Someone’s ruin and downfall?
It’s not pure, it’s not easy, it’s not good.
Love would always be the villain, but I wastired of fighting it.
Umaima droveme to Christian’s penthouse in West Chelsea.
I didn’t stop to notice we were in one of the most expensive areas in New York.
“Here,” she handed me a card. “Osama told me this should help you inside.”
“When did you have the time to do this?”
“I knew how you’d react the moment you found out what he did.”
“You knew I?—”
“I’m your best friend. If I didn’t know, who would?”
She had a point.
“I’m not a fan of how he treated you back then, but I’ve never seen you like this.”
Curiosity piqued my interest. “Like what?”
Umaima clacked her teeth. “Happy.”
“Happy is pushing it.”
Her fingers drummed along the steering wheel. “This is a new you, Adelaide. Or maybe it’s the old you, I don’t know. But I’ve never seen you carefree and laid back, regardless of the circumstances you’re in.” She turned in the seat and lazily draped her arm over the wheel. “You always overthink, never share your feelings even when you should, but now? You’re talking and I’m listening, and this isprogress.”
“I’ve always talked,” that laugh came out of me involuntary and incredibly hesitant.
She gave me a look. “You talk to listen, but you never talk to be heard.”
I’d never thought about it like that before.
Technically, I knew my anxiety prevented a lot of great conversations. This though? To some extent, Umaima was right.
Whenever I talked, I made sure it reflected that I listened to the other person. It’d never been to be listened to.
On cue, anxiety retreated to its usual spot in my chest—doing whatever it did when it started messing with me.
“So,” I cleared my throat. “Osama gave you a card without any questions?” I asked. “That doesn’t seem very Osama-like.”.
She blew air into her cheeks and looked at me like she had enough of me changing the subject all the time.
“How about we not question it and get you inside, hmm?”
Midway to opening the door, I whipped myself around.
Umaima’s eyes widened with questions. “What?”
“What if he isn’t home?”
A deep, belly laugh.“He told me to watch you while he went home to freshen up. I promise you he’s inside.”
“What if he doesn’t want to see me?”
