The tiny word is stretched over the length of several syllables; Rob’s southern accent treacle thick. His term of endearment is also pretty apt; her murderous expression would certainly give Atilla a run for his money right now.
Shell-shocked and unmoving, Rob waits for an answer.
‘I... I didn’t. I haven’t... Fuck, yes. It’s true, but I haven’t had time to decide!’
As Rob processesthatlittle nugget, Faris cuts in, in Arabic, once more.
‘Oh, do be quiet,’ hisses Mishael. ‘I think you’ve done enough damage tonight.’
All eyes move to Mishael as Rob, in an almost catatonic state of shock, turns on his heel and strides quickly away. Niamh, hitching up her gown and kicking off her shoes, follows him, calling out his name, leaving the remainder of our party left to ask questions, hurl insults, or further fists.I wonder which it’ll be.
Mishael comes to stand beside us as Faris continues in Arabic, this time for her benefit, it would seem.
‘Save your words for someone who cares to listen,my dear.’ An endearment delivered with a side order of enmity, as she lays her hand on our joined ones. ‘I suggest you leave our son and his beloved alone. Perhaps in time they can forgive you enough to allow you to be part of their lives.’ She kisses us both. ‘I think we can safely say your schemes have reached a dead end. Darlings? I’ll see you both inside. Shall we, Cynthia? I feel there’s a bottle of red and a quiet corner calling our names.’ Feeding her arm through the crook of my mum’s, she herds her in the direction of the party.
With a last expulsion of angry words, I sense rather than see Faris’ exit, my gaze unmoving from Kai’s.
‘I think I need to explain.’
Kai’s smile is small, and if I’m not mistaken, rather sad. ‘I think you already have. It was an invasion of your privacy, and for that I’m sorry.’
‘No, you don’t understand.’
‘I rarely do where you’re concerned,habibti.’
And with that, he stops me speaking, pulling me into his chest and pressing lips to mine.
That’s one way to shut me up, I suppose.
