“What’s wrong, baby girl?”
“Have you ever just been so confused about something you felt like your entire world was falling apart?”
“Most days.” she says lightly. “What’s his name?” Her intuitive side scares me sometimes.
“Sai.”
“As in Amy’s fiancé to be, Sai?”
“One and the same.” I want to tell her that I hate him, that he’s the worst possible person in the world, but I can’t, because the truth is that I don’t hate him. The truth is that I felt so much more than I should for a man that isn’t mine.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do, but I’d be honest with Amy about it.”
“What do I tell her mom, when I don’t even know what the hell I’m feeling myself?”
“Breathe, baby.Maktub,remember, what is written will be.”
I sigh. “I don’t feel very philosophical right now.”
“I love you. I have to go now, but I’ll call you later, okay?”
“I love you, too, Mom. Talk to you later.”
When I end the call, I decide to take a walk. It’s a cool evening, and I’m hoping the air will do me good. I grab my canvas and decide to paint the sunset.
I set up close to the water and start to paint. I love the life of rich people, the fact that they have private beaches and you don’t have to battle a hoard to get a good spot. I get so lost in the process that when the sun starts to set, I don’t hear him coming up behind me.
“Where we first met?” he asks.
I smile up at him, and he takes a seat on my blanket. “Just a different time of day.”
“That’s beautiful, by the way. You’re really talented.” He rests his hands on his knees, looking at what I’ve been painting.
“Thank you, that is probably the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I call you beautiful every day.”
“That doesn’t count.” I laugh and set my brush down, turning to him “You okay?”
“I don’t know. I should be, but I can’t get you off my mind.”
I sigh. I wish that I could tell him to stop thinking of me, to stop wanting me, because I know he does. But I would be a hypocrite because that is exactly what I do every waking moment.
He reaches toward me, running a finger over my face. “Want to take a walk, Güzel?”
I nod, standing. He helps me gather my stuff, and after we drop it off on the doorstep of my condo, we walk together along the shore. I stop and look out at the beams from a lighthouse in the distance. I don’t expect him to wrap his arms around me, but he does. I don’t pull away, I simply lay my head against his chest.
“Is Henry, okay, Sai?”
I feel his chest rise and fall against my back. “He is.”
I close my eyes, taking a breath of relief. “Do you promise to let him go, after the wedding?” I choke on that last word.
“I can do one better.” He kisses my hair. “I can let him go after the engagement party.”
“Sai?”
“Mmm?”
