Page 63 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

She sighed, clearly annoyed by my persistence. “Yaz, there’s nothing to tell. I’ve had crushes, yes, but they’ve never been serious enough for me to waste words on.”

I crossed my arms, giving her my best “big sister” look. “I don’t buy it. There’s got to be more to it and if you want me to continue sharing with you then you have to share with me.”

Amirah groaned, finally giving in. “Fine. There was one guy in high school. His name was David. He was sweet, funny, and super smart. We hung out sometimes, but I never told him how I felt. And then he moved away. End of story.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about David?” I asked, surprised. “You know you can tell me anything.”

“I know,” she said, her voice softening. “But it just didn’t seem important at the time. And then he was gone, so what was the point?”

I hugged her, feeling a pang of guilt for pushing so hard. “I’m sorry, Amirah. I didn’t mean to pry. I want you to know that I’m here for you, no matter what and you can tell me these things.”

She hugged me back, a small smile playing on her lips. “I know, Yaz. Thanks. Now let’s get back to finding something that'll make Rafael’s jaw drop.”

We fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in our thoughts. I found myself thinking about Rafael again, wondering how he’d react to the lingerie I chose. I wouldn't be opposed to him tearing it off me.

“You’re thinking about him again, aren’t you?” Amirah’s voice cut through my reverie.

“Is it that obvious?” I asked, blushing.

“Totally,” she said, grinning. “You’ve got that dreamy look in your eyes.”

“Well, I can’t help it,” I admitted. “He’s kind of amazing.”

“I’m happy for you, Yaz,” Amirah said, her tone sincere. “You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Thanks, Amirah,” I said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “That means a lot to me. You know, you deserve happiness too.”

She sighed, but there was no annoyance in her voice this time. “I know, Yaz. And I appreciate your concern. I do. It’s just...complicated.”

“Complicated how?” I asked gently.

“It’s not that I don’t want to find someone,” she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. “It’s just that I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet. I’ve seen how messy relationships can get, and I guess I’m a little scared.”

“I get that,” I said, nodding. “Relationships can be scary. But they can also be wonderful. And you don’t have to rush into anything. Just take your time and do what feels right for you.”

She smiled, looking relieved. “Thanks, Yaz. That’s exactly what I needed to hear.”

**********

I stood in the bustling café, sipping my iced latte, when Amirah nudged me, drawing my attention to the entrance. I followed her gaze and felt my heart skip a beat. Walking towards us were Ava and Cheryl. My pulse quickened, and a sense of dread settled in my stomach.

Amirah's eyes narrowed as she watched them. "Great, just what we needed," she muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Play it cool," I whispered, forcing a smile. "Let's not give them the satisfaction."

As they approached, Cheryl's face broke into a hesitant smile, while Ava wore an expression of forced politeness. We exchanged awkward greetings, the air thick with unspoken tension.

"Yasmin, it's been a while," Cheryl began, her voice overly sweet. "How have you been?"

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. "I've been fine, Cheryl. How about you?"

Cheryl nodded, her eyes flickering nervously to Amirah, who leaned against the counter with her arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "We're doing well, thank you."

Amirah chimed in, unable to resist. "So, what brings you two here? Another apology tour?"

Ava shot her a glare but quickly regained her composure. "Actually, yes. Mom and I wanted to apologize again for how things ended between you and Ethan. We know it was a difficult time for you."

I raised an eyebrow, skepticism creeping into my voice. "Again? How many times do you think it takes to make up for what happened?" Ava's sudden change in tune was worrying. Why was she begging for forgiveness when she was so reluctant to do so before? Was it because of the press conference? Did she think I was still married to her brother?

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