“Midnight skinny-dipping!” I say, cackling.
Everett slides his hand over my package and grabs it. “Don’t forget we’re gonna have a lot of company here. Maybe we save the skinny-dipping for later.”
I cross my arms and pretend to be put out, but he’s not buying it for a second.
We pull into a parking space next to familiar cars and trucks. I turn to get out, but he touches my arm, stopping me. “You fell asleep so quickly after…I was a little worried maybe it stressed you out.”
That’s the thing about getting together with somebody who knows you so well—you can’t hide the things that bother you.
I’m proud of you, habibi. You didn’t do anything wrong.
I laugh, rolling my eyes as tears spill and I feel like the world’s most ridiculous person.
“Hey, baby. Why the tears? Did I push you too far?”
I snort, looking at him incredulously. “What part of me jumping on your dick feels like you pushing things too far?”
“If you wanted to stop, I would’ve stopped.” His worried eyes make my tears fall even harder, which I am sure is very confusing when mixed with my near-hysterical laughter.
“No, not too far. It’s just…emotional, that’s all.”
He grabs my hand and kisses it. “Talk to me, baby. Is it good emotional or bad emotional?”
“Good, mostly. Did I ever tell you I sometimes still talk to Asadi?”
To his credit, he keeps thebitch-you-crazylook off his face. “No…”
I hold up my hands. “I don’t believe in ghosts, I’m not hallucinating, I know he’s not there, and I don’thear himhear him. But there’s a part of my subconscious that knows exactly what he’d say,” I explain, my voice going wobbly on the last bit.
Everett looks slightly relieved—his smile is warm and understanding. “And what does he say about this?”
“Well, um, he…” I swallow thickly, trying to stave off more tears.
“Awww, baby, come here.” Everett pulls me onto his lap, my favorite place in the whole world, and rocks me gently. I finally settle after a few minutes, sniffling a little grossly into his shirt. Fuck, I am going to owe him so many shirts by the end of this. “Hesaidhe’sproudofme.”
I thought I could get the words out in one piece but was a little overconfident. I’m not even sure if he understood all of the syllables by the end of it, and now I’m just full-on crying.
Everett puts his arms around me, continuing to rock me until this wave passes. “Omar said something to me back at the shop. He said Asadi entrusted him with taking care of you and making sure you find love again. So, I guess I’m proud of the fact your imaginary husband seems to like me.”
I punch his chest, laughing at him and also myself. After a few more minutes, the floodlights come on outside and I recognize the outline of my brother-in-law in the doorway.Everett rolls down the window.
“Is everything okay?” Omar asks, leaning down to look into the car. Spearing Everett with a look, he asks me, “Have you been crying?”
Everett smiles and holds up his hands. “Apparently Asadi approves of me, and that made him very emotional.”
Omar shakes his head and pulls back from the car, doing a shit job of hiding his smile as he opens the door for Everett. “You told him you talk to my brother, didn’t you?”
I follow Everett out of the driver’s side, standing in front of my brother-in-law, shrugging as another tear makes its way down my cheek. Omar pats my shoulder, slightly uncomfortable with the show of emotion. “You care for him, no?” he whispers to me.
“Yeah, I do.”
“It’s okay if you don’t know how to care for him just yet. It’s important that you know you can.”
Crying is apparentlythething I’m going to be doing this evening. Omar smiles and gives my shoulder another awkward pat. “I was just coming out to grab your bags, but why don’t you take them around back. Not to be presumptuous, but I saved the master suite for you two.”
My face goes up in flames, and I bury my head in my hands. “Those assholes are going to make such fun of me, aren’t they?”
“Probably, though it would be a very bad look for them because it would just reveal their jealousy. And besides, who cares what they think. Are you happy?”
