【】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>