Read Online After the Morning After by Lisa G Riley - Free Book Online

challenged with a lifted brow.
    Sanjay winced at the mention of the holiday that was celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva, one of three Hindu gods that form the Trimurti . “No, not this trip,” he said. “Even though there will be time because the holiday falls on Monday, and they’ll be here that Friday. I don’t think I’ll be inviting the doc over. It’s too soon in the relationship, and she’s already gun-shy.”
    “Really? What’s her freaking problem? Is she an idiot?”
    Sanjay sighed. Vonnie had always been protective of him and became offended at even the thought of someone slighting or insulting him. “She doesn’t have a problem, Vonnie, so don’t go starting anything.”
    “I’m just saying —”
    “ Vonnie.”
    “All right, fine. If you say she doesn’t have a problem, then I believe you. Is she the reason you ditched me last night?”
    “I didn’t ditch you, but yes, like I already told you, she’s the reason I canceled dinner with you. I needed to talk to her about a few things.”
    “How long have you been seeing her?”
    “We, uh, went out a few months ago, and she decided that she wasn’t ready for a relationship. I was going through my own thing at the time—you know, with my prototype—so I let things go…sort of. Anyway, I want her to work with me, and I want a relationship with her, so I went to see her.”
    “Right,” Bhavani said with a nod. “Plus, Mom called you, didn’t she?”
    “Uh, yeah. Guess she told you, huh?”
    “Yep. She told me that there’s a potential wife for you in Bengal. She thought it would be nice if the whole family took a trip there for a vacation. After all, ‘it’s the perfect time of year for it.’”
    Sanjay chuckled at her perfect imitation of their mother. “I have one thing to say to that: her call got me off my ass and over to see the doc. I wanted to see if I’d imagined how great it was all those months ago. I hadn’t.”
    “And her?”
    “She hadn’t imagined it either, but she still took a little convincing.”
    “I don’t get it,” Bhavani complained. “Why? You’re a great guy, so I ask you again, what’s her problem?”
    Sanjay shook his head. “Not everyone thinks I’m as great as you do, Vonnie, and I don’t think that I’m the reason she’s hesitating. I’ll find that out soon, though,” he said and playfully tossed a balled-up pair of socks at her.
    Bhavani smiled as she tossed the socks back to him. “So, I assume you have a date with the fair lady.”
    “You bet,” Sanjay said and bounced on his toes to toss the socks in the basket as if he were playing on a basketball court. “I invited her to dinner here tomorrow night.”
    “Really, and she deigned to come, huh?”
    Sanjay rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Vonnie, will you stop being so stubborn about this? Not everyone is crazy about me. I know you love me, and I appreciate your pride in me, but let’s change the subject, shall we?”
    “All right, then. I heard about what was supposed to have been your deposition yesterday. What the hell, Jay? You just walked out?”
    Sanjay shrugged. “I was there of my own accord. I didn’t have to be.”
    Bhavani shook her head. “You’ve left yourself open to penalties, you know. Why are you drawing this out, dude?”
    “Because I can, and they screwed with me, the greedy bastards. They accused me of stealing my own product. They’ve tried to ruin my reputation and the respect I’ve always had from colleagues.”
    “So why not just end it, then? Stop jerking around and let it go.”
    “Why should I? It’s been four months, and fallout has already been maximized. I don’t think it can get any worse for me, but I can drag this out for them.”
    “But why? What good would it accomplish?”
    He shrugged again. “Good- schmood; I just want to be a pain in their asses for a little while.”
    Bhavani laughed. “Well, Carol—the paralegal who was there—did say that their reactions to your just walking out