Page 38 of Absolute Certainty
Of course, they would.
Of course, he wasn’t the only service worker Sahar was unbearably kind to. Why would he ever think he was special? She knew the names of every barista at Amanda’s, too.
They all knew her.
That was the beauty ofherlight.
He wasn’t the lucky one. They all were.
11
SAHAR
“Yup, your usual booth is free,” Carly said, then gestured for them to follow her, guiding Sahar and Jay to a spot toward the back of the restaurant. Sam came to Summer Nori so often that the staff typically kept some of the more secluded tables open for theMidnightscast. “Okay, also, I love this bag strap. Where did you get it?”
Sahar looked down at the embroidered orange tapestry and answered eagerly. “Pom Pom London. I’m obsessed with their bag straps. Someone needs to ban me from buying them in every color and style.”
Sahar was never one to gatekeep quality products; she preferred to scream openly about them instead. And she had done so extensively, enabling Willa to buy her first bag, too.
“Ooh, I’ll have to check them out,” Carly exclaimed before setting the menus on the table. “Your server will be here with drinks shortly.”
When she and Jay were left alone, her eyes darted straight to his mouth, his lips twitched at the edges, trying to conceal a smile.
“What?” she asked.
He shook his head, eyes narrowed behind his glasses. “Nothing.”
“Spit it out.”
Crossing his arms, he leaned forward. “I just find it fascinating that everyone lights up around you,” he said, amusement unambiguous in his gaze.
Sahar wasn’t sure what to make of the statement.
Tell that to my exes,she wanted to say.
“They do not,” she countered.
Jay’s knee bumped into hers underneath the table, sending a spark of electricity shooting through her. “They do,” he affirmed.
Suddenly, she couldn’t read him.
The conviction in his tone was believable, but she couldn’t accept the truth behind his words. She didn’t have that sort of effect on people. People like Sam did. Ethan hated social media until Sam opened him up to more Instagram lives. Sam could crack anyone’s tough exterior with a single look and a dumb joke that you couldn’t help but laugh at. His genuine kindness and sprightly natureensuredthat people wanted to be around him.
That wasn’t the case with Sahar.
“Have your glasses fogged up? Do you maybe need a cloth to clean them with? You might be seeing things.”
He clicked his tongue. “Did that right before I left work, but thanks for offering.”
The server brought them both waters, and Sahar took a sip from her cup, eyeing him. Shaking her head, she looked down at the menu, avoiding his gaze. It was too much, too soon to sit in front of him while he claimed that she was a source of light for other people. Too much to let her mind ponder the likelihood thathecould also be one of those people she presumably had that effect on. Too much even to admit thatshewouldwantthat.
She looked over at him once more, but his head was down, fixed on themenu. That was when she noticed his left hand now resting on the table, a blueish beaded bracelet next to the black-leather watch circling his wrist. She hadn’t seen it before, but she could make out some of the letters,E L,before it curved.Eloise,she assumed. Fuck, that was precious. His daughter probably made it for him. Her mind wandered again, latching on to how attentive he was. How caring.Ugh.Sahar darted her eyes back to the menu.
Food, food was good. Food should be the focus.
They ordered a few things—appetizers and sushi rolls to share—before talking again.
“Is Christian okay?” Jay asked afterward.
