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“Well, at least I know I’m well-protected.”
He reaches for my hand, bringing it to his lips. Being this happy seems almost too good to be true. Like, how is this happening to me? Will I wake up and find myself alone in my hotel? That’s the luck I have. But I don’t wake up. Instead, Jafar takes me to town, where we go to a cute diner and have homemade burgers and fries. After our meal, we share a chocolate milkshake.
“Want to do some shopping? There’s a great bookstore nearby. Or there are some boutiques that we can go to.”
“You had me at the bookstore.”
Jafar pays for the meal, leaving a generous tip. I think what a person leaves as a tip says a lot about them. One specific memory of Jasmine comes to mind. We were at the grand opening of a restaurant, and it was… chaotic. The manager came out at the end of our meal, telling us that our bill was covered because of our long wait times. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked in a restaurant before or maybe it can even be blamed on the fact that I know what it’s like to struggle, but I still wanted to leave a tip for our waitress. Jasmine couldn’t understand why I still wanted to leave gratuity.
“Our meal was free,” she said. “And we had to wait. They should be glad we’re not telling everyone on social media how bad this was.”
“Jasmine, they can’t help that it was crazy tonight.”
I left a tip and then asked her if she was going to leave one.
She looked at the cash I put down and said, “Looks like you left enough for both of us.”
It rubbed me the wrong way then, and it rubs me the wrong way now. One of many things that we just don’t see eye to eye on.
Jafar takes my hand. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
We walk down the cobblestone sidewalks and I wonder if this is what it feels like to be in a relationship with someone? Jafar smiles down at me and it takes my breath away. I think the part that scares me the most is that I know this will not last. We’re only here for a short amount of time. What happens when we get back to Manhattan?
We reach the bookstore, and Jafar opens the door.
“After you, my lady.”
Grinning, I step into the store. I might not know what’s going to happen tomorrow, so all I can do is enjoy today. And that’s what I’m going to do.
21
Ellie
The rest of the day feels like a dream. Jafar spoils me at the bookstore and then we browse local shops before going back home. Home. What a strange thought. How can a place that I’ve only been at for a day feel more like a home than the place I’ve lived at for a few years? I think the answer lies with Jafar.Hefeels like home.
After dinner, we make our way to the living room and sit on the couch next to each other. It’s strange how natural this feels. Jafar turns on the news before putting his arm around me, pulling me close. There’s a part of me that knows I shouldn’t let him hold me, but the other side knows that I need this.
“I’m not sure how you stand watching the news. It’s nothing but bad things happening to people. All doom and gloom.”
He plays with a piece of my hair. “I watch so I know what’s happening around the world. In my line of business, it’s good to have an ear to the ground, so to speak.”
“I guess that makes sense.”
We’re silent as the anchors ramble on. I’m only partially listening when a story catches my attention.
“A woman was attacked in Central Park this morning in an apparent mugging. There are no suspects at this moment. If you have any information, please call—”
My hearing buzzes, and before I can stop it, I’m right back in that hotel room with Al. A guttural moan works its way past my lips, and I jump to my feet. I think Jafar calls my name, but I can’t be sure. I have to get out of here. I can’t breathe. Pushing open the patio doors, I rush outside. Al is still out there somewhere. He could be waiting to hurt me again. My nails dig into my palms, opening the wounds I made yesterday. Anything to soothe the torment I feel. But it’s not enough. So, I run. Rain pours from the heavens, but I barely notice. Not when I feel like I’m losing control. Jafar catches up to me, barely out of breath.
“Ellie?”
Looking up, I let the rain fall on my face.
“I had to get out of there. Everything was fine and then all I could think about was Al and what happened.” My voice breaks. “He ruined me, Jafar. For the rest of my life, I will have to live with the fact that I’ve never been good enough for anyone and that the first man who showed an interest in me ended up raping me.”
“What do you mean, you’ve never been good enough?”
