When Priya started to get herself back together again I asked the next question, “Why do you think you’ve lost me?”
She didn’t hesitate this time. “Because I see all these women coming and going. I’m not blind.” She snuffled and blew her nose on a tissue that she pulled out of a pocket. “I don’t blame you Jack. I don’t have a hold on you. I threw you away when Naveen threw me away. I was angry.” She became quiet as she sulked and daubed her eyes with the tissue.
I was quiet for a few moments too as I contemplated how to respond. Since Anna’s death, no woman had my heart more than Priya. Yes, she had thrown me away and I was crushed. Yes, women did seem to be coming and going. I guess there is a God. The key words were that ‘they were going’. I loved every moment of those trysts but I didn’t delude myself by thinking they were ever anything but that. Donna might be an outlier, I wasn’t sure about our potential yet and I didn’t know where this conversation with Priya was going either.
I finally said, “I don’t think you’ve lost me. I know you’ve been in pain and I’d love to be there for you to help you through it any way I can. I went through the anger phase when Anna died. It’s not the same thing but I understand.” I kissed her on the forehead and continued, “Go to Boston, finish things with Naveen. I’ll keep an eye on Divi until you get back.” I bent to kiss her on the forehead again but she lifted her face and kissed me gently on the lips. I softly kissed her lips. She pulled back and smiled at me.
Then she got up off the loveseat and said, “I’ll tell Divi that you’ll be watching out for her. I hope I’m not gone all night. If it drags over too long, I’ll get a room and be back tomorrow morning. Okay?” I nodded and she headed for the stairs. She turned back at the top of the stairs and said, “Thank you Jack. For everything.”
The encounter left me hopeful but when I analyzed everything that she said, I was still left in the dark as to where her head was. ‘Just play it by ear, Jack. Just play it by ear,’ I said out loud to myself. I heard Priya drive out several minutes later and Divi came up the stairs to my deck a few minutes after that. She was in her bikini and the salacious thoughts that ran through my mind caused another erection to lift my shorts. I dropped my e-reader back in my lap.
Divi must have noticed my erection. The e-reader wasn’t covering much. To my surprise, she made no comment about it and came over and sat down where her mother had sat. She looked out over the lake and said, “I understand that you are my babysitter.”
I replied, “True. Did your mother tell you she may not be back until tomorrow morning if things get dragged out down there?” She looked at me with a surprised expression and then her face morphed into a grin. I knew immediately what she was thinking. She didn’t say a word though. We just sat there enjoying the warmth of the sun, listening to the constant high-pitched whine of the Cicadas. I noticed that her nipples were pushing hard on her bikini top material. She glanced over at my lap and smiled as her gaze lifted to my face.