Page 81 of The Ex Factor

“That’s a copyrighted term, sweet girl.”

“Is it now? I didn’t see any copyright notice anywhere.”

He shook his head and fell back onto the pillowy mattress.

“Thank you for this weekend, Aarti,” he said. “And I know I need to thank you for one other thing.”

I threw him an inquiring look. Like me, his eyes had accustomed to the darkness enveloping us.

“Walt told me about Ms. Dina’s diner,” he said.

I pulled in a silent breath. “I asked him not to.”

“He didn’t break your trust. I contacted him with an offer to buy out the place in her name. He had no choice but to confess the truth. The shop was hers now for all intents and purposes, he said, and no one could drive her out again.”

When I didn’t say anything, he prodded, “Aarti?”

“I’m listening,” I said softly. I shifted to my back again and returned my gaze to the skies.

“I don’t know how to thank you for this. The diner has helped her survive, emotionally and financially. She has been training two women from her country to take over when she’s ready to retire, which I hope isn’t too soon. You have no idea what you’ve done for her. You talked about selfless love after the first time we ate at her diner. This is it.Thisis selfless love.”

I couldn’t hold the lie any longer. “It wasn’t selfless, Sujit. Far from it.”

“You helped a woman secure the place that has become integral to her identity. It is her entire life. How can it not be selfless?”

“Because I didn’t do it for her alone,” I confessed. “I did it for you.”

The sea turned unexpectedly calm, the thrashing waves barely whispering their presence on the sand as an uncomfortable silence filled the space between us.

“I did it so you didn’t lose the space you value so much,” I explained.

“I don’t know what to say,” his gentle voice finally drifted over to me.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I cried with exasperation. “That was the whole point in keeping it a secret.”

I turned to my side to face him and pushed an arm under my head. “You have no idea what you’ve done for me, Sujit. You brought me out of the despair I had buried myself in and with such effortless ease. You lent me your ear and your shoulder when I was feeling lonely and wretched. You allowed me your company, your unconditional friendship, your unassuming care. This is the least I could do to thank you for it.”

“You gave me a new lease on life, too, Aarti. Our friendship was never one-sided. You helped me regain a fresh perspective and a new vision of what happiness entails. Being with you makes me happy.”

Oh, thank you, indigo!My heart bubbled with joy at his words. Was this the clarity I was looking for?

“And I am sure we both will carry this happiness with us as we find love again.”

All right, WTF, indigo? What are you doing?

“On that note, I also wanted to talk to you about something else,” he said when I was nearly done fuming at the universe.

“What’s that?” I responded with some annoyance.

“Remember I said we should do something to celebrate on the day of the wedding?”

“Yes, I also remember saying that I wouldn’t use the word celebrate,” I cried with impatience.

“May I take the liberty of pointing something out?”

“I may regret it, but yes.”

“The only way to get from under the shadow of their happiness is to find ours.”

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