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He was already seated when I arrived, he’s still very handsome. He rises to give me a hug when I get to him. He holds me close a little longer than usual before letting go.

Once seated and facing each other. I realized the moment is here for me to speak and I find myself stumped. No words would come out.

“Long time, Mariam, and you do look as beautiful as ever.” I blush. His voice sounds deeper and smoother. Maybe, I’m imagining.

“Thanks, and you haven’t changed at all.”

“Thank you and how have you been?”

“Great.” The waiter arrives. He orders the pizza we both like. I was surprised that he remembered everything about my order. I turned a surprised look at him.

“I couldn’t forget,” he says, and I nod.

“I’m sorry, James, about Prince Naseer.” His face changes to a frown. I can’t stop now I need to keep going. “I just found out, that he forced you to break up with me.”

“More like he threatened to lock me up, if I didn’t break up with you.” He leans back with a sad chuckle.

“I’m sorry about that. His action was out of line, he was being protective which I now know was true though he also had ulterior motives.” Another sad chuckle.

“I wasn’t doing anything bad to you, why did he need to protect you from me.” I exhaled, dug into my bag, and retrieved the papers, I slid the document to him. He takes it and starts to read it. I remain quiet because I know it’s a lot to digest. The waiter brings our order and drink. James doesn’t look up. He just kept reading. When he was finally done. Beads of sweat with wrinkled forehead and shocking eyes stared at me.

“You can’t believe I was part of this?”

“I know you weren’t involved, and Prince Naseer knew that too. Lydia was fixated on you, and I would always be her target as long as I was dating you” He facepalm and exhaled, then looked straight at me, with compassion.

“I’m sorry about this,” he says tapping the paper.

“I’m just glad Taimani told him, and he was able to protect me from what would have been horrific.”

“On this, I agree with him, but he just found a loophole to take you from me.” I nod, no point disagreeing with him. We eat in silence for a little bit.

“You know I saw you first and fell in love with you first, I remember the day you walked into the math class and sat next to me, with your long braids. I guess I can’t call dibs on matters of the heart.” His voice sounds gruff.

“I remember that day too, you were the only one that smiled at me. you didn’t speak to me for a while. I was high on happiness when you asked me to the dance.” He grins.

“Now and then when I think about the night of the dance, how happy we were when we kissed.” He paused. “I wished I’d let my wild side win. I wanted to take you home that night, I told myself not to rush, that we had more time. If I’m ever granted a wish to go back in time. That’s the night I would pick, and I would’ve spent the night with you till the sun came up and I would have no regrets, unlike now.” I stopped eating and couldn’t take my eyes off him. Sincerity bleeds through his words and face. Naseer hurt him because of me.

“I would have said yes that night had you asked me. You’ve no idea, how happy I was with you that night.”

“I was happy as well to have you with me, I just thought we had more time together, guess, I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry.” He nods.

“Were the rumors true, Did you sleep with him in high school?” I shake my head.

“No, I didn’t start dating him until my twentieth birthday. He dislikes that you are the first boy I kissed.” He smiles.

“Guess I have one win. And he waited for you?”

“Yes, he did to my surprise.”

“I’m not surprised. I would’ve waited too however it would seem, If I wait for ten lifetimes, I will never get you because I already lost my chance to call you mine that night.”

“If you had that night with me, it wouldn’t have stopped Naseer coming for me.” Not sure why I needed him to know, Naseer was never going to back down.

“I know but I would have had my night and never had to wonder like I am right now.” I nod and take a sip of my drink. I understand but I’m clueless on how to respond.

“How’s working in Rhanaz?” he asks as the waiter drops the check for us.