Yasmin spent most of her life focused on her studies, the opposite sex rarely interesting her enough to pull her away from her books. Her sister was more outgoing than Yasmin, but similar in that she didn’t date often. Their mother feared she would die without grandchildren.

“Someone I met a few months ago,” Yasmin murmured, staring at the spot where she’d last seen him. “He wanted to congratulate me.”

“He’s very handsome,” Aisha said, appearing on Yasmin’s other side.

“Yes, he is,” Yasmin agreed.

“I don’t like the looks of him,” her father grumbled from next to his wife. “A polite man would’ve stayed to meet your family. Stay away from that one, daughter. He’s nothing but trouble.”

Yasmin laughed, though she agreed with him. Volkan was trouble.

While her mother desperately wanted grandchildren, her father would die a happy man if his daughters forsook dating in favour of a tranquil life of study and spinsterhood.

Yasmin linked her arm with her sister’s and forced a smile onto her lips. Though Volkan’s sudden appearance had rattled her, this was her graduation, and she was going to enjoy it. “Where are you taking me for supper? I’m starving.”

Her parents took her and her sister out to a fancy restaurant where they shared a bottle of sparkling wine and toasted the graduate. They wrapped up their mini family reunion early since her parents had a long drive home.

Yasmin hugged her parents goodbye and she and Aisha waved as they drove away. When their car disappeared around the corner, Aisha turned to her. “Okay, graduate, where’s the real party at?”

Yasmin laughed and told her sister that she was meeting her roommates and a few friends at a nightclub. Aisha perked up, and Yasmin invited her along. Aisha was always a good time, even if she stole the attention with her beauty and quirky personality.

“What are you wearing?” Aisha asked, passing a critical eye over her sister as Yasmin opened her coat. Shaking her head, Aisha rejected Yasmin’s leggings and cardigan sweater. “Absolutely not. You’re a grownup now. It’s time to set away the girlish things and embrace your sex appeal.”

Yasmin laughed but agreed to the short walk back to Aisha’s place where the two women shared a few glasses of wine and went through Aisha’s wardrobe, which was much more extensive than Yasmin’s.

In the end, Yasmin chose a leather miniskirt and a cherry red cropped sweater that showed off a swath of her tanned belly. Her feet were smaller than Aisha’s so she had to wear her Mary Jane’s, which didn’t quite go with the outfit.