"I know. I'll play it by ear."
"You're going to have to tell people at the office. I mean, they already suspect, but they should know."
"I know. We'll let them know when the time feels right." I turn to Jon, smiling. "You seem pretty insistent on letting everyone know about us."
He smiles and pulls me into his arms once more. Immediately, my body responds to the feel of him in my arms, even though I've just finished coming twice in rapid succession.
"The cat is, or should be, out of the bag. I don't have any doubts, India. Do you?"
He holds me tightly, his gaze on mine, waiting.
"Of course, I don't have any doubts," I say softly.
"We have to just do it," Jon says. "In the end, you have to jump."
We kiss and finally, my doubts are gone.
I jump.
I leave Jon and drive to the restaurant where Marina and the girls will be waiting for me. I'm running late and am a bit flustered, my stomach still all butterflies because of what's happened between Jon and me.
He finally felt able to say the words. I feel a bit stupid now, doubting him. Making him say the word, but I wanted to know that if we did this thing, we would do it with eyes wide open and aware of the risks to our business, which we both love so much.
But I love Jon and finally, I think he really does loves me.
I enter the restaurant and see the girls sitting in the corner booth. They all glance at the door when I enter and wave. I smile back, wondering how Marina will take it when I tell her that Jon and I are a couple and that's all there is to it. No protests and no complaints.
I sit beside Jill and smile when the waitress comes by with a carafe of coffee. I turn my coffee cup up and am happy to get a cup. I need something to calm my nerves. "You're late," Marina says in her domineering way. "What's up? I thought you'd be happy to see Blaine back."
"Really?" I say, shaking my head in surprise. "He broke my heart, Marina. Why would you think I'd be happy?"
"Because he came back to be close to you, in the hopes you two could get back together again. That's why. I told him you hadn’t been with anyone else since and he thought –"
"He thought wrong," I say and pour more sugar into my cup.
Just then, Jon walks into the restaurant. I see him out of the corner of my eye, and then Marina glances over.
"Well, look who it is," she says.
I frown. What's he doing here?
Probably wanting to show solidarity with me when it comes time to break the news to Marina.
"Hello, ladies," Jon says and stands at our booth. "I was just passing by and thought I'd crash your party. Can I join you?" He looks me in the eyes. "Scoot over."
I do, but am speechless for a moment.
"So, what are you talking about?" he asks and picks up a menu.
"We were talking about Blaine being back in San Francisco."
"Yeah, he was by earlier. Luckily, I think he got the message and left."
"What message?" Marina asks, her eyes narrowing.
"That India is taken and not interested in him," Jon says, and he turns his cup up happily as the waitress comes over with the coffee again. She pours and then drops a few creams off before leaving us alone.
To stunned silence.