‘Engaged?’ the girl blurts out in shock. ‘Tariq? You never told me you were engaged before!’
Tariq ignores the girl and stares at Adam. ‘Husband? Oh. Congratulations,’ he croaks, his voice strangled.
‘Yes, four years now,’ Adam continues proudly. ‘Your loss, my gain. Anyway, see you around.’
With his hand on my waist guiding me, we walk away, my breath still caught in my throat, my nails still embedded in his flesh. Did that really happen? Did I really come face to face with Tariq without collapsing? We’re only a couple of metres away when Adam stops and stares down at me.
‘I bet he’s still watching us,’ he murmurs, a playful smile on his lips. ‘Let’s give him something to remember you by that isn’t from five years ago.’ Without waiting for a response, he draws me close and wraps his arms around me, pressing my still shaky body against his firm, strong chest.
‘Hey—’ I protest, as he holds me there for an eternity, until I stop shivering and melt into his embrace. I can feel his heart beating, matching the pace of my pulse. Blood is pounding in my brain again, but this time, for completely different reasons. Then, he pulls back enough to look down at my bewildered face. With his palm against my cheek, he leans in slowly, still staring into my eyes, daring me to pull away. I know I should, but I don’t. I know this is an act, something to taunt Tariq with, but even so, I feel myself falling into a different dimension in a different universe as his lips press down on mine.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. And everything. It’s all my emotions and sensations together; clashing but complementing. Contradicting but connecting. I feel so weak, but so, so strong, as my hands creep up around his neck and I start to kiss him back.
He tastes like chocolate and strawberries and, as his mouth continues to explore mine, something explodes inside me and I pull him closer, kissing him so hard I shock him into stillness. And then his pace matches mine and for the first time in five years, I feel unchained. I’m on fire. I want to drink him in, melt his body into mine and stay like this forever. But there’s something I need to do first while I have the courage. I pull away and stare into Adam’s eyes, his pupils dilated with desire, his breathing heavy with wanting.
‘Give me a second, Turkish,’ I say, stroking his face. And then I turn and walk back towards Tariq, the adrenaline coursing through my veins. Sure enough, his gaze is still on me while his date lays into him about something. She falls silent when I approach the table again.
‘You tried to break me,’ I tell him, the fire that’s been ignited within me giving me the courage to look him straight in the eye. ‘You tried to rape me. Destroy me. But does it look like I’m destroyed? You’re nothing to me. An ugly memory that’s fading more and more each day.’ I can see shame in his expression, but there’s also a little bit of defiance. So, before I lose my nerve, I pick up his drink and pour it over his head.
‘You stupid bitch!’ he snarls, making to get up as the bright orange concoction drips down his face. I move back as fear begins to take hold of me again, but he’s barely out of his seat before Adam is beside me.
‘Don’t ever speak to my wife again,’ he growls, and then draws his arm back and punches Tariq right in the face with all his strength. There’s a cracking noise and a river of blood trickles down Tariq’s face, over his lips, merging with the orange. The girl starts screaming and people rush towards us.
‘Let’s go before he calls the police,’ I implore, pulling Adam away as the security guard bursts into the restaurant. Thank God it’s his bouncer friend, because all he does is shake his head and usher us out, saying something incomprehensible into his walkie-talkie.
‘Bro, is this what I get for getting you a last-second table?’ he moans as he pretends to escort us out of the restaurant.
‘Sorry, but that’s been five years coming,’ Adam replies, rubbing his sore hand.
The barriers between us torn down forever; I take his bruised hand and kiss it gently right there in the lift and in front of his friend, and bring it to my chest where I hold on to it. I know what happened upstairs started as acting, but I feel closer to him than I’ve ever felt to anyone. I feel as though I’ve known him forever, as though he’s mine. A blush creeps up his neck and I wonder if it’s with embarrassment or because he feels the same.
‘Thank you.’ I whisper, tears filling my eyes again.
‘Anytime, askim,’ he replies with a sad smile, slowly taking his hand back and stuffing it into his pocket. ‘Come on, let’s get you home.’