Page 48 of The Love Match

Coming out to her parents was so much harder. Eventually, they came to believe their love for their daughter overcame every other obstacle, but it was a long, rocky journey back to a happy family for the Tahirs.

Ximena’s finally gotten to the point where she’s invited to family events without either of Dani’s parents complainingwhen they have innocent moments of PDA in public. Most of the community assumes they’re just “gals being pals,” because while Ximena is essentially out and proud, brandishing bi flag pins on most of her belongings, Dani’s notout-outas a lesbian with extended family or many other people. It might never be safe for her to be.

Meanwhile, here I am complaining about my straight-girl problems.

As Dalia wraps an arm around her sister, I suck in a grounding breath. “You’re right, Dan. I’m going to besoselfish. Themostselfish. I promise.”

Dani cracks a smile. “Yeah, you’d better, goody two-shoes.”

“Better what?” asks Nayim, loping into Chai Ho with one hand gripping his guitar case. He staggers back a step when we turn to face him in one synchronized motion, like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey, but the instant I see him, I freeze up.

Nayim looks… perfect.

He picks at the button on the cuff of his white dress shirt, probably resisting the urge to drag his fingers through his hair, which appears to be a few inches shorter than when I brought up the possibility of him meeting my family during our walk home last night.

“The imam’s wife gave me a makeover,” he tells me ruefully. “I told her I was interviewing for another job, but clothes like this always feel so stuffy to me. Do I look too much like a waiter?”

I shake my head, but the words are stuck.

I don’t know why I ever doubted him. Of course he could pull off playing the part of the perfect boyfriend. He’s so good at being exactly what he needs to survive, like a chameleon changing colors. But he doesn’t look likemyNayim anymore, and a wave of guilt crests over me at the thought of forcing him into something he isn’t, even for one night.

Can it be only for tonight?

Or will he have to keep up this pretense forever, as long as we’re together?

Aren’t I doing to him exactly what Amma has done to me?

“Zar, you all right?” he asks, brows knitting together in concern. “Did I… step in it again? I can go home and change, if you want me to? I’ve never met a girlfriend’s family before, and I have to admit, I’m out of my element here.”

The twins exchange a glance at “girlfriend.”

My stomach does a flip. I shake my head once more.

Luckily, my friends have the wherewithal to take over for me and flit to either side of Nayim. While her sister supervises, Dani untucks the hem of his shirt from his dress pants, removes his belt, and tugs up his sleeves to expose his forearms, oblivious to his, “H-hey.”

“Much better,” Dalia says, appraising their work.

“Less office worker on the verge of going postal, moreVogue,” adds Dani.

“Vogue?” Nayim parrots.

“Yeah, you know,” she explains. “When they have themodels looking all rumpled, but on purpose. It’s hot, trust me.”

“If you say so,” he relents, but he’s watching me.

The Tahir girls peer between us, then make up some excuse about smelling smoke in the kitchen to give us time alone, with a final warning from Dalia about being careful not to wrinkle or get stains on his shirt. Nayim frowns at his shoes, which look pinchy and uncomfortable, and that’s the last straw.

Uncaring of whether anyone’s spying, I barrel into his arms and ignore his resulting“Oomph!”to whisper into his chest, “Thank you. I swear never to make you do this again.”

The comforting thump of his heart lulls me. I feel him smile into my hair as his arms settle at my waist. “Don’t worry. I’m doing this because I want to.”

And in that moment, there’s no more denying it.

I think I’m falling in love with him.

My revelation about Nayim is yet another frayed thread on my nerves.

I’m a ball of contained panic throughout my shift, a bomb on the verge of exploding into bits of frilly apron, but somehow, I manage to contain the eruption until we close at five.

---