Page 38 of Finally Loved

“I think… you should check with Zainab that it’s okay, and, if she says yes… I’ll come.”

You only live once, right?

Alba’s face lit up and Neve was glad she’d said yes. It was the least she could do for someone who’d done so much for her lately.

It also gave her a deadline. She’d talk to Charlie before Thursday. Hopefully sooner, but at least before then. She didn’t want to keep making up lies every time she hung out with Alba.

“Well, I should get inside and ask her immediately then,” Alba said, nodding in the direction of her apartment.

“Yeah,” Neve agreed, sad the moment was about to be broken. So long as they stayed shut inside the car, the rest of the world felt slightly like it didn’t exist, like it couldn’t cause any problems so long as they stayed there.

“Don’t worry, Zainab’s going to say yes.”

Neve was going to point out that wasn’t what was worrying her, but, when she thought about it, she wondered whether it should be. Alba had said she was going to have to tell Zainab she was right about Neve thinking they were a couple. By Thursday, she’d probably know, and that was a little embarrassing.

Alba smiled at her before jumping out of the car. Neve followed suit, a little slower, and met Alba where she was waiting at the front of the car, the driver’s door standing open, waiting for Neve to reclaim it.

Neve felt especially short standing facing Alba in front of a car.

Alba’s eyes caught on Neve’s hair, blowing in the breeze, before she looked back at her. “Thanks for having me over last night, and for today. I had fun.”

“Me too,” Neve said, a smile breaking out on her face.

“I’m glad.” Almost the second the words were out, Alba lurched forward and pulled Neve into a hug.

It wasn’t as intimate as when they’d been in bed, but it felt similar—warm, safe.

Alba was incredibly touchy with her friends. Neve found she didn’t mind it. She wasn’t that way herself, but it was so naturally Alba that it didn’t feel weird or insincere at all, and she liked that.

Alba let her go, smiling as she walked backwards towards her apartment building, and it was only then that Neve’s eyes caught sight of someone dressed in vibrant orange, standing on a balcony halfway up the building, watching them.

It only took a second to place that it was Zainab, even with the distance.

“What is it?” Alba said, turning to follow Neve’s line of sight. “Ugh. Of course. Well, at least we know she’s home and can answer quickly.”

“Indeed,” Neve replied, moving back to her car and feeling oddly awkward about being watched. It wasn’t like they’d been doing anything wrong, but it still felt odd.

“I’ll text you in about five minutes.”

“I’ll be driving in about five minutes.”

“So? I’m still texting you. I know you’re not going to check it while you’re driving, but I’m still texting you because I want to.”

Neve smiled ruefully, climbing into the car. “Sounds good.”

And it did.

And she did.

Chapter 12

“Come to the mall?” Zainab asked, her eyes flicking from the phone in her hand to Alba who was standing frozen in the doorway to their apartment.

“Yes, I had a lovely day at work, thank you, dear. How was your day?” Alba shot back, moving again to close the door.

Zainab waved her off. “I’d have asked. They close in a couple of hours. Come to the mall?”

Alba shrugged. “Sure. Are we going for anything specific?”

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