Page 43 of Love is So Mean

“Technically yes, bu?—“

I don’t get the chance to finish my sentence as Baba stands and slaps me. He’s waiting for a reaction but I won’t give him one, he knows I won’t. Mom gasps and grabs Baba’s other hand, softening his closed fist that tightened out of anger. “Bilal, please, this isn’t the way to do things anymore.”

“I don’t care, she keeps embarrassing this family, Jamila. I don’t like it.”

“Yasmeena…” my mom calls my name but I won’t look at her. She doesn’t care either. She just doesn’t want people asking questions.

I clear my throat and go back to eating my food. This is nothing new.

Chapter 24

Enrique

I’m not in the best of moods but it all isn’t Yasmeena. While I’m not a fan of the routine, it is at least a routine. No surprises or secrets. The family dinner is new and with the way Amir spoke to her over the phone, I want no parts of that shit show. Although she left me, I will still honor the invitation and go be by her side.

It appears that she left with Drew so I hop in my own car so I can bring her back once we’re done. I don’t know how, but Yasmeena and I need to iron out some of the wrinkles in our contract-ship. There is no reason, other than the drawbacks of her disorder, why we can’t be friends at least.

I miss you.

The text I received from Emily came in right as Yasmeena was announcing this dinner. I typed and erased several messages but eventually didn’t respond. I don’t know how to respond. Yes, I was torn between helping Yasmeena and staying with Emily, but I didn’t secretly entertain a job-that she would have encouraged me to take as I would have supported her-and pull a vanishing act.

Emily bolted at the first rough patch in our relationship and that’s a scary thing. I told her everything I could that didn’t violate my NDA and had I chosen Yasmeena’s proposal, I would have also been as upfront as possible. I loved Emily too much to disappear out of her life with a written explanation.

At the end of the day, Emily ended it so I’m hard pressed to respond to something so minimal.

I roll my shoulders and push Emily out of my mind as I approach Yasmeena’s parents’ home. I have no idea what to expect so I’m doing my best to have an attitude before anyone has a chance to speak.

A member of the staff answers the door and guides me inside to where the dinner is being held.

Everyone looks up, two men, two women, and two kids. It’s easy to know who’s who without introductions but I’m sure they’ll be made anyway.

“Enrique Souza is here,” a member of the staff announces.

“Baba, Mom, Amir, meet my husband, Enrique Souza.” Yasmeena says as she stands walking towards me. She grabs my hand and leads me to my seat where she was seated before, moving her plate over with her to the next seat, “they’ll bring your dinner out.” then goes back to eating.

“Nice to meet you all,” I lie.

Most husbands greet their wife with some sort of kiss but I haven’t done that with her and am not sure how much of a husband I’m supposed to be in front of her parents. Opting to meet in the middle, I brush her hair away from her face in order to place a kiss on her temple but pause once I see a red hand mark on her face.

I didn’t know anger could punch me in the gut so abruptly but everything turns somewhat red, I need to get details before I can explode.

“Yas, what happened to your face?”

“My face?” she places her hand over it as if she doesn’t know how she got a red mark on her face. “Oh, Baba didn’t like the fact that we got married without them or that I stole you from your fiancée so he slapped me for embarrassing the family.” She shrugs and continues to eat her food like nothing happened.

Here’s the thing about first impressions, I don’t give a fuck about them unless it’s business related. My eye is twitching but I force a smile at the woman sitting next to Amir.

“Hello…” I pause for her to tell me her name.

“Hi, I’m Lena. Nice to meet you… under the circumstances and congratulations on your wedding.”

I nod, “Thank you Lena. It’s nice to meet you as well. Out of respect, I’d have to ask that you take your lovely kids for some air if you usually censor things your children hear or see.”

Lena looks at Amir and then her sons. “Let’s go, boys. Let’s get the tea ready in the kitchen.”

It’s amazing how this family is quickly on the way to making me psychotic. I feel like a psycho as I kindly smile as I watch Lena and her boys leave, once they’re gone my expression and demeanor completely change. My eyes snap to Yasmeena’s dad.

“Tell me,Baba.Do you like being slapped?”

---