DALIA (Book 1 in the ISWAJI series)

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Dalia's POV

The airport is like a beehive, buzzing with people and nonstop noises. I haven't been to the airport in a few years since I landed back in Canada. Waleed and I barely packed anything, we decided to get whatever we need from New York while we are there. He told me he rented a place for us for the month instead of a hotel. Claimed it was a surprise.

Waleed decides I shouldn't carry anything, he even takes my purse as we stand next to the ticket counter.

"Where to?" The lady asks.

"New York." He tells her and I decide to just stand there, leaning my chin in my hand and look up at Waleed.

"Just you two?" I let my eyes wander to her name tag.

'Monica'.

"Yes, just us two." He responds, as if annoyed with being questioned, it makes me internally chuckle.

"Alright, the plane will have a lunch meal in it." Monica says to us.

"Make sure it's a halal dish, whatever it is." He says and holds my hand.

I squeeze his hand and he smiles at me.

"Did you pack your luggage yourself?" She asks, which I'm hoping is the last question.

"Yes."

"Okay, here are your tickets. Gate 6A. Enjoy." She smiles at us and the bag goes through the belt and Waleed and I head to the scanning.

The checkpoint was very quick and easy, they patted us down as usual and Waleed and I begin to stroll to our gate. We had at least one hour worth of waiting.

"I can't believe your mother didn't argue about this trip." Waleed chuckles beside me, bringing my hand to his lips.

"She can't say no, we're married, nikkah done, wedding done. She has nothing to use. I'm just glad we're actually staying for a month there. Away from the family and just us." I link my arm with his and lean into him.

"Wait till I take you to our actual honeymoon, Dals. You are going to love it. We're going to Italy!" He says happily.

"I have always wanted to go there, Walood! Don't tell me what we are going to do there. Keep it all a surprise." I tell him and we cross by a Tim Hortons.

I give Waleed puppy eyes. Wanting the usual from that café.

"Say please." He taunts playfully.

"Please daddy." And I pout lips, laughing on the inside.

"Fuck, that escalated quickly. Let's go." He pulls me towards the café and I giggle like a schoolgirl. I feel so carefree, the most carefree I have felt in my entire life.

We stand in line and Waleed keeps his arms around my waist, keeping me close to him as if I would vanish.

Our turn comes in line and the cashier asks us for our order.

"My wife, would like one iced cappuccino, one toasted sesame seed bagel with cream cheese and a chocolate glazed doughnut. I will have the toasted blueberry bagel with cream cheese along with a cup of hot chocolate with peppermint. Make sure the drinks are large please." Waleed says to him and my heart warms up at the fact he called me wife. I loved that. I mean it is true, but hearing it made me feel so good.

"That will be fourteen dollar and sixty-five cents." The cashier says and Waleed hands him the card and just taps on the machine.

After five minutes, we take our order as a take away and head to sit by our gate. It was quite empty and barely any people there. Waleed takes a seat and places the bag on the chair next to him, I decide to take the seat next to him but he pulls my onto his lap.