A week has gone by, busy with preparation for exams. I am currently at Ethan's place. We plan to spend the day together even though we see each other practically every day. I am in the kitchen with Grace, making lunch together.

"Ethan, if you were a woman, I would have assumed you were giving birth up there. Why are you taking so long?" I say, making sure my voice is loud enough for him to hear me all the way upstairs.

"I am done taking a shower; I will be there in a sec," Ethan says, screaming back downstairs.

"Ever since I have known that boy, he has always taken so much time in the bathroom," Grace says, shaking her head while chuckling.

"I wonder what he does in there; even a woman does not take as much time as he does."

"I truly have no idea, my dear, and please excuse me. "I need to make a phone call."

"Alright, take your time."

"That's because I want to look good for you, baby," Ethan says, whispering huskily into my ear, causing a cold shiver to go down my spine.

"Hmmm, I never knew I was the reason," I say smiling while turning around to face him.

He looks as ravishing as ever with his hair packed into a man's bun. Since the beginning of this year, Ethan decided to allow his hair to grow longer. I love it when he packs his hair. It makes him look more attractive. He is wearing a singlet that shows off those biceps of his, and I can also see a little detail of his abs through his singlet. God Ethan is a bag of sexy.

I wish I did not turn around because we are only a breath away from each other. His breath is fanning my forehead, creating a blissful feeling through my body. Why is my body reacting in such a way I have never felt before? I raise my head and fix my gaze on his grey eyes. He is staring at me with a different look in his eyes. A look I have only seen the night he kissed me. Does he want to kiss me? Oh my God, what if he does. Will I be able to stop him like last time? I avert my eyes from his and land them on those gorgeous red lips of his. He licks his lips, and there is nothing more I would love than to have mine against his, but I can't. What have I gotten myself into? Ethan's face starts getting closer to mine.

I begin to feel hot all over me, and I don't know why. Is he going to kiss me? I have to stop him before he does, but I want him to kiss me so bad, but I don't want him to because I know it's wrong. Ya Allah, I am losing my mind right now. I want to give in to my desires for Ethan more than anything right now, but I know if I do that, then I am disobeying my lord, my creator, Allah. I am about to pull back when suddenly my phone starts ringing. Oh Allah, bless whoever that person is for saving me right now.

"I need to answer this," I say quickly walking away from him. Ya Allah, that was really close.

"Hey, babe, why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" Amina says through the FaceTime call.

"I didn't see a ghost, but something far more serious was on the verge of happening again."

"Hmmm, from the way you look and what you just said. I can guess you and Ethan kissed again. "

"We were almost kissing if it hadn't been for your call. I am so happy you called because I don't think I would have been able to resist for too long. "

"This is what I was trying to warn you about the first day you told me you were going to start dating Ethan. Even though you guys agreed to remove intimacy from your relationship, the devil is not dead, and you are both people who have desires and feelings for each other. The devil can make you do a lot of sinful acts with these desires you guys have for one another. Adina I don't need to tell you that you are playing with fire because you already know. Only Allah knows how far you guys would have gone with the lust in your eyes a few seconds ago. "

"Amina I know you are right, but I can't just leave Ethan. I have deep feelings for him. "

"I know you do and that's why the only thing I can tell you now is to be very careful because I don't want to see you hurt."

"I know."

"All right, I just wanted to check in on you; I'll talk to you later."

"Bye, love, and say hello to those two men who make your life a living hell," I said, referring to my brother and nephew.

"I will," Amina says, laughing, before hanging up the phone.

I know deep down what I am meant to do, but I can't bear to bring myself to do it. I just want to give Ethan and me a chance, even though it seems impossible; I still want to try. I know it might seem like I am wasting my time because he is not a Muslim, and we might not have a future together, but I am not. His being a non-Muslim can always change in the blink of an eye, which is why I am hopeful that Ethan and I will become something wonderful tomorrow.

"Hey, who were you talking to?" Ethan asks as he steps into the balcony.

"I was talking to Amina."

"Oh, the best friend of yours who does not approve of our relationship."

"I won't say she does not approve, but rather she wants us to be careful so we won't hurt one another."

"Whatever floats your boat, and go pray so we can start the movie once you're finished."

"How did you know it was time for prayer?" I say, feeling happy that Ethan has an interest in my religious affairs.

"Because I've been dating you for a month and I'm aware of the time you pray."

"Wow, I am amazed you do. "I would never have guessed you knew when I prayed. "

"I do because it is something important to you and you are special to me, so I have to help you with what's important in your life," Ethan says, and I feel my heart melt more for him. These are the little things he does for me that make me fall for him more.

"Thank you, dear," I say, smiling.

"Anytime and I have to ask why do you guys pray."

"We pray because it's compulsory or obligatory."

"And why is that?"

"It is compulsory because he wants us to remember him."

"Really, just to remember him."

