Early Bird (Erkenci Kus)(Part 4)

36. Where we stand

Leyla hurries out the front door that morning pulling on her coat and closing the door at the same time. She was very late. She overslept because Sanem usually wakes her up but Sanem wasn't home. I should have set an alarm or some - "Osman?" She blinks looking up at Osman pacing with a smile looking like he was waiting for someone.

"Good morning," he grins and stops pacing, removing one hand from behind his back.

"Good morning."

He comes over and gives her a peck on each cheek. "What are you going to do today?"

"Going to work," she chuckles a little. "What are you doing? Don't you have shoot today?"

"I do...But only later this afternoon."

"Why did you wake up so early then?"

"I have a few things to do and a friend of mine told me about a good spot for a wedding. I want to go check it out with him."

"You don't want have to bother with it before your shoot, sweetie, why don't you wait to see it until after?"

"I don't mind," he smiles and shrugs. "But if you want to go with me instead, of course, it's a different story, and then I can wait for you."

"No," Leyla smiles to cover her quick 'no', "you can go and see it if you want to...it's okay with me if you do it with your friend."

Osman looks a little dejected but nods. "Right. Okay, then I'll take you to work before I go."

"That's not necessary. I'll just take the bus." She looks over her shoulder. "And I'm late already," she chuckles a little, "so I'm going to run so I don't miss it, okay?" She gives him a quick peck. "See you later," she says before he can say anything else, rushing past him.

Standing still for a minute, Osman just stares at the spot she was in and was now gone from. Turning slowly, he looks at her back, the rose in his hidden hand still there. If she'd said yes to going to look at the wedding venue, he would have given it to her. She couldn't run fast enough though and Osman was starting to fear the awful truth staring him in the face.

**

"So you and JJ went to a bar?" Can nods as he puts down his fork and knife. "And he's going to be making your tea at the agency from now on... Interesting."

"Hm, speaking of, we should think about leaving soon."

"I don't want to go, Can," Sanem whines, pouting.

"You think I want to?" He lifts a brow, tapping his fingers on the table.

"We can always stay here forever," Sanem offers as alternative.

"Fine by me. We can do that. We switch off our phones so they can't find us if they call."

"Mom will," Sanem scoffs. "She'll use a plate of dolma to find us."

"Ah, yes...the smell of dolma will give us away..." he nods. "That changes things...once dolma's involved I can't hide from my growling stomach."

She lifts her brows and takes another bite of bread. "You'll let her find us?" she questions. "Just like that?" He shrugs. "And what if, for example, she decides to ask, 'were you two alone here last night?' and looks at you like she does," she narrows her eyes like her mother usually does, "what are you going to tell her?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Hm hm." Can gets up. "Because I'll turn things in my favor of course, before she can even start, using my beautiful words and charming smile. You know I have skills."