Page 60 of Diluted Truths
“What?”
“How good you two would be for each other. Seeing it now and especially in New York, it just makes perfect sense.”
“What makes perfect sense?” We both turned our attention to the kitchen entrance where Fai leaned against the doorway.
“You’re home early,” Sarah stated and she stood and walked towards Fai. He began to lean in for a kiss to only be stopped by her. “I had a drink, so not right now.”
Fai smiled in response. “Jackie wasn’t in today so I got distracted less… Well, everyone got distracted less so we ended early. Is she coming over for dinner?”
“Nope, but William is staying.”
“He is?” “I am?” Fai and I asked in unison.
“Yep. I decided this weird feud is going to end.”
“Sarah,” Fai sighed. “Not this again.”
“It’s fine, Sarah, seriously. I’ll just go,” I responded as I stood and began my exit.
“You stop right there, William,” Sarah stated as she ran in front of me to physically stop me. “Please. Not for me, but for Ophelia,” she whispered.
I hung my head and sighed. God, Jackie was becoming my kryptonite. I would do anything for her, including suffer through a horrible and tense dinner just to make her life easier.
Slowly, I retook my seat at the table.
“Faizal, sit,” Sarah instructed as she put our drinks away and sat down as well. Just as I would do anything for Jackie, Fai would do anything for Sarah. “You two need to get over whatever is going on between you two.”
I sighed. I agreed, but I didn’t know what it was we needed to get over. Fai had hated me nearly on sight. He never told Sarah why and never told me why. Hell, he hadn’t outright said that he hated me, either, but it was obvious. He was cold with me, refusing to engage in small talk or a conversation, and was only cordial when Sarah was around.
“Sarah, I love you, but this is completely unnecessary,” Fai responded. “I’m also too busy for this and need to run by Jackie’s. I haven’t heard from her since she got back from San Francisco.”
“No. We need to do this, it’s about time,” Sarah argued.
“We don’t need to. We are all perfectly fine with the arrangement we have now,” Fai argued back.
I felt like a third wheel in this conversation but didn’t want to get in between the two of them. It seemed like a safer route to stay silent.
“We’re not all perfectly fine with this!” Sarah said, obviously frustrated.
Fai, obviously confused, looked at his wife for a moment. “What’s going on? What’s changed?”
I looked down hoping he wouldn’t see that I was what had changed. That I was falling for Jackie and his anger and hatred for me was causing issues for her.
Sarah sighed and looked at me for a moment almost apologetically before answering. “Besides me, who would you do anything for?”
Fai answered, even more confused. “Why does that matter?”
“Just answer,” I stated, finally speaking up. I knew where Sarah was leading this, and I knew it wouldn’t end well but it was necessary.
Fai needed to know about Jackie and I.
“Jackie,” he answered.
Slowly I looked at him, knowing that the small amount of respect he had for me was going to snap. I watched as he began to put some of the pieces together.
“You and Jackie?” he asked, not elaborating.
I shrugged in response because honestly there wasn’t an us yet, but we both wanted there to be. At least I hoped she wanted that too.
