Twice Upon Qadr - A Shot At Love **EDITING**

Chapter 19

Houssam laughed as Kareem splashed Layla and she took it in the face. She laughed as well, she was a sweet little girl, and began to pull him around the pool, causing the baby to just let out unrestrained laughter.

He had originally planned on letting them swim for half an hour, and then getting them cleaned up before Hana came, after all it wasn't fair to make her have to do the clean up. But they were having so much fun, and he was having just as much fun watching them, that he didn't realize that an hour had passed until he heard a car turn into the driveway.

"Oh Khaltu Hana's here!" he exclaimed.

"Yay!" Layla exclaimed, and Kareem began to copy her even though Houssam was sure the child had no clue what was going on.

***

Hana let herself into the house with the key Yusra had given her, and after taking off her shoes, she went into the living room, looking for everyone. As she approached the kitchen, she heard the shrieks coming from the backyard, and as she stepped outside with a smile, expecting to find them on the small swing set, she froze in her spot as she saw them in the pool.

He was shirtless.

He was shirtless.

Oh my...

She quickly turned around, trying to catch her breathe. She couldn't look at him. Oh my god she had to get away from him this secon...

"Hana!"

Darn it.

"Um Salaam Houssam." She said, keeping her eyes on the ground. He stood before her, water dripping from his body, muscles rippling, Kareem on his hip, and it was such a glorious sight that she honestly wanted to run away. She had never exercised more self-control than at that moment. Perhaps sensing her discomfort, he put Kareem down and pulled his shirt back on. As soon as all of his skin was covered, she let out a deep breath, and managed to look up at him with a smile.

"How are you?" he asked in concern for she looked quite flushed. Maybe she had a fever?

"I'm good. Hi Layla." She called to her niece.

"Hi Khlatu!" she exclaimed before jumping back into the pool. Hana laughed as Layla climbed out to do it again, and she hurriedly grabbed Kareem's hand as the baby tried to rush back towards the water.

"Maya?" Kareem asked using the Arabic word for water and pointing at the pool. Houssam and Hana laughed, and Houssam picked him up.

"I think that's enough for today. Layla come on habibti."

"Aw Amu I want to swim still!" she whined, but when Hana sent her a sharp glance she climbed out of the pool, and wrapped the towel around herself before following the two adults inside.

"Ill get Layla cleaned up if you want to do Kareem?" Hana asked, and Houssam flashed her a smile before going up the stairs and Hana pulled Layla into the downstairs bathroom. Once she had showered the little girl and put her clothes back on, they sat in the living room. A few minutes later, Houssam returned with Kareem, both of them freshly showered as well. Houssam's hair was let down and flowing down his face, and Hana let out an internal sigh.

Here she was totally pining over a guy who liked her best friend. She hadn't told anyone, even Kalthoum that Houssam had asked about her. It had just been too painful. When those words had left his mouth 'she isn't married right?' she had felt the weirdest pain rip across her heart, and she had to resist the urge to put a hand over her chest, and lean over until it went away. He hadn't asked anything else, just that question but it was enough for Hana to know where his thoughts were.