A spark of humor played in Amir’s eye when he glanced at me. That fluttering feeling rose in my chest again.
I watched as Emma linked her arm through Amir’s. Did I imagine that he cringed at her touch? I must have, because he gazed down at Emma thoughtfully, as though seeing her for the first time, and in response to his study Emma seemed to pull him closer. As they walked away, I watched Emma tilt her chin up toward Amir and say something I could not hear. With my pulse pounding in my ears, I took Will’s arm and followed them.
“MERROW?”WILL CALLEDfrom bed.
I stood at the sink in our bathroom, washing my face. In the mirror, my skin looked raw, the makeup I’d worn for the party wiped away. But I continued splashing water against my cheeks. My mind raced. I longed to go for a swim. I could not imaginehow I would ever fall asleep. I yanked a towel from the hook beside the sink and patted my face dry.
“Hmm?” I said, standing at the doorway between the bathroom and bedroom.
Will offered a wary smile. “I was saying that I thought Amir looked well, didn’t he?”
I stretched beside him under the covers and rested my head on his chest. “He looked different.”
“Yes. But the same, too. His expression is the same.”
I murmured my agreement.
“What has he been doing all this time? Were you able to catch up with him?”
“Not really,” I said. To my surprise and frustration, Emma had not left Amir’s side all night, and she had not picked up on any of my hints to give us time alone. Even when my hints had grown less subtle and more forthright, she had ignored them—either willingly or simply drunkenly, I wasn’t sure. As a result, every word Amir and I had exchanged at the party was in front of Emma. I learned only that Amir was living in California, working at a farm in a northern corner of the state.
Eventually we were the only four left in the house, save for the caterers wiping down the counters in the kitchen. Amir looked toward the windows. The ocean was a silky expanse glittering darkly below the moon. His eyes met mine.
“I should go.”
My stomach twisted. “Don’t,” I said. “There’s no reason to leave.”
“I’m not at all tired,” Emma announced.
We turned to Will at the very moment he lifted his hand to cover a yawn. He gave a sheepish laugh. “And I was just about to say that I’m not tired, either.”
“It’s late,” Amir said. He walked toward the door and all three of us trailed after him.
“Where will you go?” I asked.
“I have a hotel room downtown.”
“Let’s share a car!” said Emma. “I’m staying at my parents’ house tonight.”
“I thought you were spending the night here, Emma,” I said. “There’s plenty of room.”
She laughed. “It’s practically your wedding night! I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“It’s not our wedding night.” I knew how annoyed I sounded. Will reached for my hand. I stared at the floor. My emotions made me feel as though I were carrying an enormous bowl that at any moment might fall from my hands, sending shards in the direction of anyone unlucky enough to find himself near me.
“I’ll take you home,” I heard Amir say to Emma. I lifted my eyes from the ground to stare at him.
“Oh! Really? Okay, um, great!” With her pink cheeks, Emma looked like a beautiful doll. “I’ll get my coat.” She hurried down the hall, away from us.
“Get her home safely, will you, Amir?” Will asked quietly once Emma was out of sight.
Amir nodded.
“Tomorrow, Amir,” I said. The realization that he was moments from walking out our door filled me with anguish. “Tomorrow morning. Can we have breakfast? There’s so much to catch up on.”
Emma returned before Amir could respond. I watched as he helped her into her coat. At last, he turned to me. “Yes. I’ll get your number from Emma.”
And then, with a flutter of kisses and waves from Emma and nothing more than a nod from Amir, they were gone.
