‘Kaavi, I do want you. The chemistry we have is never going to go away, but surely you know me better than to think I would take advantage of a woman who drank almost a bottle of wine in some other guy’s apartment,’ he said.
She crossed her arms, scowling. He took a step forward, his fingers reaching under her chin. He titled her head until she was looking into his eyes.
‘Kaavi, you’ll always have a hold on me, but not tonight.’
His thumb lightly brushed her cheek. He took one more look at her and left before she could respond.
Tiny men were banging away in her head. Drumming circle? Miners? Either way, they weren’t letting up. Kaavi groaned, rolled over and rubbed her face. So much for wine being calming. She never thought about the morning after.
The pounding continued.
She stretched, then paused. That wasn’t just in her head. Someone was knocking.
Peeling herself off the bed, she tugged at the oversized sleepshirt clinging to her sweat-slicked skin. She’d forgotten to turn on the air conditioner. Great.
Dragging her fingers through her hair, she shuffled to the door and cracked it open.
Anni pushed past her.
‘I’ve been trying to call you. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?’
Kaavi yawned and shut the door. Anni dropped her handbag on the couch and looked towards the bedroom.
‘You’re alone?’
‘Of course, who would I be with?’ Kaavi replied through a yawn.
‘Your husband.’
‘So I did tell you about him. I thought it was a bad dream,’ Kaavi said, ready to drop onto the couch.
‘Then you’re not going to like this,’ Anni said.
Kaavi stood still. ‘What?’
‘Sam’s gone to see Neel.’
Kaavi wanted to ask why, but she was too focused on the warmth spreading through her chest. It made her want to cry. The fact that Sam was over at Neel’s showed that he cared for her and that the circle of friends she’d made in Rally genuinely loved her.
‘Have a shower. I’ll make tea and we’ll talk,’ Anni said, taking her by the shoulders and gently pushing her towards the passage.
‘So you just left?’ Anni asked, twenty minutes later, as they sat on the couch.
Kaavi took a sip of tea. Paused. Nodded.
‘I just left,’ she said quietly.
‘I don’t get it. There’s something you’re not telling me,’ Anni said, watching her closely.
‘There is,’ Kaavi admitted. ‘But I can’t tell you. Not right now.’
Anni nodded. ‘Okay. When you’re ready.’
She leaned back. ‘But what about Neel? He’s here.’
Kaavi’s shoulders lifted, dropped. ‘I don’t know, Anni. I really don’t.’
‘Well … you could divorce him. I mean, he brought the papers. You told me that much.’
