Accidentally Engaged(53)
“Amira, really? Did I judge when you forgave Duncan despite all the crap with his family?”
“Yes, you did judge, Ree.” Amira’s voice rose. “That’s what we do. We advocate for the devil with each other. It’s our shtick. It has been for over—”
“Amira, please.” Reena was in no mood for this blunt investigation of the pitfalls of her new boyfriend, not when she could still feel the lingering echo of his touch on her body. “Give me some time to enjoy him before you pounce on the negatives. Believe me, my eyes are open. We’re getting to know each other.” Reena smiled as she stretched her sore limbs over her cheap sheets. Good lord, had they ever gotten to know each other over the weekend. They’d spent most of Saturday together after his meeting, and most of Sunday, too, save for the few hours Reena took off for family brunch. She now knew her neighbor well. Very well. He liked his eggs sunny side up, his TV comedies British and dry, and his hands were spectacularly talented on more than just her scalp and feet. She squirmed as the warm memory washed over her.
“But what about Saira’s picture?” Crap. Amira was still going on about this? “You had all these pressing questions, but one sparkly rock and you fall into his bed? Did he tell you about his friends in London? I asked my mum about—”
Reena sat up. “Amira, that sparkly rock, as you put it, was fake, and a symbol of us not committing to anything big right now.” She bit her lip. How to make Amira understand this? “I’m unemployed, and my family is a bunch of whack jobs who will probably evict me and force me to move home and join the business when they find out I’m out of work. My head is not in the clouds. I know Nadim’s keeping secrets. I’m keeping secrets from him, too. But…” She squeezed her eyes closed and fell back into the bed. She hadn’t been able to stop her voice from cracking, and her oldest friend would catch it.
Amira was silent while Reena squeezed her eyes shut. “You like him. A lot,” Amira finally said.
“I do. I hate the way we were forced together, and I hate my parents’ interference and Dad asking me to dig up dirt and Saira listening to gossip…but I like him. He makes me laugh. And he’s sweet. Our pasts will unfold slowly, like they are supposed to in a normal relationship.”
“Okay, Ree. Okay. But you know I’m only saying all this because I love you, right? I judge because I care.”
“I know.” And did she ever know. One could not be best friends with the likes of Amira Khan for so many years without understanding that behind those judgments was a fierce protectiveness that no one could match. She knew Amira would get her objections off her chest now, and then stand by Reena and support her no matter what she chose to do. And Amira would never, ever resort to “I told you so” if things went sour with Nadim.
But sometimes getting through the judgments could be trying.
There was a bit more silence as she heard Amira park and turn off her car. “I’ve said my piece and will let it go. Oh, and by the way, Duncan has all of his students voting for your video, so don’t get confused if you see an uptick in votes in the fourteen-to-nineteen age range from the Peterborough area.”
Reena laughed. “I’m not sure they’ll tell me where the votes come from, but thank you.”
“Will do. He voted for you even though he was quite taken with that Syrian mother and daughter. Any chance you can get their muhammarah recipe?”
“I don’t know. I can try.”
“Oh, I forgot, I’m supposed to ask you if you want any fresh eggs or goat milk?”
“What?” That was not a question Reena expected.
“Doug and Shirley insisted I call my cooking friend. They got a few more chickens, and of course Belle and Ariel are way too productive and—”
“What are you talking about, Amira?”
“Doug and Shirley. Duncan’s parents.”
Reena chuckled. “Are they still treating you like their little Muslim pet?”
Amira snorted. “Yup. Shirley even eats beef bacon when I’m not there. Anyway, they have an abundance of eggs, since they can’t seem to say no when their granddaughter wants a new chicken.”
“And Belle and Ariel…”
“Their goats. Who produce way too much milk.” Amira said it like it was the most normal thing in the world to have goats named after princesses. “They asked me to ask you if you wanted any. They said you’re welcome to come to the farm anytime. They also have a bunch of fresh vegetables. I told them it wasn’t likely you’d drive over an hour for some free eggs and milk, but I said I’d ask.”
Actually, Reena probably would drive that long for farm-fresh ingredients. “How fresh are we talking here?” Unpasteurized goat milk was in high demand. She could get good money for it on the food blogger black market.
“I need to get into work. Call me later and let me know what to tell them. And sorry for nagging on you earlier. I just want you to be happy, but you know that. Love ya, babe.”
“Bye, Meer.” She disconnected the call.
Reena closed her eyes. Amira didn’t understand Reena’s new relationship. She didn’t get that this thing with Nadim meant a hell of a lot more than convenient and spectacular sex. Reena needed him right now. And she didn’t want to think about how needing someone so much after such a short time was the very definition of a bad idea.