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Aisha smiled and nodded, and Gabi followed her into the café.
It was small and dark, and there was a strong aroma of tobacco. Aisha said something to the man behind the bar who dragged on the cigarette that seemed stuck to his lower lip. He led Gabi to the back of the room where they took a seat below the air conditioning vent.
The man from behind the bar brought over their order in a silver pot with a long spout. It was decorated with an Arabic pattern and complemented by two espresso-sized silver cups.
“Does everyone in your family dance?” Gabi asked.
“Yes, though some quite badly.”
Gabi blew out a puff of air. “It’s good to know there are others out there who can’t dance.”
Aisha sipped her coffee. “I didn’t say they can’t dance.”
Aisha’s smile told Gabi she was teasing her, but Gabi liked her directness too.
“What do you do?”
“I used to work behind a bar, and I like to make jewellery.”
“Ah, did you like the market stall?”
Gabi knew her face had given away her thoughts before she had been able to censor herself.
Aisha grinned. “Matías is a good craftsman and a better businessman. He makes what sells easily. If you want to see something original, I can take you to his workshop.”
“That would be amazing.”
Aisha touched Gabi’s hand, and she froze.
“You don’t wear anything you make?” Aisha let Gabi go.
“No.” Gabi sat on her hands. The thought of Aisha seeing anything she’d made caused her to want to flee. It was irrational, but it was for the same reason she’d never moved to selling her jewellery. Any criticism affected her deeply.
Aisha tilted her head to one side and stared at Gabi to the point that everything inside Gabi tingled.
“I imagine you are very talented.” Aisha sipped her drink.
Gabi’s throat tightened. Aisha was kind, she was stunning, and Gabi felt as if she’d just dipped into her soul and somehow made it bigger and brighter. She wished she had the same belief in her abilities that Aisha had, although Aisha was probably just being polite, and she hadn’t seen anything Gabi had made. “Does this mean we can meet again?” she asked.
“If you’d like.”
Gabi swallowed back the squeal of delight. The back of her eyes burned as shamelessly as her throat. She didn’t know why she felt sad and happy at the same time, something to do with the cemetery, maybe. And it was overwhelming, and she felt stupid. She sipped her coffee and as Aisha stared at her, she couldn’t stop grinning.
Aisha looked at her watch and took a deep breath. “Time escapes me. I probably should get home.”
Gabi didn’t want her to leave. She finished her coffee slowly and stood. “Thanks for bringing me here.”
“Thank you for buying me coffee.”
The awkwardness of earlier returned, and Gabi made her way out of the café in silence. She stood in the street as if waiting for an instruction, hesitating to be the one to break the spell that bound her.
Aisha turned away and pointed. “I’m going this way.”
Gabi tilted her head in the opposite direction. “I’m staying at the Palacio hotel.”
Aisha raised her eyebrows. “It’s one of the best.”
“Nana chose it.”
“She has good taste.”
“Yes, she does.” Gabi half turned. “Can you meet tomorrow?”
Aisha started walking away, and Gabi’s stomach took a dive.
“At eleven. The fountain at Los Patos.”
Gabi’s heart raced. Aisha had a great ass in jeans. She had no idea where the fountain was—there were so many of them—but she wasn’t going to go back to the hotel until she’d found it. This was one date she wasn’t going to miss.
