“Who else have you
been saying this to?” whispers Matt.
“No one,” says Jyoti, her voice a pitch higher.
She’s a liar! says my devil.
She’s harmless, says my angel.
I look at Matt and somehow
we both know that we need to change tack,
and we become a double act.
“Jyoti, I’m sorry T stopped
seeing you because of me,” I say.
But it serves you right,
my devil dares me to add.
But my angel reminds me
to keep it light and breezy,
to stay on track for the sake of Matt.
“Thank you.” Jyoti puts a hand to her heart,
and I can’t tell if she’s being serious or not.
“Jyoti, can you do me a favor, please?”
Matt bats his eyelashes at Jyoti.
“Of course.” Jyoti slow-nods dreamily.
“This isn’t an accusation,”
Matt begins, “but if there’s anyone else who...”
Matt pauses, looks at me.
I offer: “Might’ve got
the wrong impression?”
Matt repeats: “If there’s anyone else
who might’ve got the wrong impression,
can you tell them we’re not together
and neither of us is gay?”
My heart sinks, and Jyoti sees it.
