the sadness leaking through. Arugula made me think of Devraj. The Redfish Court-bouillon, too. How long would it take to get over him?
“Whatever is easiest,” I answered, seeing my phone set on the charger on my nightstand.
Hoping, I lifted it and checked for messages. No such luck. He hadn’t messaged. Nothing at all. My heart sank again, the pain of losing him already too sharp. Too raw.
When I closed the door to the bathroom, I shed my clothes and stood under the steaming hot shower, wondering how I was going to pretend I was fine when he said goodbye. I couldn’t handle it. I just couldn’t.
I let the tears come, scrubbing my body clean. I tried to wipe away the sorrow of losing him, but it was too painful. How had I not seen that Devraj meant far more to me than I’d ever realized? The thought of him really and truly leaving made me want to curl into a ball and forget the world. Somehow, the fact that he lived this flashy, glamorous life didn’t matter anymore. Maybe he’d be okay with visiting? We could do long distance perhaps. At this point, I was okay taking whatever he’d give me.
All of this was spinning through my head as I ventured out of my bathroom with a towel wrapped around me, finding my bedroom empty except for Clara. I pulled on some panties and one of my loose, comfy dresses I wore in the garden, not even bothering with a bra. I moved like a zombie. A sad, broken-hearted zombie.
“Here, let me do your hair.”
I sat in front of the oval mirror, remembering how Devraj had taken me right here and had stolen my heart at the same time. I wiped the back of my hand across one cheek as a tear slipped.
Clara combed through my hair, pushing some of her euphoria into me. I smiled, my vision blurry, knowing she was worried. I looked so pale, circles under my eyes even though I’d slept for two days.
“It’s okay, Clara,” I said, voice cracking. “I’ll be all right.”
She beamed at my reflection. “Oh, Isadora. You’re going to be fantastic. Just wait and see.” She winked at me, which was a little odd. First, because she didn’t know how to wink, so it came across as an awkward double-blink. And also because Clara wasn’t the winking kind.
I exhaled on a heavy sigh and stared back at my sorry reflection, wondering what I was going to do with myself. Then music blared from the front yard. Loud music. I jumped and turned on the stool. Clara let go of my damp hair.
“What the hell?” I asked, staring out the open balcony doors. “Is that—? Is that Peter Gabriel?”
“Sounds like ‘In Your Eyes.’ Might want to check that out,” she said sweetly.
When I faced her, I realized she wasn’t at all surprised by the eighties hit blaring from the yard. I walked through my French doors and out to the balcony, my heart falling right out of my chest, tumbling over the balcony, and spilling at the feet of the man below.
There, standing in my yard, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt, and a gray trench coat was Devraj. Over his head, he held high Archie, who saw me and yipped happily, his stubby tail wagging right over where Devraj supported his bum with one hand.
My mouth dropped open as the eighties anthem from the most romantic boombox serenade pumped out into the neighborhood. Walkers had even begun to gather, watching the spectacle.
“What are you doing!” I yelled down at the beautiful man holding his dog over his head.
“Come down here, love,” he said just loud enough for me to hear, his smile blinding and beautiful.
I just stood there, shaking my head, then Clara popped me on the behind. “Well, go, Isadora. Don’t keep him waiting!”
I disappeared back into the house, my heartbeat racing as fast as my feet as I hurried down the stairs, through the foyer, and swung open the front door, only to find Livvy operating her karaoke system and Violet grinning beside her. Glancing to the right, Evie and Mateo sat on the swing, Mateo’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, both of them grinning and enjoying the show.
“Better get out there,” said Jules behind me, pushing me forward a step.
Her, Tia, and Clara stood in the doorway, smiling like fiends. All the while, Devraj hadn’t moved, watching me with love in his eyes. Yes, definitely love. I couldn’t catch my