I scowled at him. "Glad you find this funny," I grumbled, feeling stupid again.
He shook his head at me in amusement. "You sound like a spoiled kid who doesn't like sharing his candy," he told me frankly. "I should know. I've been one my whole life." Pursing his lips in consideration, he regarded me thoughtfully and also with a hint of compassion in his eyes. "Although I can't relate with the whole foster home thing. Sorry you had to grow up that way. I can't imagine not having my parents."
Suddenly, his expression changed and he stood up abruptly. "Which reminds me, I have to give my mother a call. Like ASAP." He pointed a finger at me. "You should come with Jasmine and me to Amira sometime. It's a great place for a vacation. I know of certain secret hotspots which you and Jasper might like. Hell, even Skye."
I stared at him in confusion. Funny guy. Here I was pouring out my heart to him because I didn't have anybody else to talk to and he was issuing me an invite to his place again. In another country no less.
"I'll...er...I'll think about it," I mumbled and looked away.
I heard him typing something on his mobile and then moving away.
"Yo, Cole," he called out and I glanced at him. His phone was pressed to his ear. Probably calling his mother. I felt an ache in my heart knowing I could never have that.
"You should tell them what you just told me," he said slowly. "They're your family. Imagine what it would have been like if they both hated each other instead?"
He turned away then to talk on the phone and I just looked at his back unseeingly. Was he right? Was I simply ungrateful? Just a jealous, spoiled child in a man's body who was too selfish to allow the ones he loved some extra happiness simply because it made me feel excluded? I tried to picture what Armaan had said.
Skye and Jasper constantly at each other's throats. Neither of them willing to share me. Being so jealous of each other that they forced me to choose between them. A constant state of tension and resentment within our home. Damn. That would have been so much worse. So much harder to deal with. I was lucky. So damn lucky. I had hit the jackpot when it came to having two lovers and here I was moping over it.
Getting up abruptly, I grabbed my phone and keys and strode over to Armaan, tapping him lightly on the shoulder. He looked at me, said something to the person on the other end of the line and put his hand over the mouthpiece.
I smiled at him. "I'm taking my lunch break now," I informed him cheerfully to which he nodded. "Thanks for the free therapy."
He laughed at my words and resumed the phone call as if he had not just helped me reach the biggest revelation of my adult life which would in turn secure the happiness of three highly strung out people. The guy was a Godsend.
****
I wasn't sure how many curses I had to hear while driving like a maniac trying to get to Skye.
According to her schedule, she was supposed to be at her only female client, Bianca Martinez's house a couple of miles away from my workplace.
I had to see her. She was so vulnerable, so weakened emotionally by our situation over the past couple of weeks, I just wanted to give her a hug and let her know it was all going to be okay. I was going to deal with my complex issues and would try my damndest to make sure both she and Jasper were happy. Just like they had been doing for me all this time. No one was taking anybody away from anyone. We were going to be a team. A family.
I pulled up in front of the residence Skye had shown me once while we had been out on a drive and called her number. She did not pick up. I gathered she must be really busy and got out of the car to walk up Bianca's driveway, praying my girlfriend would not get too mad at me over this impromptu visit.
A tall, stylishly dressed female answered the door and I smiled and greeted her amicably.
"Is Skye here?" I asked her in Italian.
She cocked her head at me and gave me an appreciative look which kind of irritated me. I was here on urgent business, damn it.
The woman, who I assumed was Bianca, presented me with a saccharine smile. "So you're the lover she keeps texting when she's supposed to be teaching me how to paint," the woman drawled and I felt her index finger touch my chest as she dragged it down my shirt slowly.
Jesus. Forward much? Frowning, I took a step back. I never texted Skye at work unless it was about something important. She took her art pretty seriously. I got the feeling this woman was lying just to stir up some trouble. "Can you please let her know I'm here? It's really important. I just need to speak to her for five minutes."
Bianca pouted at me. "Do you want to come inside?" she purred, draping herself against the doorjamb.
Heaven give me strength. I exhaled impatiently. "I'll meet her out here if that's okay with you."
Her expression soured and she unfolded herself to strut back into the house. "Skye isn't here," she called out over her shoulder. "Maria, close the door, please."
What? What was happening? What an unhelpful and infuriating woman. And my girlfriend worked for her? She must be the headache client Skye had told
