“I’m not cheating.”
“Well, you’ve moved on. Now, if you excuse me?—”
“I never forgot you,” I said. “You forgot me. You never called, not even once, to see how I was doing.”
“What?” Vera’s mouth fell open as her eyes widened. “I called you. I called you because I needed you, and you were the one person I could trust my life with.”
“You did?” I rubbed my brow.
“Have I ever lied to you?”
Pulling her aside, I suggested, “Let’s walk along the riverside, away from the crowd.”
“Sure,” she agreed, shrugging her shoulders.
We sat on a bench staring at the ferries cruising up and down the river. Vera’s sweet scent floated in the breezy air like the petals of fresh frangipani flowers.
“How’s your brother?”
“He’s fine these days because Saira leaves him alone. How are you?”
“Terrible. I’ve been terrible without you,” I admitted, eyeing Vera’s smooth, toned shoulders as she leaned forward.
“Do you love her?” Vera asked, tilting her head to one side.
“Who?” I whispered, wishing I had never let Vera go so easily. That was my biggest mistake. My eyes were lost in my ex-lover’s presence.
“Rebecca.”
“No, I don’t love her. I’ve come to terms with the fact that the woman I need has moved on.”
“I called you after the New Year,” Vera protested. “I left messages, too.”
“I never heard from you.”
“It was on the night you met her on the cruise.”
I shook my head in disbelief and clasped my hands between my knees. I had to think about that night. I listened to my therapist’s advice to take a short vacation. However, I didn’t plan to meet Rebecca.
“The ship must have had poor reception,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Don’t you think it’s unfair to both you and Rebecca that you’re marrying her, but you don’t love her?” Vera questioned, studying my face.
“I’m attracted to her, and the sex is great. She gives me something, and I give her something in return.”
“What, sex for money and fame? Are you helping her with her film career?”
I nodded, feeling ashamed in front of the lioness. “Love might develop over time, but I’ll have to forget about you first,” I said, touching a soft caramel curl that blew with the wind.
Vera flicked my hand away from her hair. “Leave and forget me.”
“I can’t.”
“I won’t be your mistress. I’m worth more.”
“My heart won’t let me forget you, sweetheart.”
“And when you make love to another woman?”
