“I think I’d like to see this through.” I meant what I said about challenges. The more Zahra wants to push me away, the harder I’ll push back.
The shorter brunette elbows Zahra in the ribs. “Be nice. He’s cute.” Her almond-shaped brown eyes brighten and bring out the softness in her face.
She officially became my new favorite person.
Zahra glares at her. “I am nice.”
I raise a brow.
“Why are you really here?” Zahra looks around the room that’s empty besides us four.
I could comment on the lack of a turnout but it’s my damn fault.
“I’m interested in the mentorship program.”
She scoffs. “What happened to not being interested in hiring toddlers?”
“I was wrong.”
Both her brows rise. “You—well. Wow. Okay. I didn’t think you had it in you to admit when you make a mistake.”
“Don’t hold your breath waiting for the next time.” My comment earns me a tiny smile.
“So, are you going to start the meeting or do you plan on staring at me all night?”
The brunette beside Zahra giggles.
Zahra’s eyes move from the shorter woman to me. “You know what, Rowan? I have the perfect buddy for you.”
Buddy? I never agreed to becoming a buddy. I’m only here to watch from afar, not become some mentor. I don’t think I’ve mentored anyone in my life. It requires too much speaking and not enough working, and I end up redoing their job anyway.
The way Zahra smiles at me has my skin itching. “Ani, you’re partnered with Rowan.”
The brunette beside Zahra cackles. “Yes!”
Well, shit. That laugh should worry me.
“So my sister told me all about you.” Ani and I take a seat on a bench near the apartment complex. Zahra split off with the male, giving us time and privacy to schedule our first official mentorship outing.
“Who’s your sister?”
She looks at me like I’m the dumbest man on Earth. “Zahra.”
My head tilts. “I didn’t know she had a sister.”
“Surprise!” She grins.
“Well, is it too late to revoke her sister card?”
Ani looks at me with furrowed brows. “Why?”
“Because no sister who loves you would partner us together.”
“Oh, please. I doubt you’re that bad.”
“And you got that in the two seconds you’ve known me?”
Ani shakes her head. “Because not many guys would come to a meeting like this. Lance never wanted to.”
“Who’s Lance?”
“Zahra’s ex.”
“He sounds like a dick.”
She elbows me. “No bad words.”
I raise my hands in surrender.
She fidgets with her hair tie on her wrist. “I never liked him.”
“Because?”
“Because he looked at me funny. And sometimes I heard him say things on the phone when I wasn’t supposed to listen.” She looks away. The look on her face has me wondering what kinds of awful things she might have overheard.
“Like?”