Making his way out of the building, Mehdi took a deep breath, checking his watch. The day had managed to slip away from him as the session had dragged on, and the sun would be setting in a couple of hours.
Waving to the limo, Mehdi opted to walk to the beach, which was only about a half hour stroll from the building. He placed his hands in his pockets as he sauntered, nodding to people as he passed them by on the sidewalk. He was met with the usual wide-eyed stares of people wanting to address him but also give him his space. A couple of times he was stopped and asked to take a picture, which he did with a smile.
Mehdi loved being among the people. It was something his parents had always made sure he did, so that he could be reminded that they were not above anyone just because they were royal.
He heard the lapping waves of the beach before he saw them. As he approached the ocean, he gazed out at the blue sky which was dotted with a few clouds. The beach was fairly busy, with children playing and couples relaxing on the fine, warm sand.
Mehdi’s eyes combed the beach, looking for Steph. Perhaps she had come early and would be waiting for him? When he saw no sign of her, his hope dwindled.
It was far more likely he was being a complete and utter fool. Would he stand on that beach alone until the stars came out? Would he stand there alone forever?
Plopping down on the sand, Mehdi waited, hardly daring to hope.
“Steph, I’m here,” he whispered.
EIGHTEEN
Steph
Time seemed to dissolve into eternity as Steph learned everything there was to know about each El Farahn family member she had never known existed. The house was somewhat lacking in windows, and when she finally got a chance to peek outside, she felt a wave of panic.
“It’s almost sunset!” she cried.
Her father approached to look out the window with her.
“Why does that matter?”
Steph huffed in frustration. “Tell Mom I had to go—she’ll know where.”
“Steph, what on earth—”
Before her father could finish his exclamation, Steph had her purse in hand and was already out the door. She spotted a cab a block away and ran for it.
A man and woman were exiting the vehicle as Steph approached the driver, her breath labored.
“Please, I need a ride to the beach,” she said.
The driver lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “You have money?”
Steph nodded. “Of course. I can pay you. Please, just get there quickly.”
The driver nodded and gestured for her to get in, which she did, sliding onto the leather seat as he peeled out onto the road and headed back toward the city. Steph watched the sun sink farther under the horizon, and she feared she would be too late. She had no idea how long Mehdi would wait for her, if he was even there.
He had to be there. He simply had to be.
The cab sped up as it drove along a coastal highway, finally making its exit and pulling into a beach parking lot.
“Thank you,” Steph said, giving the man a generous tip.
He grinned and nodded to her. “I hope everything works out,” he said.
“Me too,” Steph said, stepping out of the car and into a cooling desert dusk.
The sun was nearly underwater by the time her feet hit the sand, the sky an inky indigo with just a sliver of creamy orange beneath it. She began searching the beach. There were still plenty of people there, and she walked at a quick pace as she tried to get a good look at the men’s faces without being rude.
Finally, standing alone at the water’s edge, she found him.
He had come.
Mehdi stood, his shoulders slumped, staring out at the fading sun. He looked crestfallen, and Steph could hardly keep herself from jogging over to him. She gave in and did so, though he continued to look out at the sea, totally distracted. When she reached him she gave herself a brief moment to catch her breath before stepping up next to him and looking out at the ocean.
“Room for one more?” she asked.
Mehdi’s eyes widened as he realized who was standing beside him.
“Steph?” he asked, as though trying to prove to himself that she was real.
After a pause, his face broke out into a wide, delighted grin as he wrapped his arms around her and swung her around, her feet landing in the lapping waves.