“I bet he would,” Erin announced, taking the phone and holding it to her ear. “Kam?”
“Habibti, I understand you do not like the car that has been provided for you. Do you wish a different color?”
“I don’t want the car at all. The Metro is perfectly safe. And why is this man saying that he is to follow me around?”
“Habibti, your safety is my priority. Talib is there to ensure that nothing happens to you.”
“This is ridiculous! Talib needs to go home, and I’m not using the car.”
Kam sounded frustrated. “Erin, please use the car. It would make me happy to know that you do not have to use public transportation.”
Erin heard the plea and felt herself give in. “Fine. But call your watchdog off.”
“That I will not do. Talib is there at my request. If it will make you happy, I will ask him to make himself invisible while he performs his job.”
“I don’t want to see him.” If she didn’t have to see him, she would be able to pretend he wasn’t there.
“Fine. How have you been, habibti?”
“I’ve been well,” Erin replied.
“I am missing you.”
“Missing me? It’s only been two days.”
“If I had my way, we would never be apart again,” Kamal said.
“Kam, how can you say something like that? We’ve only just met.”
“Tell me you don’t feel the same way,” he challenged her.
Erin was silent, knowing that she couldn’t. “Are you planning to come back to the US?”
“Not immediately. Things here are difficult right now…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Erin asked, hating the vulnerability in her voice.
“Tell you what, habibti?”
“I know who you are, Kam. Or should I say ‘Your Majesty’?”
Kamal sighed. “I wasn’t deliberately trying to conceal my identity from you. It was so nice to spend time with someone who wasn’t trying to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear or bowing to my opinion in all things. It was refreshing. I planned on telling you in the morning but was called back to Jawhara.”
Erin tried to put herself in his position. “It must be hard never knowing if people are being honest with you.”
“Very. Do you forgive me?”
“Yes,” Erin said with a smile in her voice for the first time since their call had begun.
“Good. Now hand the phone back to Talib and finish getting ready for work. I will sleep better tonight knowing that you are being protected.”
“Goodbye, Kam. And thank you.” She handed the phone back and then turned, shutting the door. Shira stood just inside the foyer, a fist propped on her hip and her eyebrows arched. “Don’t say a word,” Erin told her, wagging a finger in warning.
“It seems that you might have forgotten a few things about your night with Kam!”
“Not now, Shira. I’m going to be late as it is.”
Shira watched her head back towards her bedroom. “Tonight then. After work.”