“I’ll make one for you at home. I can do better than the steak here.”
My jaw dropped open as I watched him wipe his mouth with the napkin and place it back on the table. I turned my head towards Zahra at the same time I heard Riley’s chair screech, letting me know he was about to stand up.
Zahra smiled at me and nodded her head, dropping her napkin on the table as she stood up and opened her arms for me.
I stood up like a zombie and went into her arms. “I’m sorry…” I told her in a hushed tone.
“I’ll wait for you in the car, Nadia.” Riley spoke in a cold tone. He didn’t wait for a response as he turned on his heel and walked away after leaving cash on the table.
“Zahra…” My eyes welled with tears as I bit my lower lip.
“Shhh..” She hugged me tightly, her hand brushing my hair. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m thankful for your presence, Nadia. I know he met me because he wanted to please you. I’m sad, yes, but you have no idea how happy I am too. I get to hold Riley’s hand, and it’s enough for now.”
I was sobbing on her shoulder, and I had no idea how she could still hold herself together while I was a crying mess. I guess, years of longing for Riley had toughened her.
“It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. I have a lifetime to wait for him to warm up to me. You didn’t fail me today, Nadia. You gave me the gift I’ve been praying to the Goddess for twenty-three years.”
I nodded my head as I pulled away from her hug. She wiped my tears with her thumb and cupped my face. “Take care of yourself, Riley, and your pup. And call me anytime. Don’t push Riley too much to meet up with me again. I can wait.”
She kissed my cheek and brushed the lipstick stain with her thumb. “Go now, your mate is waiting. Thank you, Nadia.”
“I will call you, and send my hugs to the twins and Leandro.”
“I will. And Nadia, call me Mom. If that’s okay with you.”
I smiled at her and flung my arms around her once more. “Yes, Mom. I would love that.”
“Why are you crying?” Riley asked as he drove at a slow speed in the center of the neutral city. “And stop saying it’s your pregnancy that’s making you cry”
“Nothing. I was just emotional. Pregnancy does that.”
“Can you be honest with me? You have your walls up, so I know you’re trying to hide what you feel. Did I disappoint you? I did my fucking best out there. If you think it’s easy, it is not. “
“I know. That’s why I told you it’s okay. I’m just emotional.” I tried to wipe off my tears as I smiled at him.
“Tell me why. I want to know. I fucked up again, right?”
“No. No. You have given more than I expected.”
“And why the fuck are you crying?”
“It’s just that you’retoo cold,” I told him in a low voice. I was expecting him to defend himself, but he didn’t, so I continued. “I’m sorry if I’m crying. I just feel bad for Zahra.”
“How about me? Don’t you feel bad for me?”
“I do. That’s why I asked you if you could just ignore me. I’ll be okay soon.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you, Nadia. Tell me what I should have done?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that you were too cold towards her. And I could only imagine what she was feeling. I’m going to be a mother soon, and if my pup treats me that way, I don’t know how I would handle it. But of course, I understand you. It’s my pregnancy that’s making me so sensitive.”
The car suddenly made a u-turn and my hand grabbed his forearm as my eyes widened in complete shock.
“What are you doing?” I asked in a high-pitched tone. “Riley, please… You don’t need to do anything. I swear, I was just emotional and it’s common for pregnant women to cry all the time, but it doesn’t mean you need to…”
He chuckled as he drove in the direction of the restaurant where we met Zahra. “Shh… You can stop talking now.”
I withdrew my hand from his arm and wiped my tears away.Why is he chuckling? What is going on in his mind?
