I finish taking a bite and washing it down with my coffee. “I want a chance. I want a chance to see if we can function as husband and wife.”
“You just want to get laid,” she blurts out loud enough for others to hear.
I do everything I can to fight back my smile, but to no avail. “Believe me the thought has crossed my mind many times. He’s just so…”
“Yummy? Hot? Delicious? Tantalizing? Sexy AF.”
“Okay, first, it sounds like you want to eat Ajay, and second, yes to all those and so many more. His tattoos alone, I want to spend time getting to know each one. He does a good job hiding them from me.”
“Fletch thinks one of them is your name.”
“Doubt it.” Although, how sexy would that be? “I’m sure he has done everything he can to forget about me over the years.”
“Text him and ask,” Dhara dares me. To prove that she’s wrong, I do it.
Do you have my name tattooed on your body?
He responds before I can even put my phone down.
Well good morning to you too ;)
“He ignored my question.” I show Dhara my phone but the expression on her face speaks volumes.
“You may want to look at the photo he sent.”
Pulling my phone back, I double click the smaller image to make it bigger. Sure enough, “Whiskey” is inked into his arm. Also visible in the picture is the date I miscarried our angel.
“Jamie, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Um… eating breakfast?” I slip my phone into my pocket, unsure of how to respond to him.
“Girl, you’re so damn lucky. I wish I had a man who tattooed my name on his body.”
I scoff at her. “You have Fletcher, and while he may not be the type to get a tattoo, he’s madly in love with you. You’re just too blind to see it.”
Dhara shakes her head. “I’m not blind, Jamie. I see him. I see every part of him but am afraid of ruining our friendship. He’s been my friend for so long… what if we try and fail? I lose my best friend, and nothing is worth that.”
“Not even a chance at love?” I ask her. “I could give up on Ajay, knowing full well that he’s my soul mate, out of fear that we won’t work because we’ve been apart for too long or because of his job, but then where does that leave me? It leaves me searching for a love that may or may not come. Ajay and I can be together and the ticket is Evelyn.”
“What?” she asks. “You going to use your daughter to trap him?”
I laugh. It sort of feels that way, but no. “Absolutely not. Right now, he’s worried about her getting attached if we don’t make it. I’m not. I think once Ajay is part of our lives, those lingering feelings will disappear. He doesn’t want Evelyn hurt in any of this. He still remembers his mom choosing a man over him — the wound is fresh, and it’s not what he wants for Evelyn. He wants her to choose him.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“That’s just it, Dhara. I don’t have one. I know Ajay is getting a few days off coming up, but he says he’ll be in Los Angeles doing some press tour things so coming here isn’t possible and there’s no way I can go out there.”
“Why not?”
“Money. I looked up flights and I can’t swing two tickets. I thought about asking my parents, but my father isn’t keen on me taking Evelyn to see Ajay, so I’ll have to wait for him to come here.”
“Have you withdrawn your petition for the divorce yet?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No, I haven’t.”
27
Ajay