“Do you like ice skating?” Ra’if’s voice set her pulse throbbing.
She paused, midway through pouring warm milk over Jordan’s cereal. “As much as the next person,” she said noncommittally, her phone pressed between her ear and her shoulder. “Why?”
“Why don’t we go tonight? The three of us?”
Her eyes flew to Jordan, who was watching cartoons in the lounge room. It had been over a week since she’d slept with Ra’if. They’d been keeping things to nights only, and it was working brilliantly. He’d sneak in sometime after nine, when Jordan was asleep and the flat was quiet, and he’d sneak out again hours later.
She lived for those few, snatched, secret hours.
“I know it’s not what we agreed,” he filled the silence. “But I like spending time with you.”
“I feel the same.” She turned her back on Jordan, propping her hip against the dishwasher. It beeped and she startled. “I want to keep Jordan out of this though.”
Ra’if expelled a frustrated sigh. Hadn’t he said the same thing? Didn’t it make complete sense? “He doesn’t need to know what’s going on between us. Surely you have friends you see socially?”
“I …” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know if you have any friends?”
She rolled her eyes. “It’s getting complicated.”
The silence arced between them. “Have you heard from Brent?”
She didn’t bother to pretend she’d misunderstood. “He has nothing to do with why I don’t think this is a good idea,” Melinda promised softly.
“Doesn’t he?”
“You know how I feel, on both counts.” She cleared her throat, looking over her shoulder. “I don’t want him getting attached to you, Ra’if.”
“I’ll be charmless,” he said with a grin.
“Yeah, right.” She swallowed. But the truth was, Jordan wasn’t the only one who was seduced by the image of playing happy families. The idea of doing something with Jordan and Ra’if did something really weird to her heart; like it was bursting out of her chest.
“Okay. Just ice skating.”
She could hear him smiling down the phone. “I’ll pick you up.”
“No!” She lowered her voice, sending Jordan a reassuring smile. “We’ll meet you there. Text me the details.”
“I am looking forward to it, azeezi.”
He disconnected the call and she squeezed her eyes shut, then gave Jordan his cereal. “Honey? I’ll be right back.” She slipped upstairs and knocked on Tara’s door. She opened it instantly.
“Mel? What is it, babes?”
“Have I done something terrible? Something I’ll regret?”
Tara pulled a face. “Unlikely, but come in and tell me more.”
“I can’t. Jordan’s having breakfast; I’ve just got a second.” She relayed the conversation with Ra’if as quickly as she could, and Tara listened, nodding sympathetically.
“So what’s your worry?”
“What if Jordan really likes him? I know this thing with Ra’if isn’t going to last forever. It’s just meant to be a bit of fun.”
“Oh?” Tara’s grin was smug.
“I mean it,” Melinda said urgently. “He doesn’t live here. And I don’t want to get into anything serious. We both agreed from the outset. But…”