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We still had boundaries: His not to cross anything beyond kisses. Mine not to venture anywhere near love. An impasse. A resolve that was quickly falling apart.
Why hadn’t every man in the world fallen in love with Liya Thakkar by now?
“Does it bother you that our community thinks the worst of her?” She took my hands in hers. “I trust my son. You’ve always made good decisions, made me proud. So if you see enough good in her to be with her, then who cares what others say? You’re with her, not with all these fickle, judgmental people,”
“Not that being a wife is the ultimate goal in life, but being a wife for someone like Jay means you two love one another and want no one else. You know you’ll work through your problems. It’s not always perfect, but you’re committed and comfortable. You might even have kids. You become one. There’s no force on the planet that can pry you apart. That’s what I think, anyway, when it comes to marriage. In which case, you are definitely wifey material. And for the record, you are absolutely worth whatever trouble you think you’re giving him.”
“Let yourself go and just see where this takes you. Fall in love,” she said. “Are you out of your mind? Love will lead to heartbreak.”
“You go first,” Jay said outside of Shilpa’s room. I touched his stomach. “It’s fine. She’s not stripped down naked and pushing a giant baby out of her vagina just yet.” He cringed. “God, why, Liya, why?” “Because it’s cute to see how anxious you are.” I kissed his cheek and knocked on the door before entering.
They saw the best, and I kept reliving the worst.
“Where’s my nephew?” Jay beamed. Shilpa proudly handed the baby to him. Jay immediately melted. This child had everyone wrapped around his fingers. Jay swayed side to side and cooed to the baby. There was something very, very sexy about this six-foot-four man in his dress clothes, button-down shirt with a few top buttons undone, sleeves rolled to his forearms, biceps bulging against the tightened fabric, holding this tiny, helpless baby. And damn everything if my ovaries weren’t actually rumbling. Although not quite exploding yet.
“Running off so fast?” he asked. “This is your family time.” “You’re family.”
“There’s another reason why I crashed here last night. It’s the anniversary of my dad’s death. I couldn’t be alone.” “Oh, Jay…You don’t have to deal with anything by yourself. You can talk to me. You can lean on us.” He walked around the counter to stand in front of my chair. “You have no idea what that means to me.”
It was a powerful thing, having someone simply listen and not worry about how I looked: weak, depressed, clinging to the past…
One night didn’t free me from the guilt, but one night with Liya at my side as we navigated through the grief unleashed more than the last nineteen anniversaries combined.
“And don’t you think I know how hardheaded, competitive, and assertive Jay can be? He wouldn’t want a quiet girl, either, but a special woman who can put up with him, put him in his place if need be, but more than ever, build one another up.”
A void clawed itself open in my soul, and I shoved tear after tear into it. It wasn’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough to fill that gruesome hole.
“You’re going to destroy this community,” he barked. “Make no mistake, you did this to our community. You are responsible for what happens now. You are the only person to blame. I am going to shred you apart.”
“I’m not going to lose her, Preeti. That intelligent, fierce, beautiful woman is the love of my life.”
“If this means you must move to Dallas, then you must move to Dallas.” “What?” “You’ve lived your life for me, for us, but at some point, you have to live life for yourself. Besides, you don’t let a girl like Liya Thakkar get away.”
Wasn’t that ironic? I hadn’t done anything wrong, and yet I felt shame. I wanted to crawl into a dark corner and die. I didn’t want to see anyone, even if they sided with me.
“I came because you’re the one,” he rasped. “You’re mine. I’m yours. We don’t belong with anyone else. I don’t stand in front of you, or run after you. I walk alongside you. I will be damned if anything breaks us. Do you understand me?”
“You’re making me cry.” He pressed my forehead against his chest. “Then I’ll just hold you while you cry.”
“Liya, you’re wild as hell, a whole lot of trouble cushioned by a whole lot of amazing. I can’t sleep when you’re not next to me. I can’t keep my focus not knowing if we’ll be together. You challenge me. You keep pace. Hell, sometimes you even leave me in the dust. I love that. I adore you. You’re the madness I need, the passion I breathe, the spark that brings me to life. I will go wherever you are.”
“Do you mean to say that you’re really going to move in with me?” He kissed me with absolute need. The answer was in his eyes, swirling with resolution, determination. “Do you think you can escape me so easily? What? Just drive off to Dallas and think I won’t find you?”
“I know you’re not into marriage and arranged engagements and such, but here’s a ring. A symbol of my devotion, whether it’s officially on paper or just officially in our hearts. Liya Thakkar?” “Yes?” I whispered. “Will you be mine? Forever and always?”
“I am so in love with you, you may never know the full extent of my devotion, but I promise to show it every day. In how I treat you, not like a princess, but a queen. Not as my submissive other half, but as my equal. I know you can take care of yourself, but should someone try to hurt you, they’ll still have me to deal with. Not one day will go by without you feeling my love, in action, words…or when we turn down that bed every night.”
“I thought it was always just me, and always would be just me, walking alone, fighting this world alone, defending myself alone.” “You will never be alone. This is our world, and we’re about to own it. Together.”
