Page 139 of Absolute Certainty
She ran her fingers over his bicep. “You alright?” she asked.
Checking his left side for traffic, he swerved back onto the road. “Yeah, I was headed out the door, but then Ellie started crying.” He eyed Alex through the rearview mirror. “Mom accidentally mentioned that I was picking you up, and she wanted to come. I had to convince her that we were going to a boring meeting for work, but she probably thinks I’m lying, and we’re going to the beach without her.”
“Stop! My little unicorn. Let’s go get her!” Alex replied. “She also knows it’s August, and that she has to go back to Philly soon, so every time you’ve left in the last three days, she gets really sad at first and then eventually feels okay,” Alex said.
“Fuck, Lex. Don’t tell me that shit.”
Sahar looked at him. She couldn’t imagine what it was like to have two good parents and live away from one of them.
“I didn’t say it so you’d get upset. I’m saying it, so you know she’ll be okay in a bit,” Alex countered.
“It doesn’t help.”
He turned to Sahar then, his eyes sadder. “I told her that you might come with us tomorrow, and you’re much better atZeldathan I am, so you can show her all the ropes.”
“See, she just needs a good bribe,” Alex commented.
Sahar smiled, squeezing his shoulder in a reassuring gesture. “You know Zelda’s my girl, and I’m more than happy to, but isn’t she a bit young? Some of it might be scary or overwhelming.”
“Her cousin, Maya’s sister’s daughter, has gotten into it recently, and she’s ten. Since their city trip, Ellie’s been feeling left out and wants to try. She should be fine during the day, I think.”
The tension in his body eased a bit as he slowed the car at a red light.
“That makes sense. Everything I did when I was younger was because my sister did it first. Which version do you have?”
“Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.”
Nodding, Sahar said, “Breath of the Wildwill definitely be more suitable as a way to ease her into it.”
“You’re the expert,” Jay acknowledged, taking his foot off the brake as the traffic light turned green.
Sahar grinned widely. “This is so exciting. I’ve been wanting to replay it for a while.”
Having a few days to prepare for the fact that she’d be meeting Eloise more formally, Sahar was less nervous now. It wasn’t like they’d be announcing marriage tonight. She would just actively be spending time with her, and given how kids generally liked her—Ravi being her little dinosaur-loving bestie—she felt more calm about the whole ordeal.
It was another significant step. A leap she wanted to takeforJay andwithhim. It was further proof of how real this was, unexpected and right in ways she’d never thought possible.
As they parked in front of Patrick’s house, Alex was actively typing something on her phone when she said, “You two go ahead. I’ll come inside in a few.”
Jay eyed her quizzically, then passed her his keys.
Once they were outside, he fanned his fingers along Sahar’s back as they walked on.
They moved through a cobblestone driveway, hedged with two large maple trees, toward a backyard, where she could hear chatter growing louder.
Abruptly, nerves congregated inside of her again, but she shoved them aside.Not now. Not today.
Jay opened the fence gate and guided Sahar inward.
They hadn’t even fully entered when a tall man with brown hair, blue eyes, and a killer smile bellowed their names.Patrick.She recognized him instantly from photos.
Patrick drew Sahar into a bear hug. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! The rewrites are all insanely better because of you.” He eyed Jay, adding, “And so is this guy.”
Sahar blushed. She wasn’t sure what to say, and Jay’s eyes proudly boring into hers deepened the flush, making her knees a little wobbly. “It’s nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard lovely things about you.”
“Aw, buddy, you say nice things about me?” Patrick aimed at Jay.
Jay reacted with a closed-mouth smile and an eye roll.
