Page 169 of Roulette: The Madam

“Mom–” I greeted the woman who’d birthed me. “Father.”

I kissed my mother’s cheeks one at a time. A handshake and a half-hug suited my father and I just fine.

“Happy Birthday, son,” my father exclaimed. “You’re about as old as me.”

Being surrounded by the people we both loved was so different. Seeing them all gathered in favor of the day I was born did something to me. I was beyond grateful for them all.

But there was one person that stood out more than the others. More than my mother. More than my father. More than anyone else in the room.

Ibrahim.

My brother pulled me into his embrace. It had been so long. Too long. And it wasn’t until my hand touched the top of his and our shoulders collided did I realize I never wanted it to be this long again.

“'Akhi. 'Akhi,” he called out, slamming his hand into my back.

My brother. My brother.

“Haris baladiun,” I responded.

My keeper.

From side to side, we rocked, unable to let go. Ibrahim was four years my junior, but he was everything I’d ever dreamt he’d be. Honest. Trustworthy. Hard-working. Committed. Driven. Smart. Ambitious.

“Happy birthday, old man.”

“Appreciate that, kid.”

“I love you, bro. I love you.”

His words touched parts of my heart that hadn’t been disturbed since he’d left home. Now that he was here with hisarms wrapped tightly around me, there was a disturbance like no other.

“I love you, too, Ibrahim.”

Reluctantly, we released one another.

“Roulette, Ibrahim. Ibrahim, Roulette.”

“We’ve met.”

“Good. Good.”

“Thank you for coming. Though he might never admit it, this means the world to him.”

“Ahhhh. It means nothing,” my brother joked, waving us off.

“We both know that’s untrue.”

“Right on.” He nodded.

With my emotions on the horizon, I grabbed my lady and brought her close to me. She smelled so good and she looked even better.

“All for me?”

“All for you, my love. And, this is only the beginning. We’re celebrating for the next two weeks.”

“Yeah?”

“Um hm.”

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