“Dad just told me. He negotiated with your dad to get Harrison’s collection, in exchange for some other Indian art collection they were both competing for.”
“What? That can’t be worth it.”
I send him a dirty look through swollen eyes.Yeah, I know.
Gavin catches my look. “But that’s also mean and fucked up to do to his daughter.”
Again, he’s not telling me anything I don’t know.
“If the sale’s decided, then let me come back with you. I can get my stuff together in a few minutes. You don’t look like you should be alone.”
“No. Don’t bother.” I hold out my hand to stop him. I look back at Sarah, who is studiously looking at a wall sconce to give me some privacy. Not even one of the more interesting light sconces in the house. “You’ve got to talk through the details with Harrison, and I have to deal with work issues. We both knew we had to leave this fantasy sometime.” I indicate the opulence around me, which has witnessed two low points in my life in one day. Lucky lamps. “So it’s just ending a day earlier.”
I’m surprised at how badly I wanted that extra day.
“But we could still see each other when we’re back in the city.” Gavin tries on a bit of my stubborn, another departure from his usual laid-back attitude. I’m a bad influence on him, I guess. “I’ll call you when I’m back.”
I shake my head. “I need some time.” Too much is happening all at once.
“Riya, I know you’re hurt, but I didn’t do anything. I want to be here for you now.”
“This isn’t about what you want,” I whisper furiously. “I know it’s not your fault. But I can’t look at you without thinking about how much you get just for being you. And how hard I have to fight to get half of it. And then there are the days I don’t get anything no matter how hard I try. You won today and I lost. I’m tired and angry and my dad’s a jerk. I just want to be alone.”
“Okay.” He gets out of my way, looking around like those wall sconces can help him out of this. “But I... I love you.” Now his eyes are laser focused on me.
“What?” He can’t be telling me this right now. I just had my heart broken by my own father and he’s here trying to make a relationship. I can’t handle this.
Especially since I might be falling in love with him right back. From the loud moments with him—hosting an auction, arguing with him about art—to the quiet ones—watching the coast go by on the bow of a boat—I want them all on repeat for the rest of my life.
But I can’t deal with this many emotions at one time. And it’s just like him to force it on me onhistimeline, not caring about what I might be feeling or what I might need.
“This isn’t about you! Like I don’t have enough to deal with coping with the fact that I’m never going to be good enough for my own father, one of the people who is supposed to love me unconditionally? Or the fact that he favors Ajay over me? Instead I’ve felt like I’m constantly competing with a brother I love for attention that our father never wants to give me? You thinknowis the right time to put me through your shit?”
“I... No. I didn’t think.” He has the grace to look subdued, head bowed down to the plush carpet.
“You don’t think. That’s the point. And now, I’m going home to deal with the shitstorm that is my life and career.”
I turn and walk down the hallway, Sarah walking next to me. I hope she didn’t hear what just happened, but the laws of physics state that’s improbable.
She is, however, nice enough to not mention it on the walk down the hall, or the elevator ride, or the walk to her car. We make it all the way to the freeway before I start crying again, tears silently streaming down my face.
“I’m sorry. I was doing so well.”
“It’s okay. Do you want me to stop at a White Castle?”
I sniff. “Yes, please.” She’s perfect. I need to poach her for the company. But then I remember I don’t work for that company.
This has been a terrible day. I was expecting to have to say goodbye to Gavin at some point, never believing a relationship would be as easy as he thought, but to lose him and work at once is a big blow. Work is supposed to be the thing I’m going to throw myself into to get over Gavin. The thing that was going to be my constant and give me strength and purpose.
What am I supposed to do now?
When we get back to my building, Sarah offers to come up and help me with my luggage, but I let her head back to Harrison’s house. I need some time to be alone.
I get upstairs with my luggage and drop it all just inside the door. I head straight to the bedroom and collapse on the bed, curling up in the fetal position and dragging a spare blanket from the foot of the bed over me.
I’ll deal with everything tomorrow.
The next morning, I wake up without having set an alarm. I slowly roll over and see the sun peeking through my blinds.
