Jenna nodded fast.
Nataliya’s brown eyes warmed with compassion. “You never talk about it.”
“About what?”
“Your sterility.”
No point in talking about what could not be changed. “It was my choice.”
“But that doesn’t mean you never wanted to be a mom.” Nataliya bit her lip, her gaze sheening over. “I never asked. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, no, pregnancy hormones are making you maudlin.”
“Don’t joke. I’m a bad friend.”
“You’re the best of friends, and you’re right, there’s a part of me that will always grieve not having children. I know some people are just as happy not to have them, and my life is full, but being an aunt gives me more joy than just about anything.”
“Like Dima?”
“Like Dima.”
Nataliya put her hand over her heart and fake swooned. “You admit it?”
“I’m vacationing with him. I wouldn’t think much of my own decision-making skills if I were doing that and didn’t find happiness in his company.”
Nataliya’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “You’re in love with him!”
“No comment.”
Suddenly her royal bestie went all serious compassion. “Are you going to let yourself be with him?”
“I am with him.” What did Nataliya think, they had separate bedrooms?
“You know what I mean.”
And just that quickly, Jenna did. “We went into this saying no strings. Neither of us has verbalized a change to that status quo. Well, other than to promise fidelity as long as we are together.”
“I’d say that was a commitment.”
Jenna shrugged. “It is and it isn’t.”
“Do you want a future with Dima?”
“We’re really compatible,” Jenna hedged.
“That’s not an answer.”
“I don’t know. I think I do, but everything here is so idyllic.”
Jenna spent her mornings by the pool, swimming, reading and catching up on her shows on her phone. Then Dima joined her either before or after lunch, and they spent the rest of the day and evening together.
They’d gone to the Old Fort, shopping and dining on the waterfront. Yesterday, he’d surprised her by not going to work after their morning swim and breakfast. He’d taken her to Yas, a small, exclusive island off the coast, where they’d spent the whole day in a private cabana, enjoying the sun, the sand and the water.
They had plans to visit the Grand Mosque later that day.
But none of this was real life.
“Vacation isn’t real life,” Nataliya said, like she was reading Jenna’s mind.