But I’d find it.
Her weak spot and then she’d be putty in my arms forever.
“Congratulations!” Umaima’s laugh had a nervous hitch to it. People were staring. Some were in awe like they found us in a moment of love. “You beat the world record!”
Hasan turned his head away like watching the wooden rod of lights was more entertaining than us.
Osama held a hand to his stomach and pretended to throw up. “I’m gonna throw up.”
“Stop being dramatic,” Umaima sent a glare in his direction before spinning back around and dragging Adelaide closer to her. “Hasan took a good minute to find his wife.”
Hasan grunted. “I wanted to be a hundred percent certain.”
Adelaide stared at me, and I stared at her. Small smiles played on our lips, mirroring each other’s amusement.
I’d get her to kiss me.
The thought came to me strong and heavy. Yes, I wanted to fuck her. But I realized it was more than that. I ached for a kiss, to feel her close to me, to have her laughwithme.
This was much more than pretending.
This wasreal.
“Babes,” Umaima leaned down to whisper in Adelaide’s ear. But when Umaima tried to whisper, it never came out as that. “You have a hickey on your neck.”
Adelaide jumped to cover the spot with her hand.
Eyes widened, completely shocked. She narrowed her eyes on me.
Fuck, that was hot.
Full of pride, I smirked at her.
It did nothing but rile her up more.
I liked riling her up.
A metaphorical bucket of cold water splashed over both of us, and we broke eye contact. Not for too long since Umaima forced us back together, made us drink sweet almond milk from a traditional gold decorated glass, took my shoe, and ran off with it—laughing like a fucking hyena—then had the audacity to ask me for money.
Adelaide looked at me like never before, with sweet eyes and gentle glances. So, I pulled out ten hundred-dollar bills and slapped it onto Umaima’s hands.
Hasan lectured me to take it back, but I didn’t listen.
All I could hear was Adelaide’s sweet laughter when she spoke with Osama.
Or the gentle giggle when Yunus pinched her cheeks.
Her laughter was a language of its own and I wanted to master each letter, memorize their meanings, and be the reason for its existence.
My muscles tensed when Harry approached her.
At the same time, Osama pulled me to the side of the church, away from everyone else—looking like a nervous wreck. Hasan followed quickly behind us.
“What?” My brows furrowed. “Why do you look like that?”
Osama averted his eyes and scratched the back of his neck. “Umaima and I agreed to take a break from the search today and…”
“Spit it out, Osama.”
