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“So, are you going to start the meeting or do you plan on staring at me all night?”
The brunette beside Zahra giggles.
Zahra’s eyes move from the shorter woman to me. “You know what, Rowan? I have the perfect buddy for you.”
Buddy? I never agreed to becoming a buddy. I’m only here to watch from afar, not become some mentor. I don’t think I’ve mentored anyone in my life. It requires too much speaking and not enough working, and I end up redoing their job anyway.
The way Zahra smiles at me has my skin itching. “Ani, you’re partnered with Rowan.”
The brunette beside Zahra cackles. “Yes!”
Well, shit. That laugh should worry me.
“So my sister told me all about you.” Ani and I take a seat on a bench near the apartment complex. Zahra split off with the male, giving us time and privacy to schedule our first official mentorship outing.
“Who’s your sister?”
She looks at me like I’m the dumbest man on Earth. “Zahra.”
My head tilts. “I didn’t know she had a sister.”
“Surprise!” She grins.
“Well, is it too late to revoke her sister card?”
Ani looks at me with furrowed brows. “Why?”
“Because no sister who loves you would partner us together.”
“Oh, please. I doubt you’re that bad.”
“And you got that in the two seconds you’ve known me?”
Ani shakes her head. “Because not many guys would come to a meeting like this. Lance never wanted to.”
“Who’s Lance?”
“Zahra’s ex.”
“He sounds like a dick.”
She elbows me. “No bad words.”
I raise my hands in surrender.
She fidgets with her hair tie on her wrist. “I never liked him.”
“Because?”
“Because he looked at me fu
“Like?”
She shakes her head aggressively. “Nothing.”
“Why are you protecting him?”
“I’m not. It’s old news, and I don’t want to make Zahra sad again.” Her bottom lip wobbles.
Wow. Ani really cares about her sister. While my brothers love me, I doubt they would let anything tear themselves up to protect me.
Ani knocks her shoulder into mine. “So why did you come tonight?”
“I was curious.”
“About my sister?” Her grin widens.
“About the meeting. I wasn’t sure if she was pla
Ani giggles. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“What secret?”
“You wanted to see my sister.” She says it in a sing-song way.
I steal the cupcake from her. “I’ll take that as payment.” I forgot what it was like to enjoy sugar but whatever Zahra put in these cupcakes has me craving more.
“Hey! Payment for what?!” She tries to swipe the cupcake out of my hand.
“For the emotional turmoil you’re bound to put me through by the time we’re done here.”
“It’s only day one. You still have months left.”
“Then you better bring a lot of cupcakes.”
I solidify myself as Ani’s buddy. Not because Zahra told me to but because I kind of like her.
Maybe Ani can give you a better understanding of who Zahra really is.
I grind my teeth together.
Or what if Zahra really is a nice person and you’re too goddamn bitter to accept that?
Something about that thought troubles me. Because if Zahra really is a nice person, it would throw my entire mentality off.
I shake my head. I’d be stupid to trust someone based on nothing but a few interactions.