Ahmed simply said "of course" like it was the most reasonable request in the world. Michelle looked at me more suspiciously, but nodded with a grin. I suspected there would be a grilling later.

We bantered back and forth like that while the waiter came and took our orders. I had mostly given up drinking, but Michelle asked if I wanted to split a bottle of wine. I looked over and Daddy nodded, so we went ahead. It was my birthday so I figured a little wine would be ok. Daddy and Ahmed chatted, a bit about politics I think, which was kind of boring. Michelle and I gossiped about...