10. Evren
Evren
W hy the hell did I have to open my mouth and make such an offer?
The person I know who makes tables is in Memphis and far more than an acquaintance.
He’s a family friend. Altan has a successful furniture shop in Istanbul and helped decorate our home there.
But he moved to Memphis to be closer to his daughter five years ago.
Altan regularly talks to my mom, and if I bring Nina to visit him, he’ll tell her.
Mom will then come for a visit to meet Nina and my life will become more complicated than it already is.
Shit, I most definitely didn’t think this through, but Nina looked troubled when Zeki offered to buy something temporary while we wait for her to thrift something she likes. Nina clearly didn’t believe I was serious, but following through when it comes to her is important.
I have the impression that she doesn’t expect anyone to make time for her, and that makes me want to prove her wrong. Even though I was planning to go to the office tomorrow, on a Monday, the official day off for my organization, I call Altan and organize my jet to take us to him.
When Nina comes into the kitchen, she’s wearing neon-orange wide-leg pants and a hot-pink floral shirt.
It’s bright and so completely her that it makes me want to smile.
Nina isn’t one to hide or stay in the background, unlike me, who prefers to go unnoticed.
I’m a little envious about her confidence in herself.
“Here’s some coffee.” I hold out a travel mug for her to take. “Come, the car is waiting for us.”
“Is Zeki coming too?” she asks once we enter the black SUV with Nate and another bodyguard in the front. It’s annoying that he’s on her mind. I want her attention on me, and that’s a problem.
“I told him what time to meet us,” I say, “but since he’s not a morning person, I don’t expect he’ll make it.”
“And let me guess, you made sure to make it early to deter him from coming.”
I snort. “Do I look like someone who would play those kinds of games?”
“Yes, yes you do.”
I’m not sure what she means by that. I’m normally not fun or carefree, and yet, when I’m around her, I feel different. Like how I used to be before work took over everything, before the weight of providing for my family fell to my shoulders.
When we’re a few minutes from the airport, Nina’s phone rings. The word Mom flashes across the screen. She silences it, but it rings a second later. She silences it again and then turns off her ringer.
I’m not sure what that’s about, but there’s a tightness to her and a blankness to her face that wasn’t there before. I don’t like it, not one bit.
When we arrive, Zeki’s already waiting on the stairs outside.
“Surprise,” he says, sliding his sunglasses to the top of his head.
“Didn’t think you’d make it.” I pull him into a hug, surprised that he’s not only on time, but early yet again. In all fairness, he’s been early for every meeting we’ve made since he’s come to town. Maybe he really is turning over a new leaf…
“I hope you’re ready for the best plane ride of your life, Nina,” Zeki says.
“The best?” she asks, still in a somber mood.
Zeki leads her up the stairs. “Would I lie to you?”
“Welcome,” my cabin attendant says, interrupting whatever her response would be. “Please settle in and I’ll come over for your drink orders shortly.”
My jet can fit twelve people comfortably, with the plush chairs and couch. Zeki ushers Nina into a seat and he sits across from her. He gives me a look that tells me I’m stupid if I don’t take this chance to sit next to her.
So, I do just that and sit next to Nina.
“You couldn’t find another empty seat?” she grumbles.
“I could,” I say, “but the balance of the aircraft would be off, then.”
She glances at me. “Is that really a thing, or did you just make it up?”
“It’s real,” Zeki says, supporting my lie. I shoot him a grateful look and he says, “Don’t worry, Evren won’t manspread on you.”
“Thank God for small miracles,” she mutters.
When the cabin attendant returns to take our drink orders, I order cappuccinos for Nina and me, and Zeki orders a Bloody Mary.
Nina gives Zeki a considering look. “Ordering alcohol at seven in the morning is certainly a choice .”
“Yes, a brilliant one.” Zeki grins and then yawns. “Shit, it’s too early to socialize. I’m going to take a nap, but eventually we do need to go over our ideas for Ben.”
“We can do it on the way back,” I say.
Zeki nods and chugs his Bloody Mary before ambling over to the couch and closing his eyes.
“Who’s Ben?” Nina asks me.
“A new sponsor I’m trying to sign on. His company, Glam Pop, wants us to prove our brands align before agreeing since his customers are mainly women.”
“And what are your ideas?”
