She would not have looked at me the way she did if she felt nothing. She would not have kissed me the way she did. She would not have held me the way she had last night.
What I had seen in her eyes had been real.
She probably just did not want to admit it. Maybe she was not ready to accept it yet. Or maybe she was simply afraid to face it.
I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto my face.
The shock of it helped steady my breathing.
I lifted my head slowly and looked at my reflection in the mirror.
My eyes looked tired and frustrated, but also determined.
As I stared at myself, a thought slowly formed in my mind, and I finally understood what needed to be done next.
Over the nextcouple of days, I kept myself busy with work. The office became my refuge. Emails, meetings, proposals, client calls—I buried myself in everything I could find so I would not have to sit alone with my thoughts. Every quiet moment gave my mind an opportunity to wander back to Jiya’s kitchen… to the way she had looked at me… to the words she had said that morning.
That shouldn’t have happened.
The memory still hurt, gut-wrenching, as if my insides had been ripped out. I hadn’t believed I could feel that kind of heartache again… yet there it was.
So I worked.
And when work was not enough to keep my mind occupied, I decided to take action.
I contacted Stephanie and made plans to meet her on the weekend.
Walking into the Tipsy Cow restaurant with her on Saturday evening, I requested a table right in the middle of the restaurant.
I had already confirmed earlier that week that Jiya would be working that evening.
I wanted her to see me.
That was the whole point.
I couldn’t see her when we first entered, but I did see Jack standing near the bar. His eyes narrowed immediately the moment he spotted me.
After ordering appetizers and drinks for Stephanie and me, I walked over to the bar where Jack was standing, wiping down a glass.
“What are you doing?” Jack asked bluntly. His tone carried a mix of confusion and suspicion. “I thought you had broken up with her because you wanted to be with Jiya.”
I smiled calmly and took a sip of my sparkling water. “That’s exactly what I’m doing,” I said.
Jack frowned. “What?”
“I’m working on it.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “How?” he demanded.
I set the glass down slowly and leaned slightly against the counter. “Wait and watch.”
Jack stared at me like I had completely lost my mind.
I smiled again before walking back to my table.
A two-piece band played soft music in the background.
The staff entrance door opened, and Jiya walked out. She had not seen me yet. She was speaking to one of the waitresses, who handed her a notepad and pen. Jiya nodded, said something quietly, and then turned around.
