I flip and give attention to Rapha’s beautiful face. His gaze is serene however by some means intense on the identical time, and the longer I look, the calmer I really feel. Rattling, this man is sweet for me.

“I’m prepared.”

He smiles. “Good. Let’s go in.”

As soon as I’m out of the automobile, I straighten my swimsuit and stroll round to satisfy Rapha. He provides his hand earlier than kissing my temple. A way of overwhelming confidence I didn’t really feel earlier than spreads by means of me, so I maintain my head excessive as we strategy the entrance door.

I ring the bell, which is bizarre, however then, I haven’t been right here since I used to be requested to go away. The door opens and my mom is there, wanting glamorous and exquisite as all the time together with her black hair flowing over her shoulders, a fairly pink gown on, and the loving inexperienced eyes I nonetheless see in my desires.

“Haven.” She opens her arms and I step into them, soaking within the heat solely a mom’s hug can present. Once I step again, she retains her palms on my shoulders, taking me in. “You look fantastic. Joyful.”

“I’m completely happy. That is Raphael.”

Her eyes shift to the person beside me, who bows his head barely earlier than taking her hand and kissing the again of it. “Pleasure to satisfy you, Mrs. Samir.”

My mom truly seems flustered as her smile grows. “Nicely, howdy. What a captivating gentleman. Are available in.” He has my mom within the palm of his hand, no less than.

Raphael touches my decrease again to information me in. As soon as we’re previous the lobby, Raphael takes my hand in his once more, which steadies me much more. I obtained this.

Within the eating room, everybody stops speaking and turns their consideration to us. My aunts, uncles, and a few cousins are right here, and on the head of the large wooden desk is my father. He doesn’t even hassle to face.

“Everybody,” my mom says. “Please welcome Raphael to our dwelling.”

He’s met with a barrage of greetings, names, and relationships to me as we take the 2 empty seats on the finish of the desk. Raphael retains his hand firmly wrapped round mine.

“What are you ingesting, Raphael?” my uncle Ali asks.

“Wine when you’ve got it. Water when you don’t.”

“Wine it’s,” Ali says, lifting a carafe and filling each our glasses.

Then everybody settles down, creating a clumsy silence. With out phrases, my father instructions the room.

“How did you meet?” he asks, eyes narrowed.

“At a nightclub,” Raphael solutions simply, smiling at my cousin Julia as she passes him a plate of appetizers. He places an assortment on his plate, then gazes up at my father, ready for extra questions.

“Figures,” my father says.

“Sure, it does,” Rapha solutions with out lacking a beat. “That’s the place lots of younger folks meet. Even in a room crammed with a whole lot of individuals, there was no ignoring Haven. We have been drawn to one another like magnets.”

“Mm. Was that earlier than or after you realized of his inheritance?”

Rolling my eyes, I huff, about to say one thing, however Rapha pats my thigh beneath the desk.

“How would I’ve identified that upon first sight, Mr. Samir?”

“Perhaps you figured it out rapidly sufficient and determined to stay round.”

Rapha sips his wine, then smiles in such a condescending method I can truly see my father shrink. Fucking wonderful.

“I don’t assume that is the precise setting for me to inform you all of the methods Haven enraptured me, nor do I feel it’s required. You’re allowed to kind your individual opinion.” He smiles at me. “In addition to, I don’t want Haven’s cash. I’ve loads of my very own.”

My household is actually speechless as all of them flip to my father to see his response.

After he composes himself, he spits out, “I’m nonetheless his father. In my nation a person ought to ask the daddy for his baby’s hand.”

“Your nation is America,” I say with a huff. “In addition to, fairly positive you instructed me I used to be ‘no son of yours’ while you threw me out.”

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