Page 79 of The Puppetmaster

“For how long?” I want to know, leaning into his warm touch as I await his response.

He leans forward and his lips meet mine in a considerate kiss, before his hot breath dances on my skin when he whispers his response.

“We’ll see.”

Epilog I

Raad

~ Five months later ~

Her skin is kissed by the sun of my mother’s home country, adorning her with a beautiful bronze tan, which makes the light beige color of her cocktail dress stand out even more. Alena is rather fair-skinned by nature, but she looks just as stunning in a shade closer to mine.

We returned from Alexandria about a week ago, neither one of us quite ready to return to the unpredictable New England spring weather just yet. Egyptian winters are far more passable than the harsh blizzards that still tend to make an appearance even when most days are already kissed with promising spring sun here.

But we had to return, because of the promise I made to my brother and my role in his spring wedding.

“This is a beautiful venue,” Alena says dreamily as we enter the lavish hall that hosts my brother’s wedding reception. Her gaze is turned up to the ceiling above, seemingly entranced by the décor as I escort her to our table. But I know it’s not the venue nor the sprawling decorations that are keeping her so occupied at the moment.

Something has been up with her all day, causing her to be especially quiet and reserved, her face always carrying that pensive expression that does not bode well.

I was too busy with my best man duties all day, not finding a single second to ask her about it. Now that the ceremony is over, I’m no longer tied up in obligation until it’s time for my speech—and it’s the first time today that Alena and I have a moment to ourselves.

“What’s wrong?” I ask straight out, using the moments before we sit down at our table, surrounded by other guests who should not be part of this conversation. “You seem distracted today?”

She looks at me, her eyes widening the same way they always do when she feels caught. I’ve been able to read this girl from day one, and she still keeps underestimating me, thinking there’s anything she could ever hide from me.

“It’s nothing, really,” she says, trying to wave me off. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Then there’s no reason why you can’t share it with me, right?”

She shakes her head and lets out a short chuckle.

“I guess that’s true,” she admits. “It’s just my sister.”

“What did Riley do this time?”

I’ll admit I had a hard time warming up to Alena’s little sister Riley from the get-go. I might be biased, because I know how much Alena sacrificed for that girl, and maybe I’m expecting a little too much when I presume Riley to be indebted in gratitude for that sacrifice. But that still doesn’t mean it’s okay for her in any way to flutter about the way she has been for the past few months, ever since she moved to Boston.

Alena keeps defending her, saying that Riley is smarter than she seems at first and has accomplished more in her life than Alena herself could ever dream of—but if you ask me, that’s just Alena playing herself down and putting her little sister on a pedestal.

“She didn’tdoanything,” Alena says, sounding slightly irritated. “It’s just… she got a job offer, and she’s really excited about it.”

“But you’re not?” I presume, raising an eyebrow at her.

She sighs heavily. “I’m happy for her, of course. These past few months haven’t been easy. But I’m not sure about this one. It sounds weird, and she would have to move across the country for it.”

“Weird how?”

We are the first to reach our table, and Alena sinks down into the chair after I pull it back for her.

She shrugs, her face contorting as if in pain.

“I don’t know,” she utters in response, while I take my seat next to her. “She’s very excited about it, but everything sounded so ambiguous. Besides, I don’t like the idea of her moving so far away again. It was nice having her this close.”

“Well, she basically hijacked your apartment,” I add for consideration.

Alena winks at me. “As if you didn’t benefit from it. It made moving in with you so much easier for me.”

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