Page 151 of Save Room for Us

“Asif wanted this to be a me and you thing, so he made sure of it. Told me he wanted his woman and his mother to bond a little by ourselves.” She winked before walking off to the large champagne fridge. “Have a seat, sweetheart.”

“Okay.” I simpered, thinking about Asif and how everything had thought behind it. I’d mentioned how I needed a break from wash ’n’ gos, and then next thing I knew, I had an appointmenthere. “Doesn’t he know we’ve had conversations before?” I queried, watching her fill a flute for me.

“Yes, told him that, but he said we hadn’t done it as mother and daughter-in-law.” She handed me the glass before gathering her supplies.

I took a sip of the crisp and refreshing champagne while I waited.

“I guess he’s right.” I half smiled. “Not a daughter-in-law yet though.”

She put the cape around my neck and unclipped my curly hair.

“Not yet, but you will be. Asif is very meticulous with everything he does, so if he’s taking the time out to do all of this for you, it’s because he sees you as something long term. I can’t think of him ever having a girlfriend or a consistent thing, other than Milan, but it was nothing like this.”

“I see.” I drank some more of my champagne, thinking about Milan’s latest hoax.

I didn’t like her, so for the life of me, I didn’t get why I felt bad for her. The fact that she felt the need to lie about being pregnant for his attention was concerning. I’d never felt that strongly for a man, not until Asif, but even then, I couldn’t stoop that low. I’d have to find my second-best love and move on.

I hated being such an empath because it made me feel for people I shouldn’t give two fucks about.

However, the look in her eyes that night in the club told me she was in love with Asif, and it hurt to see me with him. I never wanted to be that woman, but I had no choice really. Plus, if the roles were reversed, she wouldn’t give a fuck how I felt.

“How are you?” Lisara asked once we were at the shampoo bowl, her magic fingers caressing my scalp.

“I’m fine at the moment but starting to get anxious about the upcoming trial. The stuff Bashar asks me when he pretends to be the prosecutor is triggering and misogynistic.”

“Yeah, I can see that, but he knows how these people are in that courtroom.”

“I know. I just… if I’m having a hard time with role play, I can only imagine when I am actually being cross-examined.”

“Long as you’re honest, you will be fine. You’re a strong woman.” She smiled down at me when I opened my eyes briefly. “I knew Cedric was abusive, even when Leeci was assuring us that she asked, and you told her no. And that she never saw bruises.”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” She nodded, still washing my hair. “After meeting you, I knew you were way too intelligent, accomplished, and attractive to settle for a man like that, and the only way you would is out of fear.”

“It was too much tension between them and Cedric already, and I knew if I told my feisty mother and sister what he was doing, it would be a war. I didn’t want them in the middle of that, because if something happened to either one of them, I would never forgive myself. I couldn’t even protect myself, so I knew I couldn’t protect them.

“It was better for me to endure it alone and make up excuses for him, hoping they would eventually stop caring and stop inquiring.”

“Farrah and Leeci think they’re tough.”

“They do.” I laughed. “They would’ve come over with pitchforks and stuff.” We guffawed. “This was before Leeci had Bashar, but when she got him, I didn’t feel right involving him or his family in my affairs. They’re not responsible for me. Plus, I wasn’t exactly welcoming at first when he came around.”

Giggling, thankfully, Lisara inquired, “Why weren’t you welcoming? Bashar is one of my better sons.”

We chuckled at that.

“To be honest, I didn’t even know Bashar,” I said as she sat me up to cover my hair with conditioner. “I’d just seen how a man could come into your life, seem like the better option than what you have, but ultimately turn out to be someone far worse. I didn’t want that for Leeci. I didn’t want her ending up like me, trapped with a man who looked good on the outside and on paper but was a madman.”

“I see.”

“I should’ve listened to her early on, though, and understood she had gotten to know Bashar and wasn’t just into him because he looked better, had more money, and talked a good game. They actually connected, and she was struggling to leave Jarrio behind, not looking for a way out.”

“Don’t feel bad about that, Stazi. Plenty of women have jumped to a better-looking ship only for it to sink.”

I was happy she understood.

“Trust me, I know. I’m the perfect example. My ex before Cedric was a good guy but misguided, didn’t know what he wanted from life, and that was unattractive to me. I could tell he wouldn’t be stable the longer we stayed together, and his maturity level left a lot to be desired. So, when I met Cedric, and he was so mature, had his life planned out, and treated me well, I figured it was a no-brainer. I needed to drop my ex and get with him. So I did.

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