Page 19 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend
“Not much, but I will soon.”
“Soon?” Amir asked as he started the car.
Sara buckled her seatbelt. “I am having a bachelorette party, and I’ve decided I’m going to invite Soraya.”
“That sounds good.”
“You’re not invited. Ladies only.”
Amir made a sound of complaint, and Sara laughed.
“You have to promise to tell me everything she says, especially if it’s about me.”
“I don’t know… Girl talk is usually confidential.”
“What if I offer to pay you?”
“With what?”
Amir navigated through the city streets, heading for his second-favorite restaurant, since he’d promised Sara food after her not-so-secret mission. He knew exactly what to bribe Sara with.
“Fish and chips and ice cream.”
“Oof. You drive a hard bargain, Amir.” Sara crossed her arms. “Look, I like Soraya, and I like you. But if I help you, and you end up breaking her heart, I’m going to shove you down an oil well.”
Amir laughed. That was ayesif he’d ever heard one. “I will not break her heart. She’s mine. I just have to figure out how to help her see it.”
“Well, you might try to listen to her. That might help you figure her out.”
Amir didn’t know what that was supposed to mean. He heard Soraya just fine. He just chose not to believe her when she told him to go away.
* * *
The night before the wedding arrived, and Sara was excited for her bachelorette party. She was excited to see her friends Keira and Kaleena. Between the baby, the wedding planning, and their work schedules, she hadn’t seen her former neighbors in ages. Also, her best friend, Alex, was due any minute. Sara and Aaliyah were waiting for everyone to arrive. Her mother and Fiddah were upstairs with the baby. The twins were the first to ring the doorbell.
“Sara, we missed you,” they both said and pulled Sara into a tight hug.
“I missed you too.” Sara was very happy to see them. She gestured for them to sit down and introduced them to Aaliyah.
“Where is Leylah?” Kaleena asked.
“She’s sleeping. She was awake most of the day,” Sara replied.
“Aww, poor thing.”
“Hopefully, she’ll start sleeping through the night soon.”
One of the maids walked in with Alex. Sara turned and jumped up and ran to hug her.
“It’s been too long,” Alex said.
“I know,” Sara replied.
They pulled away from each other after a long embrace. Sara introduced Alex to everyone, and she and Alex had a quick catch up.
“So where is this man of yours? I want to see him,” Alex said.
“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow,” Sara said. Tariq was sleeping over at Amir’s place, since he wanted nothing to do with a house full of excited women. Amir and her brothers had managed to strong-arm him into having a bachelor party. It also felt right for them to sleep apart the night before their wedding. That way, there was no risk of him seeing her in her gown.
