Mr. Imperfectionist 2

7 - Denial

I returned to my room and hit the shower. I wanted Arman to be present for the meeting. He'd be able to tell me if what I did tonight was right. I did not like the idea of having another Spanish man in my life. But what if what happened tonight was just a one-time thing? He might not even look at me tomorrow out of embarrassment. Nothing has to happen between us.

Although it's been two months since a man touched me. But I'm sure I can control myself. I couldn't help but think about my kiss with Rex. It was intense and passionate. That image raised goose bumps in my body, and all I wanted to do was walk into Rex's room and finish that kiss. But what if he had a girlfriend and the kiss was an accident caused by too much wine? Rex is too handsome to be single. Oh, I miss Arman so much. I'm hoping jerk gets back from his date tonight.

I changed into a long black satin nightgown after my shower. I was curious if Arman had returned from his date. I put on my black satin robe and left my room. I knocked on his door a couple of times, but to no avail. I assumed he was still with his date, so I did not bother calling him. I returned to my room and crawled under the heavy quilt. I was exhausted from walking around in high heels and the whole mess with Rex. I closed my eyes and blocked the fact that I was in Spain. Within a few minutes, I fell into a deep slumber.

I forced my eyes open because of an annoying sound in my room. When I regained consciousness, I noticed someone knocking on the door. I knew it would be Arman from the impatient knocking. I forced myself out of bed and flung open the door. With my drowsy, blurry eyesight, I noticed him standing there in a white t-shirt.

"Oh, what a treat!" he sneered.

I looked down and realized I wasn't wearing my robe, and my nightgown has a deep neck. 'Jerk'. I murmured under my breath and ran to grab my robe from the couch next to my bed.

Arman laughed and shut the door behind him, "C'mon, it's not the first time. Did you forget about all the lovely nights we had, baby?" He teased.

I quickly wore my robe, grabbed a tiny notebook off the table next to the phone, and flung it at Arman.

It hit his chest. "Ouch!" He laughed.

"Where the fuck were you last night?" I snarled.

"I was with Gloria," he said, bending to pick up the notebook from the floor. When he stood up, I tossed a pen at him.

"Oye, what the hell?" He exclaimed.

"I needed you, Arman. And you were out fucking some white chick!"

"Two white chicks," Arman said with a smug. "When I returned to her apartment, her friend joined in," his smirk intensified.

I drew my eyebrows together in frustration and started scanning around furiously for something to hurl at him.

"Saanj, no, don't. What the hell did I do, babe?"

When I couldn't find anything, I picked up the blanket and threw it down on the floor furiously. "I needed you, Arman. You told me you were coming here to be with me. Why the fuck were you not with me when I needed you the most?" I was close to breaking down. Sadly for me, I cry when I am furious.

"Saanj, you said you'd be busy with the meeting, so I went out with her. I am not going to meet any more girls, because I am here for you. It was just about one night. I am so sorry, babe. I had no idea you would need me. Come here, sit with me." He said calmly as he sat on the bed.

My mind was in a mess. I was angry and upset, because I was crushing on a man I wanted to stay away from. Because I was here in Spain, so close to Sabil, and yet I kissed someone else.

I stood there with messy hair, tears welling up in my eyes, looking down at my feet, and trying hard to hold back my tears. I didn't want Arman to think I was stupid.

"Saanj? Did you have another nightmare?" He asked.

I shook my head as I gazed at him. "No, it was a dreamless sleep."

"Then what happened, babe? Did you have an argument with someone in the meeting? That bitch Meghna isn't here, right? Did she come after I left?"

I sat on the bed, my legs lying on the mattress. "She isn't here," I breathed quietly.

Arman wrapped his arm around my shoulders and drew me up close. "Tell me, Saanj." He asked in a calm voice.

"I kissed Rex last night."

"Who's Rex?"

"He's the photographer who came to your office with Meghna."

Arman pulled his chin away a little to stare at my face without moving his arm away from my shoulders. "Dude, no way," he exclaimed, his eyes wide.

I looked down, embarrassed. "That's why I needed you here, Arman, to stop me."

"Hey, it's not a bad thing. That guy is quite good-looking, and maybe he likes you. Saanj, you're single, and you have all the right to do what you want. Sleep with him if you want to."

I drew my brows together as I glanced at him. "Do you think my name is Arman?" I asked sarcastically.

He chuckled and said, "No, I'm serious. If he likes you and you like him, go for it. There's no reason to be so upset."

"It's not that easy, Arman. There are things that you don't know..."

"...Because you won't tell them to me." He interrupted.

"Anyway, I'm assuming he has a girlfriend," I said to avoid that topic. "And it would be wrong to go out with someone who's already in a relationship."

"You don't know that, Saanj. Look, it's seven thirty in the morning. Your shoot starts in four hours. Why don't you go talk to him before the shoot, and clear things out?"

"Don't you think it's desperate?"

Arman shrugged his shoulders and said, "So what if it is? You want to know if he's single, right? You like him, don't you?"

"When did I ever say that?"

"You kissed him for a reason, Saanj. Anyway, you should just talk to him once. If you guys think this could have a future, then go for it."

"Whoa!" I snorted as I climbed out of bed. "Calm down, mister. It was only a kiss, and it might not happen again. Don't bring up the future or anything. Long distances, in any case, do not work."

Arman climbed off the bed too, and walked towards the coffee machine. "Maybe. But, babe, that kiss made you so mad that you started throwing things at me. I'm sure you feel something for him."

I rolled my eyes and walked towards the wardrobe in which I'd hung all my clothes. I wanted to sit in the bathtub and deny the fact that I was crushing on Rex. I can't stand it when Arman is right.

"I'm going to take a bath. Have your coffee and get lost." I said this in annoyance while walking into the bathroom.

"Mind if I join?" Arman asked in a playful tone.

Looking to my left, I found my compact on the white sink tile. I grabbed the compact and hurled it at him. It slammed against his right arm and landed on the floor. The brown compact broke into pieces near Arman's leg. While glancing at my face, he burst out laughing.

"I like it when you're angry. Makes you look cute." He said while laughing like an idiot.

"Arman, get out. This bathroom has a glass door, and I want to take a bath." I fumed.

"Well, I'd like to..."

I started looking around to hurl another thing at him.

Before I could pick up the hair dryer, Arman screamed, "What the fuck? No, I'm going, I'm going." He laughed as he went towards the door with the coffee cup in his hand.

When he left, I calmed down and smiled. He was a pain in my ass, but he could make me forget about everything. He's the only person who can irritate me while still making me laugh.