Page 100 of Absolute Certainty
“Oh, so you know why I’m calling you?”
Willa let out a laugh. “Did he text you? Wait, hold on. Ethan’s in the room. Want me to kick him out?”
“All good. He can intrude on my love life.”
“I’m flattered,” Ethan said, his voice coming from a distance.
Sahar shook her head. “I need to know how I came up and what you said to him.”
“Didn’t say anything. His whole face dropped when we walked in without you. So, while we ordered, he asked if I was getting your drink, too, and I told him you’d be out for the next three days because your ankle was acting up. And I shit you not, Sahar, he looked like a bloody sad puppy that’d been kicked to the curb. He stumbled on his words, asking if you were okay. I reassured him that you were fine, but very likely miserable because you hated missing work. And then he thanked me for telling him and said he’d check in on you during his break.”
“He’s coming over to keep me company. Eloise is in the city with her mum for the weekend.”
Willa’s smile expanded. “I almost lied to him, but I made the momentary executive decision to be honest because it’s what you’d do for me.”
“I’m glad you told him. I don’t think it means what we think it means. But it would be nice to maybe talk. Who knows.”
“Did you not hear the part where I called him a sad puppy? You do not getthatconcerned for someone if you’re not interested in them. Andespeciallyafter the kind of night you two almost had.”
“You have a sap’s brain now. Your eyes can’t always be trusted.”
Willa turned to Ethan off-camera. “Back me up.”
He came into the frame. “She’s right. I’d recognize a sulking man in love anywhere.”
“And were you there?” Sahar asked.
Ethan let out a chuckle. “Nah, but I trust my girl. And I’ve seen that look in him enough times when you’re not there to know by now.”
“You freaks inlove don’t count as reliable sources.”
“Actually, we’re the most exemplary sources now,” Willa countered.
“I’m hanging up,” Sahar declared.
“I want updates,” Willa added.
“Yeah, yeah, love you, bye,” Sahar said, then hung up.
Freaks. Stupidly in love, gorgeous freaks.
She wanted what they had. The certainty. The trust. The deep, overwhelming love.
Realizing that she was still in her pajamas, Sahar changed into a pair of ribbed, baby blue drawstring shorts and a matching tank top with a built-in bra underneath. Thank heavens, because she wasn’t about to wear anything with an underwire.
26
JAY
Jay felt like an idiot.
He kept wanting to text Sahar last night and talk to her. He wanted to apologize in case he’d been short with her at the coffee shop because of the afternoon havoc. He’d thought about it all day, but he could never tell what the right move was. He didn’t want to push or assume. He just—fuck.
But when Willa told him that Sahar was injured, Jay’s heart had immediately plummeted in his chest.
Then, he didn’t think twice about checking in. Nor did he question whether he should be there for her. There was no other option.
If she wanted him, he’d go to her. He’d do anything.
