“Everything okay?” I asked, and she looked hesitant.
“I don’t want to ruin the moment, but… youknow, don’t you?” she softly asked and I looked over at her.
“Know what?”
“I’m talking about my brother, Nirah.”Right.
I nodded, continuing to scan through the dresses. “How’d you know?” I asked, picking up a dress as I examined it and she sighed, turning her body to face me fully.
“I saw how scared you got after that guy bumped into you and Antonio turned around. You knew what Antonio wanted to do.”
Running my hands down one of the dresses, I tried to ignore the pity in her voice. “He’d never hurt you, Nirah. You know that, right?”
I smiled, facing her. “I know. I just… I don’t know,” I shook my head, contradicting myself.
“Are you doubting him?” she questioned with a gentle hand on my arm, and I sighed in response. “Nirah, Antonio has done everything to keep you safe and with him. He’s not going to do anything to jeopardize that,” she assured me, her eyes holding sincerity. “He fell in love with you, Nirah.”
“How do you know that—he’s never said anything remotely close to that,” I said in defeat.
“We both know Antonio is not the touchy,feelytype. But he’s my little brother, and even though he hasn’t admitted it, he feelssomethingfor you. Something strong.”
I dropped my eyes to my heels, partially knowing she’s right.
“Look,” she half smiled. “Before my wedding, I hugged Antonio and thanked him for everything he’s done for me throughout our lives, and I told him I love him. Do you know what he did?” she asked, and I nodded. “He stared at me. Blankly,” she half laughed. “And when I told him ‘This is the part where you say you love me back’, he replied, ‘Don’t tell me what to do,’ and said that I looked beautiful.”
I couldn’t help but laugh because I wouldn’t expect anything else from him. “He doesn’t know, nor does he understand the word ‘love’. He’s just always been like that, you know.”
“So I’ll never know how my fiancé truly feels about me?”
“This is the most affectionate he’s ever been. With anyone. You made him this way, andyou’llbe the one he lowers his guard for. Trust me.” She pulled me in for a hug and her phone vibrated.
She dug for her cellphone in her handbag before checking the caller ID. “On second thought,” she pressed her lips into athin line. “Don’t get married” I swear they’re like little kids,” she groaned in annoyance.Ivan.
She started quietly scolding her husband after he asked where his shaving cream was—it was on the sink underneath his towel.
I decided to give them a minute and grabbed an ice coffee before heading over to Antonio.
I walked in with two bags on each arm and a coffee in one hand as I looked around. I finally spotted him near the back of the shop and smiled.
As I walked closer, I saw a girl with a tailor’s tape, measuring his waist. She got onto her knees and used his thigh for support as she spoke, batting her eyelashes up at him.
I refrained from crushing the cup in my hand as I stopped in front of them, dropping my bags on the chair. “Okay, that’s enough of that,” I said, walking over and she turned around, confused.
“Excuse me?” she asked, and I shoved my coffee into Antonio’s hand.
“I’ll just take that,” I said, taking the tape from her. She got up and awkwardly chuckled. “Do you even know how to— look I work here so I know what I’m doing—”
“Why don’t you go and help the two customers that just walked in while I helpmyfiancé,” I smiled, and she looked between Antonio and me.
After she left, I rolled my eyes and got down on my knees. I wrapped the measuring tape around his thigh, and he spoke.
“She was only doing her job,” he said, and I could tell he was smirking.
“Her job is taking your measurements, nottouchingyou,” I snapped back, holding onto his thigh as I looked up at him.Oh my… this was a brand new view. I liked it.
“She wasn’ttouchingme. She just held onto me for support,” he nonchalantly said, and I knew he was trying to tease me.
“Yeah, well, I’d rather her fall on her ass than holding onto you.”
