Page 18 of Unfaithfully Yours
I reached out, gripping his shoulder and squeezing.
“I don't know, man,” I said honestly. “I don't think that's fair to you.”
He shut his eyes, swallowing.
“So, what's fair then?” he asked. “Losing my home? My wife?”
I didn't know what to say to that and Kamran didn't need me to say anything at all because he kept talking.
“I feel so fucking worthless.”
I shook my head.
“Don't say that, Kam.”
“It's true. Why doesn't she want me?”
He looked at me as thoughIwould have the answer to that question but I fuckingdidn't.Melissa was literally, certifiably,insane.
“Kamran,” I said slowly. “She must have hit her head or something.”
He stared at me for a moment and then suddenly burst into laughter.
His shoulder bumped into mine, jostling me playfully.
“You're not even joking, are you?” he asked, still grinning.
I shook my head, taking another swallow of beer to avoid looking at him.
“No,” I finally said, seriously. “She'd actually have to be crazy to risk losing you.”
The smile was gone from his lips when I once again hazarded a glance his way. And he wasn't gazing out into space anymore. No, those pretty green eyes were focused on me.
When our gazes met, he smiled softly.
“How much easier would it have been if it was you?” he asked.
I stared, hoping he wasn't going down the road I thought he was.
“If we were married, you wouldn't cheat on me,” he said. “You would make me feel special.”
“Kamran,” I choked.
For a long minute I couldn't even think what to say and sat there floundering.
“Youarespecial,” finally burst from my mouth.
Kamran chuckled.
“See?”
“And you'restraight,” I reminded him.
“Yeah, I know,” he said, shrugging. “That's what I'm saying. Too bad we're straight, right?”
Despite the way he swayed a bit in his seat and the slight slur to his words, I felt like I was walking into a carefully constructed trap.
“Uh. Yeah,” I said. “Too bad.”
