“So, that’s it. We had sex once a week. I stayed with him for a year, which is embarrassing.”
“It shouldn’t be.”
“It was weird.”
“But in all the other places he made you happy?”
“Yes. He was a great listener. He was super thoughtful. I could mention a play in casual conversation or a picture that I liked, the next thing I know he had tickets for the play, or he bought the picture for me and framed it.”
“But the sex sucked?”
“Yes. Zora would give me advice because she liked Jason so much.”
“Hmmm.” Kamal scrunched his face up in horror. “Do I want to hear my sister’s advice on sex?”
“Nope. It’s pretty kinky.”
“No!” He pushed his hand forward in a ‘stop’ motion. “You’ve already said too much.”
I laughed. “I tried so many things last year to get Jason to divert from his ritual. Lingerie. Feeling him up in the car or the living room. Once I went down on my knees and. . .”
Kamal bit his bottom lip.
“Well. . .never mind.”
“No, let’s talk about it.” He licked his lips. “You were on your knees.”
I smirked. “Either way, Jason always stopped me. I could kiss him during the week, but not too much. And he definitely hated blow jobs which I love to. . .”
Kamal leaned forward.
“Anyway.” I hid my face. “A week before New Year’s Eve, we had our caramel macchiatos in our robes, and he handed me a ring box.”
Kamal raised his brows. “He was proposing?”
“Yes.” I let out a long breath. “Jason lowered on his knees and told me that he wanted to be with me forever. And the whole time, I’m holding that macchiato and watching him talk in that same black and red robe. In my head, I kept thinking, ‘Is this going to be my life forever? Sex on Sunday with a caramel macchiato.’”
“Absolutely not.” He licked his lips. “You deserve sex on every day of the week.”
“That’s what I was thinking.” I shrugged. “The whole thing freaked me out, so I sadly told him no, put on my clothes, and left him in the bedroom.”
“Wow.”
“It’s fucked up.”
“You were being real with yourself.”
“But many women would be happy to be with Jason.”
“That’s good for them, but you deserve more and it’s okay to understand that.” He picked up my bowl of popcorn and handed it to me.
I grabbed it. Our fingers touched. For a moment, it felt as if an electrifying jolt passed through me. His eyes gazed into mine. I swallowed. A warm tingling moved up my spine.
I parted my lips. “Thank you.”
Not letting go of the bowl, Kamal watched me with a piercing gaze. “We have one life. Go for what you want. What you desire. Don’t settle for good or nice. Give yourself to the man that takes care of your heart and sets your panties on fire.”
I blinked. “You’re right.”
He studied my face.
A comfortable silence moved between us.
My phone rang.
“Who could that be?” He let go of the bowl and glanced in that direction. “It’s pretty late.”
“Probably Zora. It’s a nine-hour time difference from here and the Maldives. She calls at the craziest hours, not remembering that I might be passed out.”
“That makes sense.”
I rose. “I should answer. Um. . .I’m going to take it in the bedroom.”
“Sure.” He watched my every step. “If it’s okay, can you let her know I’m here and that I’ll call her in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“And don’t forget that we’re finishing this movie.”
The phone rang again.
I grinned. “How could I not? In fact, rewind back to the sex scene.”
“I sure will, and I’ll make you a nice caramel macchiato too.”
I blushed.
He laughed.
The phone rang again.
I walked into the bedroom and answered, “Hey.”
“Good.” Zora’s voice held excitement. “You’re not asleep.”
“Nope. What’s up?”
“I threw up in the toilet.”
“O-kay.” I shut the bedroom door. “Did you need to call me in New York to let me know that?”
“Jade, I might be pregnant!”
“Oh.” I froze. “Oh shit. That’s great. Right?”
“Or I might have the coronavirus.”
“Okay. Stop. You don’t have the virus.”
“I’m freaking out.”
“Breathe. You don’t have the virus. I don’t even think vomiting is a symptom.”
“Corey left to get a pregnancy test. He’s all masked up. I’m losing my mind, hoping he doesn’t get infected from the uber guy or the cashier person or maybe someone coughing in the store or—”
“Zora! Stop.” I swallowed. “Breathe.”
She exhaled.
“You can’t think about that stuff.”
“How do I not?”
“By thinking about something else.”
“Well, that’s why I called you, Jade. Give me something to keep my head off of my possible pregnancy or deadly virus.”
I moved away from the door and went closer to the balcony to make sure Kamal didn’t hear me. “So. . .for one thing your brother is here.”
“Kamal?”
“I hope you don’t have any more brothers. I definitely never met them.”
“What is Kamal doing at my apartment at. . .” She must’ve checked her watch. “It’s almost two in the morning over there.”