Zahirah
“Thanks for comingto hang out with me,” Gilbert says with a smile.
“No problem. Dinner on the yacht was fun. Although I didn’t know you would be here this long.”
“My grandmother wanted to stay a bit longer. Her yacht, her decision.” He shrugs.
“That’s cool. How are things going with the family business? You running things yet?”
“Not yet.” He chuckles. “I sort of hit a snag. My family would prefer me to be married before I’m handed everything.”
“Oh, that must suck. What are you, twenty-nine? That has to be a lot of pressure.”
He shrugs again. “Notice I said would prefer. The real pressure comes from my grandmother. No one is good enough for her. My fiancée has to have her approval.”
“And she doesn’t like your girlfriends?”
“None that she has met. She’s a romantic. She has this great love story in her head for me.
“I’ll see it in your eyes when she’s the one, Gilly,” he mocks.
I snicker and take a sip of my water. This is such a lovely house he’s renting for the week. He said his grandmother needed some time on land.
“Are you sure I can’t get you something stronger than water?”
“Oh, um, no. That’s fine. Water is perfect,” I say with a smile.
The last thing I need is for him to run back to Bentley to tell him I’m pregnant. I get a little nervous and begin to fidget. I’m saved as an older woman enters the room.
“Grandmother, I would like you to meet Zahirah,” Gilbert says as the woman takes a seat.
She looks me over with a warm smile. I return the smile as I take her in. She has all the markings of a woman of wealth.
The Chanel suit, the pearls, the diamonds. Her perfectly coiffed hair. There’s a regal air about her.
“Aren’t you lovely. Very pretty indeed. Do you live here?”
“I’m visiting for a bit. To be honest, I’m getting a bit homesick,” I reply.
“Where is home, dear?”
“Arizona, Grand. We went to school together. She’s from our hometown.”
“Oh, this is the young lady you used to talk about. Uh, Zahirah Nickels, the track star, yes?” she says excitedly.
I look to Gilbert and knit my brows. His cheeks blush and his blue eyes widen. I watch as his mouth flaps open and closed a few times.
“Grand, I … uh … yeah. That Zahirah. I didn’t know you remembered any of that.”
“How could I not? She was all you talked about in high school. I’ve been waiting for years to meet her.
“Have you eaten, dear? Would you like some lunch?”
“I don’t want to be a bother. I should probably be going soon.”
“Nonsense. It’s not every day I finally get to meet Gilbert’s girlfriend. I’ll go to the kitchen and have them prepare something for us,” she says happily.
“Oh, ma’am, I’m not?—”
