’s name.

“My mother saw it first,” she said, reiterating what Sujit had already told me. “She said Sameer lit a fire in me and that I won’t be happy without it in my life.”

“Do you believe that’s true?” I asked.

“Well, if that fire meant annoyance, he definitely does that. He annoys me to no end,” she joked and laughed. I didn’t.

I waited with anticipation. I really wanted to understand why she chose Sameer over Sujit, who was incredibly kind and a hundred times wealthier.

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