28
I’m exhausted beyond belief the next morning. I don’t know how long we stayed up talking about Salman, but I’m definitely paying the price for it today. Shirin and Lipi had a later start so I snuck out as quietly as possible. Not that I was successful. With the mess in Shirin’s room, it was impossible to see where I was walking, so of course I tripped. Fortunately, it didn’t wake either of them, but even with the padding of Shirin’s clothes breaking my fall I still probably have a new bruise or two on my legs on top of the burn on my shin.
As I’m on my way to Eternally Yours, I feel a mix of nerves and excitement. Salman and I have dated in secret previously, but how will it work in an office? We’ve never been at the same school so we’ve never had to hide each other on a day-to-day basis, and at dawats we were cautious around each other, careful not to give the aunties anything to pick up on. How will I keep my hands off him now that we have talked and we both know where we stand? Already I feel itchy with the desire to kiss him as soon as I see him.
Crap. Was this a bad idea?
But as soon as I enter the office and see him through the glass wall, all my fears disappear.
It’s as if he’s got an antenna sensing the change in the air as I walk down the corridor. By the time I come around the corner and into view, his gaze is fixed on me.
‘Hey,’ he says, a smile creeping onto his lips.
I match his expression. ‘Hey.’
I sit at my desk, trying – and failing – to suppress the smile that wants to take over my face. I log into my account and check my emails. I have to make a conscious effort to look at the screen, but I don’t absorb anything of what I read. Instead, all I feel is Salman staring at me, not even pretending otherwise. Even when I widen my eyes in question he doesn’t turn away, he just smiles.
And it makes me melt.
‘What?’ I mouth. If he doesn’t look away soon, I’ll do something I’ll regret.
He tilts his head towards the corridor. I shake my head. It’s not even been ten minutes and he wants to sneak away for a kiss?
‘Please,’ he mouths. Even though I know I shouldn’t, that it’ll only invite trouble if anybody sees us, I agree. Honestly, I know that hormones are vital for my body to function, but they are also massively screwing me over right now.
I shoot him a small nod and his face immediately splits into a huge grin.
God, I’ve missed that smile.
I look away, pretending to be preoccupied by something on my screen, when I feel him walking past my desk. His fingers gently graze my shoulder as he does, the small act sending waves of warmth throughout my body.
I follow a minute later, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible as I walk out of the main office. My legs feel like lead as I walk down the corridor, not sure where I’m supposed to meet Salman, when someone suddenly pulls me by my elbow into the walkway that leads to the toilets.
‘Sorry,’ he says with a laugh. ‘Didn’t mean to scare you.’
My heart is racing. I’m not sure if it’s from being literally swept off my feet or being pressed against Salman’s chest.
‘This isveryromantic,’ I tease.
‘The best I could do on short notice.’ He reaches out to brush my cheek.
‘You know, you could have waited untilafterwork.’
‘Absolutely not. Don’t think I could wait that long to have you in my arms.’
I let out a laugh. ‘You had me yesterday, you idiot.’
‘And that was too many hours ago,’ he says, making my limbs go soft with want.
After yesterday, all bets are off. Now, we’re not holding back. Now, all the cards are on the table at all times, face up for the other to see.
I rise on my toes and rest my hands on the back of his neck as he leans down to meet my lips with his, sending a flutter through me. When he deepens the kiss, I lose all feeling in my body as an electric current runs from my head to my toes.
I can’t believe I’ve gone so many months without this. Without feeling the safety that comes with being wrapped in his arms. Without feeling his heartbeat through his T-shirt, knowing that I am the one who’s making him feel that way.
My breathing is quick and when he tries to pull away, probably thinking that we need to stop before someone walks in on us, I refuse to let go. Instead, I press harder, because now that we’ve started, I don’t ever want to stop.
His thumb traces the outline of my jaw absentmindedly while I draw little figures on the back of his neck with my nails. My mind wanders to what could have happened on the day we presented our matches to Sadia. If Omar hadn’t withdrawn his application, if my match had been approved by Sadia and I had won, would this be happening? Would he have confessed his feelings before he packed up and left Eternally Yours?
