Take off your Hijab (Rewriting)

A Surprise chapter : The Wedding Whispers

Surprise!! 🎉

I'm so excited to share these snippets from the time the book skipped over, giving us all a chance to give Zach and Amal a more loving goodbye. ❤️ This one's taking place right after their wedding celebrations, with lots more to come, so buckle up and enjoy the ride! 🚀

Amal's POV

The soft glow of moonlight filtered into the room, casting a gentle sheen over the quiet space. Amal stirred, caught between the last remnants of sleep and the pull of wakefulness. The day had been surreal—an intoxicating blend of nerves, joy, and laughter. But now, as the chaos settled, a calm warmth enveloped her.

Her lashes fluttered open, and she blinked, her gaze landing on Zach. He was propped on an elbow, his eyes fixed on her in a way that made her breath hitch. His intensity wasn't new, but tonight, it felt different—weightier, somehow.

"What?" she whispered, her voice tinged with sleepy curiosity.

Zach's lips parted, but he seemed momentarily lost for words. Finally, he shook his head, a boyish grin breaking across his face. "Nothing," he mumbled, though his wide eyes betrayed him.

Amal frowned, raising herself slightly. "No way, Perez. You're staring like I've grown a second head. Spill."

He exhaled a soft laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just... struck, I guess. You look—" he paused, his gaze dipping briefly to her loose waves before meeting her eyes again, "—stunning."

Amal's cheeks flushed crimson. She averted her gaze, but her lips curled into a smile she couldn't suppress. "You've seen me without my scarf before. Don't act like this is new territory."

Zach shook his head, leaning closer. "It's not new, but it's different. I don't know how to explain it. Maybe it's the moonlight, or maybe it's because you're my wife now. But you look... breathtaking."

Her heart flipped, and she swatted his arm to mask the swirl of emotions inside her. "Breathtaking, huh? You're laying it on thick tonight. I might start charging you for compliments."

"Worth every penny," he shot back with a lopsided grin.

She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her amusement. "You're ridiculous."

"And you're married to me, so what does that make you?"

She snorted softly, and before she could fire back, Zach took her hand in his. His fingers, warm and steady, intertwined with hers. The touch, so simple yet intimate, sent an unexpected jolt through her.

They both froze, staring at their joined hands. The silence grew heavier, their mutual awkwardness filling the air.

"This is... weird," Amal finally murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Weird good or weird bad?" Zach asked, his tone wavering between humor and uncertainty.

"Good," she said after a beat, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Definitely good. Just... new."

"New can be good," he said softly, his thumb brushing against her knuckles. "Right?"

Amal nodded, her heart doing somersaults. "Right."

They stayed like that, their hands clasped, neither quite sure what to do next but unwilling to let go. The silence was warm now, comforting, as they both tried to process the enormity of the small gesture.

Finally, Amal broke the quiet, her teasing nature reasserting itself. "So, what's next? Do we graduate to cuddling, or is that too advanced for your baby steps?"

Zach chuckled, his nerves melting into playful confidence. "Let's not rush things, Mrs. Perez. I think holding hands is a pretty big milestone."

She arched a brow, feigning offense. "Oh, is it now? You're practically a revolutionary, Zach."

He grinned. "Someone's got to take things slow. We wouldn't want to overachieve on our first night as a married couple."

Amal laughed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."

"And yet, here we are," he teased, lifting their joined hands slightly. "Besides, I think we're nailing this whole 'holding hands' thing."

"Speak for yourself," she quipped. "Your hands are sweaty."

His eyes widened in mock offense. "Sweaty? You've got nerve, considering how clammy yours are."

Her mouth fell open, and she shoved him lightly. "Clammy? I'll have you know my hands are perfectly fine!"

He grinned, catching her hand again and holding it firmly. "Fine, huh? Then I guess we're both doomed to a lifetime of mediocre hand-holding."

Amal tried to glare at him but failed spectacularly, her laughter spilling out instead. She leaned her head against his shoulder, the sound of his chuckle mingling with hers.

For the first time, the reality of their new life together felt tangible—a mix of awkward sweetness and unspoken promises. As they sat there, hands intertwined and hearts racing, the future didn't feel quite so daunting.

"Well," Amal murmured, her voice soft but playful. "If this is what I signed up for, I suppose I can live with it. Dry hands and all."

"You better," Zach replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Because you're stuck with me now."

And in the quiet of the night, with shy smiles and warm laughter, they both realized that 'stuck' didn't seem so bad after all.

*****

Hey guys! I hope you're enjoying the snippets of Zach and Amal's journey so far! 😊 If you want me to post more or dive deeper into a specific scene, let me know! Also, if there's any moment or scene that the original story didn't cover but you'd love to read about, I'm all ears! Your feedback means a lot, so drop your thoughts below! ❤️