Chapter 58

                                    

                                          
*
Their suite was on the fifth floor, with a large living area and a small bar off to the right. The sight baffled Afrah, until a closer look revealed that all the drinks were nonalcoholic. Adnan had called ahead to request that the room be 'sanitized'. 
                          
Their room was airier than Afrah had imagined it would be. It was off in the hallway to the left, with tall windows which afforded an alluring view of 57th street below. The bed was king-sized, gigantic and right in the middle of the room. There was a private terrace, with an indoor jacuzzi, an en-suite bathroom and a plush grey rug which covered the length of the room. A faint scent of pine hung over the room, its source untraceable. 
                          
"That is the most beautiful sight in all of existence," Adnan sighed behind her.
                          
"I know you're not talking about me," she laughed. 
                          
"Would you please move?" He playfully shoved her aside. "You're blocking the love of my life."
                          
Afrah clutched her sight, laughing at the sight of Adnan as he ran into the room and leapt onto the bed. From the way he sank into the mattress, she could imagine just how soft it would be.
                          
"This is heaven," Adnan groaned satisfactorily, eyes shut and arms spreadeagled on the bed. "I want to die right here."
                          
"You'd better not do that while I'm anywhere near this room then," she said. "I will not be arrested for your murder."
                          
"Coward," he laughed. Afrah rolled her eyes as she dragged her bag into the room. "So, where is my own room?"
                          
"Oh," Adnan blew out a breath, propping up on his elbow. "This is awkward."
                          
"What are you talking about?" she asked as he scratched the back of his neck nervously. 
                          
"Well, I think you might want to sit down for this," he said, patting the spot beside him. Afrah folded her arms in front of her, a clear sign that she wasn't about to sit. 
                          
"Fine," he sighed. "You see, I tried to get a suite with two rooms. But unfortunately I couldn't. This was the only one we could get..."
                          
"You must be joking."
                          
"...given the time of our departure. I tried to come up with a solution before we left, but the only logical one would be for you and I to share the bed."
                          
"Share?"
                          
"Yes, share."
                          
Somewhere in the depths of her mind, the familiar sense of panic began to swell. 
                          
"I can't share a bed with you," she said, shaking her head. 
                          
"Why not?" Adnan asked, his expression slightly wounded as he sat up. 
                          
"Because... I just can't," she said, refusing to meet his eye. 
                          
"Afrah," he sighed as she began to pace the room. "It's not such a big deal. Seriously. I'm your husband. Why would you be afraid of sharing a bed with me?"
                          
Because you would be the second man I've ever been in a bed with ever since I was born. 
                          
"Don't," she said, shaking her head as her voice came out louder than she intended. "Why didn't you tell me this from the start?"
                          
"Because I wanted to put off telling you until the last minute," he confessed. "And frankly, I was right to be afraid of your reaction."
                          
Afrah paused to glare at him before resuming her pacing. 
                          
"It's not a big deal," she repeated his words, slowing her breathing. "I can sleep on the couch..."
                          
"You will not sleep on the couch."