The car stopped in front of the restaurant. He took off his seat belt before ejecting mine. “You can stay here or you can come with me.”
“What are you going to do?” I asked him. I was already confused by his actions.
He leaned his face closer and kissed my forehead before stepping out of the car and walking to my side to open my door. “Are you coming?”
I nodded my head and took his hand as I stepped out. I thought we were going back inside the restaurant, but we weren’t. We passed by the entrance and continued walking on the sidewalk. It was only then that I saw one car parked at the far end, and Zahra was inside.
Her head was slumped on the steering wheel as her shoulders shook. She must be crying, and my heart clenched in pain for her.
I tugged Riley’s hand that was holding mine, and it made him stop walking toward Zahra’s car. “If you’re just going to say mean things to her, please. Don’t. You’ll just break her more.”
He didn’t respond, and I couldn’t read his emotions. He proceeded to walk, taking me along with him, and stopped beside Zahra’s car. He knocked twice on her window, and it startled Zahra.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Riley as she scrambled to wipe the tears off her face before she opened the car door and stepped outside.
“Hi.” Her voice was shaking, but she tried to smile. “Did you forget anything?”
Her eyes were shifting back and forth between Riley and me, and I just found myself shrugging my shoulders, letting her know I had no idea what was going on.
“I forgot to tell you that Nadia’s birthday is in two weeks. I was planning to have just a private celebration with her since it’s her first birthday with me, but I’m thinking it would be lovely if you could come and celebrate with us. You can take Bella and Ellie. And Leandro. If they want to come.” Riley said it in one breath as the tears that were pooling in my eyes started to trickle down my cheeks again.
I had no idea Riley knew my birthday was approaching. I totally forgot it myself with all the things happening in our lives right now.
I felt Riley squeeze my hand and I squeezed it back as I opened my walls to him, letting him know how happy I felt at the moment.
“Of course. Of course, we will be there.” Zahra answered excitedly, and her eyes dilated for a moment before they returned to normal, sparkling as she spoke.
“Don’t forget to bring a gift for her. One from each of you. No gifts, no entrance.” Riley’s tone was mellowed down, almost as if he were joking, and I couldn’t contain the happiness brewing in my chest.
“Riley…” I giggled as I slapped his arm playfully. “Don’t believe him. I’m okay with just your presence.”
“No.” Riley turned to look at me before he squeezed my nose gently in between his fingers. “I’m not kidding. It’s a requirement.”
“Yes, yes. We will have gifts for Nadia. Each one of us.” Zahra’s voice was so delighted and her eyes were beaming with happiness. And before I could see what was coming, she threw her arms around Riley and hugged him. “Thank you.”
Riley dropped my hand from his hold as his body stiffened, as mine did.
I was so terrified he wouldpush Zahra away when he raised his hand, but he surprised me again. Instead, he reached for Zahra’s back and tapped it three times, as he does when congratulating his warriors with a hug.
It was an awkward hug, but it made my heart burst with happiness.
Zahra let him go as her face reddened. “I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
Riley didn’t say anything and just took my hand again. “We will go now. See you in two weeks. Nadia will let you know the details.”
I smiled widely as I nodded my head before my free arm went around to hug Zahra. “See you in two weeks, Mom.”
Chapter 78
NADIA.
My birthday would bein a week’s time, and Jenny and I decided to drive to the neutral city to buy things we would be needing for my birthday dinner.
Initially, Riley wanted to spend my birthday with just the two of us somewhere away from the territory, but the event with his mother changed everything. We decided to have a private dinner with just a few guests, which included his mother and her family.
And I couldn’t be more excited. Riley and I didn’t discuss his meeting with Zahra again, but he would ask me for information once in a while about my experience with them, especially about his sisters. Even if he wasn’t saying anything, I think he looked forward to meeting the twins. And I wished I could pull the days faster so it would be my birthday soon.
I couldn’t remember any birthdays that I was excited about except this one. I guess having Riley did change everything for me and my outlook on life. I was eager to wake up each day just to see my mate because my reality was already better than my dreams.
