I Do Until I Don't

Chapter 6

 The only time Sabrina gets to see her cousin, Alex, is in Florida. Her family owns a beautiful apartment with an ocean view front and goes there almost every three months. When they're together, Alex and she are inseparable. I call them Cousin Soulmates.

They used to live together, both their family, when they were still in Egypt. Eight years ago, they came to America. Alex's father got a job in Seattle whereas Sabrina's got one in Boston.

Anyway, all this to say that I shouldn't have been surprised when I opened the door of my beach house and see both Alex and Sabrina standing in the entrance, but I still took a step back.

Really, Life? You had to create such a handsome guy?

"Ready?" Sabrina asks, taking my hand and pulling me to the car. "Fannar will join us there."

Sabrina is behind the wheel, Alex is in front with her and I'm in the back. Even from here, I can inhale Alex's cologne. It smells divine.

"Em," Alex calls, not even bothering to turn around, "I told Fannar to ask you out." I hold my breath and bite my lower lip. "He says he's down if you're down."

"What if I'm up?" I ask.

I hit my forehead with my hand.

I swear, I am never going to get married. What if I'm up? What is wrong with me?

Luckily for me, Alex laughs a little. "Good one," he says. He looks at me through the rearview mirror and I smile at him.

"I'll think about it," I finally say.

"Alright. Let me know."

It's not that I don't like Fannar. Well, I don't, but that's not the problem. The problem is that I can't imagine myself dating anyone but Alex. He's been the object of my fantasies for so long that I've forgotten what it's like to like someone who isn't Alexander.

We arrive a few minutes later at this small but full ice cream shop with a few bright red tables set outsides. On one of them, I spot a blond guy with sunglasses looking around. He looks up the moment Sabrina parks the car, smiles and waves at us.

"Never, ever," Alex starts, getting out of the car, "underestimate the power of someone smiling to you every time they see you."

I almost want to slap him or shake him and shout I SMILE EVERYTHING I SEE YOU AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO NOTICE THAT!

Wait. Maybe he does. Maybe he knows I like him. No, he's not cruel enough to pretend he doesn't know.

We arrive at Fannar's level. Sabrina hugs him. Alex and he do this sideways hug guys do. What should I do? Is it okay to hug? I guess Fannar wonders as well because we don't for a good three seconds before we both go in for the hug.

"Nice to see you again," he says. He slaps his finger and points at me. "Don't tell me your name. Ella-something, right? Ella... Mary? Ma... It starts with M, right? Maya? Molly? Mae? I got it. Ella-Mae. Please tell me I'm correct."

Alex leans over to me, making my pulse quicken. "Fannar is the most stubborn person you'll ever encounter."

I smile at Alex's friend. "You're correct. It's Ella-Mae"

Fannar lets out an exaggerated relieved sigh which makes me smile.

"You're Fannar, right?"

He nods. "Call me Sverrirson, that's my last name, or just Svear. Alex here is the only one who calls me Fannar. But I hate my name."

"Why do you hate it?" It's not the prettiest name, but it has culture.

Fannar ─ I can't help it, I'm calling him Fannar, too─ shrugs. "I just don't like it. How can you shorten it? Fan? Fanni?" He shakes his head. "They're all hideous." He clears his throat, maybe he thinks he's said too much to a stranger, but I don't mind. I talk too much as well. "You guys wanna order? It's jam-packed, but I know one of the guys working there. He'll let us cut the line"