His chant pulls at my heartstrings. I’ll miss it when he begins to pronounce things correctly. Just like I miss all of Seda’s mispronunciations.
When Thayer and Salem join us, it hits me that Thayer’s brother isn’t here, which is unusual.
“Where’s Laith?”
Thayer groans.
Salem, on the other hand, singsongs, “He’s on a date.”
“Oh?” Though I arch a brow lazily, inside, my heart races with panic, and the strangest fear engulfs me. What if he’s out with Halle?
I shake my head. The idea is ridiculous. And even so, why should I care?
Thayer stifles a snort. “It’s one of his app buddies, don’t get too excited.”
By app buddies, he means one of the women Laith hooks up with.
“Shush.” Salem swats at him. “He doesn’t normally take them on dates. This is progress.”
Thayer grumbles, “Whatever you want to call it.”
Laith’s refusal to settle down is a sore spot for his family. After spending an evening out with him and a few beers to many, I know there’s more to the story, but I’m not about to spill his secrets.
“He’ll get there,” Salem says, wearing a small smile. “And what about you?” She zeroes in on me.
“What about me?” I feign confusion, suddenly feeling cornered.
“Are you dating anyone?”
“No.”
It hurts, the way her eyes dim. She’d love to see me settle down, to find my person, but she also harbors guilt, worried that she wasted my time while we were married. Like maybe she kept me from meeting the woman I’m supposed to be with.
I dated one of Seda’s teachers forabout six months, but it just didn’t work out. That’s how it goes most of the time. I haven’t given up hope, but between the stress that comes with my line of work and carving out all the time I can for Seda, just the idea of finding time to dedicate to another person is exhausting.
“Once things slow down at work,” I say, hoping to assuage her guilt, “I’ll have more time to date. Don’t worry about me.”
Seda clears her throat, bringing my attention to her. Her mouth is ringed in tomato sauce, and her eyes are bright. “What about Halle?” she asks. “Maybe you could ask her on a date.”
My stomach knots in a weird way. Part denial and part interest. I stick with denial. “We’re neighbors, sweetie. That could get complicated. And I’m sure she’s still trying to get settled in. I doubt she’s actively looking to date.”
Thayer let’s out an amused laugh. “Don’t let being neighbors stop you if you’re interested.”
Another knot of my stomach. This one a little less pleasant. Right. That’s how he and Salem met.
I run my fingers through my hair.
“I don’t have time to date,” I reiterate, keeping my tone firm. “So that’s that.”
Thayer and Salem exchange a look, but neither speaks.
It’s rare that either of them genuinely irritates me, but at times like this, I can’t help but feel a little rankled. They have their own secret, silent language, and they’re clearly using it to talk about me without saying a word.
There’s no point. My lack of a love life is not their burden to bear.
And I’m going to have to meet up with Laith soon so I can warn him that these two seem interested in meddling in our love lives.
By some miracle, we make it through the rest of dinner without another mention of dating, and once I’ve gotten hugs from all the kids, I head home, carrying a plate full of cupcakes Salem insisted I take. I had the whole house renovated when I bought it. New paint and new floors, and I had the kitchen and bathrooms gutted and redone. On the inside, it doesn’t even resemble the house I purchased, which is exactly what I was going for. I wanted to make this place mine.
