Page 55 of The Devil’s Feather

It was fucking adorable, and made me like Zainab even more. I hoped I lived up to her expectations of a match for Rafael. Though, given that he’d said she was religious, maybe that was unlikely.

“I have been introduced to so many obnoxious aunties.” He waved his hands in the air. “‘Oğlum, ütünü kim yapacak? My son, who will do your ironing?’ Like I am some helpless child.”

“Ok, but you have a housekeeper,” I chimed in.

He held up a finger. “I still iron my own damn clothes.”

Deandra nodded. “Speaking of married off, you’re gunning pretty hard for Laney to move in with you. Why the rush?”

I wanted to hide under the table.

“I am a selfish, lonely creature.” Rafael squeezed my hand. For the first time since the altercation outside, his eyes were gentle. “Elaine brings me a peace I have never known. I will do everything in my power to ensure her happiness.”

Forget hiding; I might melt through the floor.

Dee fell silent. Then, “Do you love her?”

“I love her more than I ever thought possible, and I know full well how absurd it sounds to say this so soon.”

She’s going down! SOS! Signal the lifeboats for help!

I pushed away the giddy butterflies and examined his words from a pragmatic stance. Was this a manipulation tactic; catching people off guard with raw vulnerability to sway them to his side? More importantly, would it sway Deandra?

“Again—you hurt her, you’re gonna have problems.”

I loved that woman.

“If I ever hurt her, I would welcome it.” He was calm, measured.

They stared each other down. I shrank in my chair.

“You’re a scary motherfucker, you know that, Rafael Nazim?”

“You are formidable in your own right, Deandra Je’nee Lee. You must be an excellent nurse.”

“Damn straight.”

They both grinned.

Suddenly, I could breathe again.

1 “Fafo” – Thot Squad

15

GUESS MY NAME

Rafael surprised me with a trip to my salon in San Mateo after brunch. I hadn’t been there in ages. He’d booked two separate sessions; one to cut my hair and lift it to platinum, the other to color, since all together it might be eight hours. Stylists flocked around him and cooed over his hair until he shooed them away.

As I settled into the chair, my phone buzzed. Deandra sent me a photo of a tiny hamster nibbling on the end of a banana twice its size.

Dee: this u?

Dee: also can i watch?

Me: go to horny jail

Me: arent you cheating on michael b?