“Why? Are you finally willing to work with me?”
Nina rolls her eyes and the captain interrupts whatever she was about to say by making an announcement that it’ll take four hours to reach Memphis. When we speed up to take off, Nina tenses, closes her eyes, and grips the armrest.
“Are you a nervous flyer?” I ask, surprised.
“Now what would give you that impression?” Nina snaps.
Prickly until the end… I like it. I grab her hand in mine and make small circles on the back, trying to distract her. She glances at me.
“You don’t have to comfort me.”
“I know,” I say, simply.
“Really, I’m fine.”
“I’ll believe that when you stop gripping my hand to death. Have you flown before?”
“Yes,” she says, “but only a few times. Growing up, we didn’t have money to go on vacation, let alone take a plane.”
“Same for us.”
Her eyes widen in surprise before she frowns, as if trying to process what she just heard.
“I didn’t grow up in a wealthy family,” I clarify.
“Really?” She draws out the word, full of doubt. “I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true.”
“Okay, then tell me a story from when you were a child.”
“Why?” I ask, wearily.
“Just do it.” She has a small smirk on her face as if saying got you . I don’t normally share the details of my life with anyone. But I guess Nina’s not just anyone .
“When I was six,” I say, “I wanted to try cream cheese. It’s such a stupid thing to have wanted, but at that time, my friends would rave about it, and I didn’t want to be left out.
My mom said it was too expensive, that she couldn’t afford it, and I had a full-on meltdown in the store.
In my anger, I threw a rock at the store window, and it shattered.
My mom was mortified, and my father had to work in the store to pay off the new window since he didn’t have the money to replace it.
We were already living with my grandparents because my parents were living paycheck to paycheck.
It was a one-bedroom apartment, and my parents and I basically lived in the living room, them on the couch, me on the floor.
I didn’t see my dad for weeks after I broke that stupid window since he had to work two jobs to pay off my mistake. ”
Her smirk slips from her face as if understanding all the things I didn’t say.
How we barely had enough money to feed five people.
How my parents were constantly stressed because we were one wrong move away from us all being homeless if they couldn’t make the rent on my grandparents’ place.
How I had to step in when I got older and start working small jobs to contribute.
“Shit,” she whispers. She runs a hand through her hair and stares at the floor while she appears to be thinking through something.
“What about you?” I ask. “When you were six, what were you doing?”
“I… It wasn’t a good year.” She swallows hard, staring at the seats across from us.
“I was stealing food from El odie’s house.
” She says it in a whisper, as if still ashamed by that fact.
“They don’t know I did that.” She glances at me, her eyes watery, but the tears don’t fall.
“I’m not sure why I just told you that.”
“I won’t tell anyone.” I squeeze her hand in mine. “Remember? I’m a workaholic without any friends.”
Her lips twitch, and that’s better than her being on the verge of tears.
“Can I ask another question?” I ask.
“Depends on what it is.”
“Where were your mom and dad during that time?”
Her face goes completely blank before saying, “Never knew my dad, but my mom cared more about funding her pill habit than anything else. Still does.” She says it bitterly, and now her mom calling and Nina’s reaction to that makes more sense.
I somehow knew Nina didn’t have an easy life, but I didn’t realize how bad it was until now. Sure, my parents didn’t have money, but they were good, loving parents and I wasn’t alone. Not like how Nina sounds like she was.
“Thank you for sharing that with me,” I say instead of I’m sorry . I hated when people said I’m sorry after my grandparents or my dad died, as if that made it better. It’s such a meaningless statement.
“I guess one good thing came out of that time,” she says. “I learned to sew by hand when I was seven and started making my clothes fit.”
“That’s impressive, to learn so young.”
“Eh, not really. Desperation has a way of doing that to a person, but turns out sewing is the only thing I’m good at.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” I say. “You’re good at many things.”
“Like what?”
“Like intimidating people.”
She snorts. “And what? Do you think I’m intimidating?”
“Not at all.”
“Damn, and here I was thinking you were scared of me.”
I raise my eyebrow, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth as I lean toward her. My gaze sweeps over her as I say, “No, pariltim .” I let the word linger between us. “I’m just wondering how long until youare of me.”
“Please. You aren’t intimidating.” She pats me on the shoulder in mock pity. “It’s cute that you think you are.”