Sinner #2
“Of course I did. You love living flowers and plants versus those that die within days. And you wish you had room to have a massive garden. I know you’re still recovering, so we’ll meet at the end of this coming week.
Will that be enough time to feel up to being out in public?
” I asked, but the thought of waiting close to a week made me want to scream.
“Reign, I’m trusting that I’m not wrong about you. Come in. We can talk tonight.”
I was stunned by her succumbing. She stepped back and let me in. I closed the door. Noting the shoes in the entryway and a basket of flip-flops, I took off my deck shoes.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Anastasia exclaimed.
“Yes, I do. It’ll only take a second.”
As I hunted through the basket for a pair big enough, she made an offer.
“Can I get you anything to drink? I have water, sodas, tea, and fruit juice.”
“You should rest. I can fetch it, though I’m good at the moment. Can I go grab something for you?” I asked, following her from the entry to the living room on the other side of the short bullnose wall.
I noted the kitchen was to the right of the living area.
She made her way to a chair with a book, a lamp, and a glass of water on an end table beside it.
A throw blanket was lying over the arm of the chair.
I watched how carefully she sat. I caught her slight flinch.
She’d placed the plant on the bullnose wall.
I took up the end of the sofa closest to her.
“Have you been here all alone since you got out of the hospital yesterday?” I asked.
“Oh, no, my parents brought me home, and then the family was in and out all yesterday. Mom was here earlier until I asked her to go home. I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Then here I come, barging in on your rest. I’m sorry. We can postpone this,” I offered again.
“Reign, you’re here. Clearly, you felt the need to come. Stay. Talk. First, I’ve got to know. How did you know where I live?”
“I have a buddy. He runs a security company. Some of the services he provides include PI, IT, and basic hacking. I asked him to find your address. I wanted to check on you in person, and I knew you wouldn’t be back to work for a while.
And over a text or call wouldn’t let me see you with my own eyes. ”
“Well, not sure I like how easy it was, but it’s good to know if I ever need any of those things that you know a guy,” she smiled.
I chuckled. “I do, and he can offer you security system installations, home system monitoring, and bodyguards, too, if you need them.”
“Wow, an all-around helpful guy. A good friend to have. So, you can see that I’m still among the living.
Before you ask, yes, I ache and sometimes hurt, but it’s manageable with medication and rest. The bruises have already started to fade to interesting colors.
I’m taking this coming week off, but should be back the following one. ”
“Don’t push yourself. Take the time you need,” I cautioned.
“I won’t push, but I get bored if I stay home doing nothing,” Anastasia explained.
“Oh, I know how that is. Believe me. I wish my brother would catch that tendency,” I muttered without thinking.
“Rowan up to his usual? Or has he gone extra special?”
It was seamless to tell her at least the work aspect of Rowan’s drama. We’d both spoken about our families during my treatment sessions enough that it felt as if we knew each of them.
“Reign, you’re joking! Please tell me he’s not actually that obtuse,” Anastasia exclaimed after I finished telling her about the office drama.
“Anastasia, I wish I could say it was a joke. He doesn’t get it. He came to my place last night, spoiling for a fight about it. He wanted me to fire his superior as if she did anything wrong,” I huffed.
“Lord, my family makes me crazy, but they do work hard. But I bet your brother wouldn’t try to force you to get married to someone he approved of.”
“No, he seems astonished that I would settle down and have a family. But if I do, he feels it’s still his right as my blood to get the bulk of everything I have.”
She and I talked about work and families for another five minutes or so before she turned us back to the reason I was there.
“I love hearing about someone else’s crazy family, but now, why don’t you tell me what was so urgent you had to see me tonight?” Her steady gaze told me it was time to stop dancing around the subject.
“Okay, but I need to ask you something first. It’s rather personal, but I’ve got to know,” I put out there first.
“Alright, go for it. Ask away.”
“I know you’re dating Sam. He came to the hospital the day I was there to see you. He made it clear that you and he are more than friends. Are you seriously involved with each other? Is he your boyfriend?”
Her mouth opened, closed, then she waited a couple of moments before answering. My heart almost beat out of my chest waiting.
“Sam and I met at a family dinner a month ago. I told you he works with my brother Arish and is a lawyer. I admit they invited him because he was an acceptable man for me to date. They’ve been doing it for years, trying to push me to settle down with a man they approve of, with the same thoughts on what’s acceptable for me as a woman and what they think is a traditional Indian female. I’ve always resisted.
“In Sam’s case, he was nice, funny, and didn’t act as the men in my family do, so when he asked me out for coffee, I went. We’ve been out a handful of times, and we’ve enjoyed ourselves. Why do you ask?”
My gut clenched, but I ignored it. “One more thing, do you see yourself falling for him? Is he the man you want to marry one day?”
“Reign, why are you asking me this?”
Giving up on the evasions, I went for it. I stared into her eyes as I answered her.
“I’m asking because I see you as more than my chiropractor, Anastasia.
I’m interested in you in the way a man is interested in a woman.
I want to ask you out on a date. I want a chance to prove to you that we make more sense than you and Sam.
Do you think you might develop feelings for me over time? Or has he already gotten your heart?”
A gasp escaped her as her eyes widened to an impossible size. I held myself in check, waiting for her answer.