【】blahishesaid.“i,ar.ireallydo.”</p>

“soraya”</p>

“yeah.”</p>

“dostetdaru”iloveyou.</p>

“iloveyouback,”shesaid.iuldhearthesleinherareful.”</p>

“iorething.donttellyourparentsefroe.”</p>

“okay.”</p>

wehungup.</p>

thelaerieassyinislabadoabad:flataertheyjaetal</p>

deteiledyna.sheanidseenihingotherthanaburqaorashaleez.shelookedupontheappointntlist,tappingtheeraserendofherpenynaandaskedtotakeaseat.</p>

“elenade”sheasked.</p>

“nonefor,thanks,”isaid.</p>

“hoyourson”</p>

“excuse”</p>

“thehandsoyoulen,”shesaid,slingatsohrab.</p>

“oh.thatdbehankyou.”</p>

sohrabandisatontheblaeriagazinefroheglasstopffeetable.heflippedthepages,notreallylookingatthepictures.</p>

“”sohrabsaid.</p>

“sorry”</p>

“youresling.”</p>

“ihinkingaboutyou,”isaid.</p>

hegaveanervoussle.piagazineandflippedthroughitihirtysends.</p>

“dontbeafraid,”isaid,touyoyseat,untyingayingshoelaonadehitheffeetable.“thereyougo.”</p>

sohrabsledshyly.“thankyouverych,”hesaidinenglish.itcaoutas“tankyouatch.”ite,thatand“haveaniceday.”</p>

shelaughed.“youreste.”sheoherdesk,highheelscligonthefloor.</p>

“haveaniceday,”sohrabsaid.</p>

rayndandred,eaisérablesposterapoftheu.s.apotoftotoplantsbaskedinthesunonthewindowsill.</p>

“ske”heasked,hisvoiceadeepbaritohatoddshhisslightstature.</p>

“nothanks,”isaid,notptypathesadraatoplantsasherubbedlotionintohishands,outh.thenheeyourstory.”</p>

ifeltlikejeanvaljeansittingajavert.irendedselfthatierie.“ibacktothestatese,”isaid.</p>