“You’re not?” She folded her arms.
“Never met one I didn’t like.”
“How many have you met?”
“None,” he admitted. “At least, never up close and personal in their natural habitat.”
“Our family home backed up to a swamp,” she told him as a breeze fluttered the fronds of the palm trees. “I promise you, alligators are way more terrifying than jinn.”
He laughed at this, and her heart did a little flip. He was far too charming for this early in the morning. She really didn’t want to go on an airboat, but with Reza there, the prospect was suddenly a bit more attractive.
“Hena? Is that you?” a voice called out.
Her cousin Maheen strode toward them, her daughter wrapped in a striped beach towel.
“It’s great to see you! It’s been way too long!” Maheen pulled her into a hug before Hena could reply. “They canceled my flight twice. I told them, I’m abridesmaid. I literally arrived two hours ago. Oh, and the turbulence!” She shuddered. “I threw up three times. You know how I am withanxiety. Anyway, look at you! I’ve missed you so much. How are you?”
Hena blinked as she tried to keep up with the torrent of words. Maheen’s chattiness was a sharp contrast to the coldness of everyone else.
“I’m good,” Hena said. “Did Inaya have fun at the pool?”
“I love the pool!” the little girl chirped.
“This is Auntie Hena,” Maheen told her. “You were a baby last time you saw her at—”
She cut off abruptly. Her face flushed over the words left unspoken.
The wedding.
“Inaya’s all grown up. And she’s beautiful,” Hena said. “The spitting image of you.”
“She’s the flower girl.” Maheen beamed.
Her daughter tugged at her arm. “Mommy! Look, bunny!” She pointed toward the boardwalk.
“Yes, honey.” Maheen cut Reza a look and brightened. “Well, hello.”
Hena introduced them. Maheen’s grin widened as her daughter yanked harder on her arm.
“Bunny!”
“Go on,” Maheen relented. “Stay where I can see you.”
Once the girl had darted off, Maheen pulled Hena to the side. Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. Two suitors in twenty-four hours!”
Two suitors? Hena snuck a quick glance at Reza. He was scrolling through his phone. Hopefully he hadn’t heard.
“Maheen, I don’t know what you’ve heard, but—”
“Nothing bad. Weddings are the perfect place to find someone. You know Auntie Hanifa wanted to introduce Haristo her daughter? She’s graduating from pharmacy school and they’re on the prowl. She was complaining that he was chatting with you an awful lot,” Maheen teased her. “And look, I heard Courtney and Reza were flirting at the breakfast bar, but you’re the one he’s having breakfastwith, right? My take is they’re both cute, so you can’t go wrong.”
Maheen had arrived this morning and already was up to date on the gossip.
“There’s nothing going on, Maheen. Really.”
“Well, just so you know, Auntie Gudi cornered Reza yesterday to inquire about his situation. Don’t worry—he’s definitely single. As for Haris, I’m sure he’s over his ex by now, though emotional baggage is always a risk when you’re talking about the end of a long-term situation. Did you know she cheated on him with a partner at his law firm? He found their text messages. Poor guy. He was devastated.”