"It's not just to remember him. A lot happens when you remember him. When we remember our Creator, Allah, we remember to thank him for the life he has given us. The food, the shelter and other amazing things he has done for us. By remembering him, we remember to obey him and do all the righteous deeds he has asked us to do and stay away from sin. By praying, we remember to praise him for his greatness and ask him for his mercy on us, and a lot more. I can keep going on about " I say smiling gracefully while talking about my creator.

"Wow, I could have never imagined so much by just remembering him."

"Yeah, I know, and this is just one of the reasons, out of many reasons, why prayer has been made compulsory for Muslims."

"Wow, your religion is truly more than what is being shown on TV."

"Yes, it is."

It never stops to amaze me how time flies and truly waits for no one. I am having a beautiful afternoon by the poolside at Mr Federico's hotel while I wait for him to arrive. He is having a meeting in his office, so I decided to enjoy some fresh air and wait outside. My dad and Mr Federico are in the same type of business. Usman is the one handling most of the affairs of my dad's chain of hotels that he will be taking over soon. I'm meeting him today to assist Usman in signing a document.

"Hello dear, sorry for keeping you waiting," Mr Federico says once he takes his seat.

"Good day sir and no need to apologize."

"How many times have I told you to stop acting formally around me?"

"Forgive me, I am used to it, but next time I will try my best to call you by your first name."

"Good"

"Alright, Usman said that he has read the contract and is fine with it. All that is left is your signature for the deal to be complete," I say placing the papers in front of him. Mr Federico sent the documents to my brother first, so he already knows what's in them.

"Alright that's wonderful," Mr Federico says signing the papers

"Thank you," I say as I take the papers from him. "I'll have them mailed back to him tomorrow."

"You know your brother did not have to send you with the documents. He could have mailed it to my office, so as not to disturb you. "

"It's nothing."

"Okay, Adina. I wanted to talk to you about something. "

"I'm all ears," I say, wondering what he has to say to me.

"I want to apologize again for the way my family behaved last time."

"Like I said that night, it's fine. You don't have to apologize. "

"I do because Ethan was right; my wife went out of line with her questions and assumptions. But I know Ethan was also wrong in the way he approached the matter. I am truly sorry for the way things played out that night. "

"It's fine; all is forgiven," I say with a soft smile.

"I know you must be wondering why I kept quiet through the whole argument. It is because my dear Ethan and his step-family have never gotten along. Ethan has hated both of them since the first day they walked into that house for reasons I don't understand. It pains me whenever I see him and my wife fighting, but there is nothing I can do because I can't let either of them go. In my heart, I adore both of them. I wish there were a way I could end this feud in my family," Mr Federico says with a lot of sadness. It hurts me to see him go through what he is going through right now.

"I am sorry you are going through this, but hopefully, with time, everything will get better," I say with an assuring smile.

"I hope so, my dear, I really do."

Mr Federico and I parted ways a few minutes ago. I am in the lobby, waiting for Khloe to pick me up. My car was having some issues, so I took it in for repairs. I feel a bit thirsty, so I walk towards the bar area on the ground floor to get some water to drink. I am taking a sip of water when a voice that sounds familiar, but I can't remember its owner calls my name.

"Adina, is that you?" The voice says, I turn around and come face to face with Ethan's stepbrother, Austin.

"Yes, it's me. Why are you asking?" I wonder what he wants from me. I know he does not like me, so he is not just coming to say hi.

"Aha, no need to be hostile. The past is the past; all should be forgotten," Austin says, with a fake smile plastered on his face.

"I am not hostile; I am straight with you."

"Whatever suits your boat, so tell me what a lovely lady like yourself is doing at a bar so early. Did you and Ethan already call it quits?"

"No, we did not, even though that is what you pray for. What I am doing here is for me to know and for you to not know.

"Whatever, but you know I can make you feel better," Austin says with a smirk on his face.

"Excuse me, make me feel better in what way?" I am totally baffled by his incredible assumptions about himself alone because only if I am mad will I think he is better.

"In bed, my lady, I can have you screaming my name like you have never screamed his before. When I'm done with you, I'll make you unable to walk for days," he says, whispering into my ears.

"You know, people just make assumptions when they think someone is nuts, but right now, I don't have any assumptions about you. You must have something wrong with you to have the audacity to say those worthless words to me. You even had the guts to bring that thing you call your mouth close to my ears. The next time you want to say rubbish, find somebody who has the same useless time as you to waste. If you don't mind, excuse me," I say, hissing with disgust at the words he said out of his mouth for the first time.

Even though Ethan and I are not intimate, did he really think I would sleep with him? He must be on drugs to believe such a thing. I get out of my seat and walk back to the lobby to wait for Khloe because I can't stand another second in front of someone who makes my body crawl with disgust.

Ethan's stepfamily is a case. I wonder why Ethan hates his stepmom because other than the fact that she acted like I was coming to steal her money, she did not seem that horrible. I also believe there is a deeper reason for Ethan's dislike for her. I think the only way to find out is to ask the one who has hatred in him. I hope whatever the reason could be; I pray it gets resolved because I know it would make Mr Federico very happy if that happens.