28

King Solomon didn’t ask God to be rich
or to live long. He asked for wisdom and
knowledge (Kings 3:9). I have to be honest …
I’m more selfish than King Solomon.
Abercrombie & Fitch is having a sale next week
and, well …

It’s after midnight when we get back to my condo. We had to retrieve Avi’s duffle from Tarik’s dorm at Northwestern before coming back home where my dad has been waiting for us like an overprotective lion waiting for his precious cub to return from her first hunt.

My dad situated one of our dining room chairs right in front of the door so his face is the first thing we see. His hair is all messed up, no doubt from running his hands through it a million times.

“Hey, Aba,” I say, giving him a peck on his cheek while trying to keep the atmosphere light. Mutt jumps over to me, totally excited and wagging his tail furiously. I pet him, then look back at my stoic dad.

His eyes are narrowed at Avi, who is standing in the doorway with his duffle in hand.

Showdown time.

I put my purse on the table, wondering how long these two can stare each other down. “Avi, why don’t you come in while I get the sheets for your bed.”

Avi looks to my dad for approval. Oh, no. I seriously think my dad might just kick him out right now.

Is anyone else going to talk? Or are the two guys going to stand here staring each other down until one of them gives in and looks away? They’re like dogs.

“If you loved my daughter you’d have her home at a decent hour.”

Avi opens his mouth as if he’s going to say something back, but then closes it. My dad seems content with the silence coming from Avi, as if he’s not even expecting a response. I go to the hall closet to get the sheets because I’m too embarrassed to witness my dad going off on my boyfriend and know I can’t stop it from happening.

When I walk back into the living room, the scene has changed. Avi is sitting on the couch while my dad has moved the dining room chair into the living room. He’s sitting in the chair, facing Avi and watching him.

While Avi and I arrange the sheets, my dad doesn’t change expression or flinch. When I hand Avi a pillow and our hands lightly brush against each other, I wonder if my dad can tell how electric that instantaneous touch was.

As soon as the couch is transformed into a bed, my dad barks, “Time for bed.”

I change into pj’s in my room and pass Avi in the hallway when I go to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. Looking at myself in the mirror, I see a happy person who’s content with her life. It’s not perfect, that’s for sure. But I’m getting there.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I notice my dad has moved the chair from the living room into the hallway, directly between my room and the living room where Avi is sleeping.

“Aba, how long are you going to be sitting there?” I ask him.

“All night.”

I can’t even get mad at him. I know he just worries about me and questions his own effectiveness as a father. After all, I’ve only lived with him a few months and he’s still getting used to having a teenage daughter around. He’s probably wondering what to tell my mom if she grills him on my life. Considering last year I didn’t even want to talk to him, I understand why he’s sitting on a chair in the middle of the hallway and isn’t willing to budge anytime soon.

Moving past him, I say, “I just want to say goodnight to Avi. Does that meet with your approval?”

“That depends on how long your goodnight will last,” he says, abandoning his post to follow me.

Okay, so three’s a crowd in this scenario. It’s not easy saying goodnight to the guy of your dreams when your dad is standing over your shoulder.

“Well, goodnight Avi,” I say sheepishly when I get to the living room and wish we were still on the beach … without an overprotective chaperone.

Avi is sitting on the sofa, wearing baggy shorts and … well, that’s about it. As much as I hate people staring at my chest, I have the hardest time not staring at his. I think he sits there half-dressed to tempt me.

Two can play at this game.

I can’t do it now, but tomorrow I’m going to taunt him by wearing something extra low-cut and tight. Let’s see how he reacts in the morning.

He’s got this huge grin on his face. He has no clue I have ideas spinning in my head. “Lyla tov, Amy,” he says, telling me goodnight in his native language.

I want to say more, but not with my bodyguard behind me, so I stroll back to my room. Although, one backward glance at Avi and I know I don’t even have to say the words. He knows how I feel and what I want to say.

“Seriously, Aba, do you know how embarrassed you’re making me?”

“Seriously, Amy, do you know I don’t care?”

I roll my eyes. In bed, I wonder how long he’ll stay perched on that chair in the middle of the hallway. I hope he falls asleep in that chair and gets a crick in his neck.

I cuddle under the covers of my bed, wishing I was cuddling with Avi instead of my Care Bear.

Two more nights until Avi leaves. How is my heart not going to crush into a million pieces? And how am I going to sleep tonight when I’m too excited to go to bed? I’m replaying the evening in my head, focusing on the “I love you” parts and conveniently skipping over the embarrassing parts on the Northwestern campus.

Because that can easily be erased from my memory.

Although … I wonder if Jess, Nathan, and Miranda are okay. If you want to get technical about it, I did ditch them tonight.