Her laughter is infectious. “Guilty as charged.”
Pointing to the class, I reply, “It’s so nice to meet you. Just waiting for Everett to finish up.”
“I heard you saved his life with some clutch marksmanship. Good job.”
I open my mouth, not sure what to say. I don’t really know her, and…
She smiles, patting my arm. “I’m Jake’s sister.”
“Oh.”
“And the development company my wife and I own is providing the labor for the…expansion…at the tattoo shop. I’ve been working with Parker these last couple of weeks. Was actually stopping by to meet her in person.”
“Oooohhhh.”
I still don’t know quite what to say since I know she’s friends with Roly, but I don’t know how much she knows about all of that mess. Her smile is genuine, though, and when she pats my arm, I think it’s meant as a gesture of kindness.
She looks behind me, smiling as a familiar voice sounds off.
“Rafi!”
I turn around and it’s Roly, walking up to me with open arms. Without thinking too hard about it, I open my arms, too, and he wraps me up in the warmest hug. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The gesture surprises a few tears out of my eyes, and when I pull back, he’s got a few tears as well. We smile awkwardly at each other and chuckle, but when he breaks the hug, I can’t quite let go. I put my arm around his back and squeeze him into an extra-tight side hug.
It probably lasts a little too long.
And now I’m just openly crying.
It’s fine.
It really is, habibi.
I don’t hear from my husband much these days, and I shake my head on a quiet laugh. “I’ll have you know, Asadi is feeling very smug right now.”
Roly laughs and hugs me again. “Actually, I can kind of see that. And by the way? Your friend Parker is amazing. Before class, she was cracking us up with an impression of Omar trying to interact with Everett’s Pomeranian.”
“Did it look like a robot discovering sentient life for the first time?”
Roly slaps his thigh and starts laughing so hard that it’s infectious. By the time Everett and Parker walk up to us, Roly and I have decided to check out the next bar on Asadi’s Austin list, and he has me and Evie dying with laughter at some of the shit they get up to at the gym.
Everett gestures in a circle at the three of us. “I’m not sure I approve of this particular combination of troublemakers.”
I shrug, looking at Roly, whose friendly smile warms a part of me that I thought would always be broken. “Sorry, Everett. Some things are just inevitable.”
“You’re tellin’ me,” he says, bringing me in for a kiss on the top of my head.
Evie turns to Parker, and the outbreak of hugs continues. “Parker! It’s so great to finally meet you in person! You havesuchgood ideas. Scout and I have a couple of sticky logistics with some of our projects, and I’d love to pick your brain. Obviously, I’d pay you for your time, but let me know when you’re available.”
Parker smiles, looking confident and happy. “I take payment in margaritas.”
“Deal.” They shake on it and exchange another hug.
Yeah. Likethatisn’t going to be trouble.
Pointing at the two amazing women, I say, “Babe, don’t worry about me and Roly. Worry about these two. They could build and destroy entire empires.”
“True story. Far be it from me to get in their way.” His expression is so affectionate I can’t help it—I tip my face up for a kiss, and his lips meet mine. Soft, warm, loving. Touching his forehead to mine, he whispers, “Are you ready for tonight?”
