"Why are we here again?" asked Thomas.

I quickly parked the car. "Bashir wanted to come here."

I had decided to come back to the Sweet Paradise Café. The Oreo cookie latte I tried a couple days ago was delicious. Even though the Muslim girl behind the counter was a pain in the ass, she knew how to make good food. I might have also been intrigued by the spitfire that was suppose to have better customer service qualities. Then again I did provoke her.

"Sure he did," said Thomas sarcastically as he opened the car door. "It's totally not for the pretty girl behind the counter."

Bashir slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked ahead of us. He turned to us, walking backwards, "Ibrahim has a thing for Sister Tasneem?"

"Her name is Tasneem?" I asked, curious. Her name rolled off my tongue with ease.

Tasneem wasn't unattractive from what I could tell. I didn't look at her for too long but she was definitely an eye stealer for men. Her golden skin contrasted well with her white hijab. Her eyes were a warm shade of brown. Her cute button nose and small lips seemed to tempt me.

The thing that caught my attention was her aura of innocence. She had no idea who I was. Even when I provoked her, she apologized immediately.

Bashir nodded. "Yeah, she works there with her family." He turned back around and walked in step with me.

"Kid, why you telling him these things?" groaned Thomas. "You realize he's going to go stalker 101 on her now."

I scoffed "Like you're one to talk."

He glared at me. "Fight me."

"Gladly," I smirked as I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. I caught him off guard.

"Okay! Jesus, man! I surrender!"

I rolled my eyes and let him go. "I barely touched you."

"Fucking dick head," he muttered under his breath.

I heard Bashir snicker.

"Muttering doesn't mean I can't hear you," I replied dryly.

"No really? I thought it made me superior this whole time."

I gave him a blank stare, "Your sarcasm is not appreciated."

Thomas chuckled. His brown hair falling over his forehead at the movement. The sun was beaming on our faces. I squinted at the sign on the clear glass door. Closed.

I frowned. It was only Thursday, not even one pm yet and she closed the store?

"Damn it. I wanted to try her coffee cakes today," said Bashir, disappointed.

Thomas shrugged, "Oh well, better try again another day. Let's go!"

"Wait," I said as Thomas started to walk back to the car. I looked through the glass door. "You idiots, she's in there."

Tasneem was dancing around the café with a broom in her hand. She wore her typical white hijab I saw the other day. The café apron wrapped snugly around her hips. Her denim jeans clung to her thick thighs as she continued to dance to whatever she was listening too. She had ear buds in and was pretending the broom was a microphone. I looked around. It seemed like she was alone.

I knocked.

She simply ignored me.

I knocked harder this time.

Her eyes shot to the door in surprise. I grinned at her as her jaw slowly dropped. A faint red rose to her cheeks as her captivating brown eyes widened. She probably just realized I had seen her little dance show.

I knocked again to snap her out of her embarrassed haze. She quickly came to the door and opened it.

"What are you guys doing here?" she asked, her brows scrunched in confusion.

Thomas gave me a look while I flipped him off behind my back.

"Children," chuckled Bashir before turning his gaze to Tasneem. "My brother wanted to eat at your café today."

Tasneem looked surprised. "You're related to him?" she questioned Bashir.

"Sadly," Bashir sighed playfully.

I nudged his side, choosing to let my actions do all the talking. He let out a low groan.

"That hurt, you jerk," winced Bashir.

Tasneem put her hand on her hip. A small smile of amusement dancing on her lips as she gazed at me,"Even your family members think you're a jerk."

Thomas snorted, "Jerk isn't a strong enough word for him."

"Are you going to stand there all day gawking at us or are you going to let us come in?" I questioned, my tone was harsh.

She narrowed her eyes at me but chose to stay quiet as she let us in. Good, she learned manners today.

Thomas pulled my arm back. "You seriously came here just to be rude to her?" he whispered.

I brushed his hand off my new tailored suit. "I had other reasons."

"What can I get you lovely gentlemen?" she asked with a perfect smile planted on her small lips.

"Quit it. You're still holding pent up anger because of the other day," I replied, looking up at the menu. "And frankly, I'm not in the mood."

Her smile faltered a little but she regained her posture. "I'm not here to please you, sir."

"I think you are, considering that the customer is always right," I smirked.

"Just please order," she sighed, feeling defeated.

I gave her a mocking smile. "Where would the fun be in that?"

"Why do you bother coming back if you hate my guts so much?" she glared daggers at me.

I leaned over the counter my face inches from her own. She didn't look away from my hard stare. She stared right at me with a fierce flare in her usually warm brown eyes.

"Because I can," I said, lowly. "Keep in mind that disrespecting me could mean that I take away your café."

She gasped, "You wouldn't."

I gave her a dark grin. "I would."

"Ibrahim, you're taking this a little too far," said Bashir, quietly.

"Dude, I agree with your little brother. Stop scaring her," warned Thomas.

Her lips were pressed in a thin line. "Ibrahim, huh?"

I nodded, anticipating her response to my threat.

I didn't realize how good the thrill of arguing with someone who wasn't scared of me felt like. She challenged me just as I kept pushing her to. Her eyes never straying from my cold ones.

She crossed her arms over her chest. A ghost of a smile feathering her pink lips. "You know what I think of your threat, Ibrahim?"

My name sounded so good coming from her mouth. "Stop your games and just say it, sweetheart," I drawled out, tapping my fingers against the marble.

"This," she smirked as her hands wrapped around something.

Next thing I knew I was covered in the strawberry ice cream sundae. The cold sinking into my dress shirt. The dark stain spreading on my suit jacket.

She threw it at me.

She fucking threw it at me.

I felt anger bubble within me. Thomas and Bashir chose to stay silent behind me. Thomas stifled his laugh with a fake cough. I glared at him, which made him shut up. I turned back to Tasneem.

"You have any idea how much this suit costs," my tone deadly as I felt my eye twitch.

She didn't seem to care as she started wiping the counter with a white cloth.

"When someone talks to you, I'm sure they want a response," I seethed, annoyed at her childish behavior.

She ignored me.

"Talk. Explain yourself," I demanded.

Silence.

"Ibrahim, I think we should go," whispered Thomas. "You're screwing with her right now, man."

"I don't fucking care," I gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Ibrahim, seriously, let it go. I'll get you a new suit," pleaded Thomas while he pulled at my arm.

I held my ground, waiting for her answer. I saw her shoulders slump as her cleaning halted. Her head was down, staring at the counter as if it held answers to what she wanted to say.

Then, she looked up.

The tension in my body left as I stared into the swirls of pain and misery in her eyes. They were glazed with tears. Her face flushed as her bottom lip quivered. I felt regret for yelling at her. I opened my mouth to apologize until she spoke.

"Get out," she said softly. Her voice was so quiet I almost didn't hear her.

I didn't move.

"I said get out!" she yelled. A tear slipped from the corner of her eyes. The lone drop trailing down her smooth cheek. My heart lurched in shame.

I turned to walk away, signaling Thomas and Bashir to follow me. Over my shoulder, I said, "I'm sorry."

Her breathing was uneven. "Muslims like you make me sick," she mumbled.

Her words cut deep in me, yet I simply closed the door and walked away. My mind was screaming at me to turn around and properly apologize to her. My body refused to listen as my legs kept walking. Why did my threat hurt her so badly?

"Thomas, I need you to research the Sweet Paradise Café for me."

He sighed, "Here comes the stalker train."