Between the Lines
"She runs a Somali women's book club—reading diaspora authors, discussing identity over tea. He's the brother who keeps dropping off his sister and staying for the discussions. Literary analysis becomes something more when they start reading each other."
"Your brother can't keep crashing book club."
I say this to Amina, but Ismail hears.
"I have thoughts on Nuruddin Farah." He settles into the corner. "I'm contributing."
"You're supposed to wait in the car."
"The car doesn't have tea." He accepts a cup. "Or your analysis."
He stays every week.
The only man in our circle of women discussing Nadifa Mohamed and Diriye Osman.
"Men don't usually care about this," someone observes.
"Men should care about this." He looks at me. "These are our stories."
We argue about books.
About endings. About meanings. About what stories owe their readers.
"You're wrong," I tell him one night.
"I'm different." He steps closer. "That's not the same thing."
"In what way are you different?"
"I think this author writes about love because she's lonely." He holds my gaze. "Not because she's romantic."
"How do you know?"
"Because I recognize it."
"Stay after."
I say it before I can stop myself.
He stays. We talk. About books first, then about everything else.
"I come for you," he admits. "Not the literature."
"The literature is excellent."
"You're better."
We kiss among my bookshelves.
First editions and worn paperbacks witnessing what we've been writing between our words.
"Ismail—"
"I've wanted to read you since the first discussion."
"Read me?"
"Know you. Understand you." He pulls me closer. "Every chapter."
We make love surrounded by stories.
Our own narrative unfolding better than any fiction.
"You're my favorite book—"
"We're writing something new." He moves with me. "Something ours."
The book club notices.
They approve. Amina claims credit for the introduction.
"She's the one who made me drive her," Ismail says.
"And now?"
"Now I drive myself." He kneels. "Now I'm asking for a lifetime subscription."
He opens a ring box.
"Marry me. Be my forever reading partner."
I say yes.
Best plot twist ever.