“So, you have a sister.”
“Yeah, younger, actually. The more successful, prettier version of me. Ani 2.0.”
Raffi stopped walking, and because they were linked, Ani jerked back. “Don’t say that,” Raffi said, serious.
“What?” She shrugged. “It’s true. She is a corporate lawyer—not aparalegal, mind you—a very fancy lawyer who works a thousand hours a week. She got married first—myyoungersister—to an Armenian man, and she’ll probably be having kids soon. Every Armenian parent’s fantasy.”
“That’s great for her, but you’re chasing a different dream right now. You hated law. Do you wish you were a lawyer?”
“No.”
“You like what you do, right?”
“Honestly, I love it.”
“There you go.”
“But I’m not successful.”
“We talked about this, Ani jan.Yet. You’re not where you want to be,yet.”
“Okay Mr. Growth Mindset.”
He smirked. “It’s true, though. You have high expectations for yourself, that’s great. And you’re working toward them. I think that’s fantastic.”
He did. He loved her drive, and her work ethic inspired him to be better. Somehow, seeing her striving made him want to push all the more, too.
Raffi started walking again along the crunchy pebbles, satisfied that he’d made his point. He was also pleased to feel Ani’s arm brushing this way and that along his again as they took their strides.
Ani dug into her purse and pulled out her phone. “Yeah, but I don’t look like this.”
The background of her phone was a photo of her and her sister at a party of some kind. Both of them dressed up, hugging, smiling, and they seemed like they genuinely liked each other. Ani’s sister was undoubtedly hot—her hair and makeup were done, but overdone, in his opinion. You could see more of what Ani really looked like. Her sister was taller, but Raffi liked Ani’s petite stature. He loved how she fit into him. Plus, there was some look in her sister’s eye, or maybe it was the angle of her jaw, that simply didn’t attract him.
“She’s very nice, but she’s no you.”
Ani rolled her eyes, hard. “Oh, come on.”
“It’s true. You’re a natural beauty.”
Now Ani stopped dead in her tracks. “You can’t be serious. I don’t think anyone’s called me that in my life.”
“Well then, they missed out on a chance to give a compliment to a natural beauty. You can’t tell me you don’t know you’re gorgeous.”
Ani’s cheeks blushed so quickly, so scarlet, Raffi’s heart burned with joy. He’d made her do that.
What else could he make her do?
Then she picked back up. They were nearly at the tentwhere the band was playing. “You’re just saying that,” Ani muttered, which Raffi could hardly hear over the boom of the bass.
“I’m not,” Raffi replied. “I told you my policy, right? I’m transparent. I don’t lie, and I don’t flatter. I do compliment, however, when compliments are due. And you, Ani Avakian, are gorgeous.”
He stopped just outside the tent while he delivered this line, with Ani’s eyes locked straight onto his, her sun-blessed skin glowing with neon hues. Her neck arched toward him.
He could kiss her now, he could really kiss her. A quiet gravity began to pull Raffi and Ani together, the distance dissolving between them ever so slowly. He watched Ani’s eyes darken with anticipation, while he steeled his nerves, not truly believing this was actually happening, when a loud “Opa!” was shouted from a group of men directly behind them, clinking shot glasses and downing cloudy ouzo.
The moment was over.
Raffi shook himself, pretending the almost-kiss didn’t almost-happen. His voice came out somewhat hoarse. “Greek engagement party?”
