I nod. “I’m also surprised.”
She grins. “It could be good news.”
We enter Wen’s room. I walk silently toward the small black-and-white ball sleeping in a padded basket. It’sso small and cute.
chapter 40
Zloban
My eyes find her the instant I enter the dining room. I guess something new is being added to my list of disorders: the need to touch her whenever she comes physically close. It existed before, but back then it was only a want. Now, it has become a need.
“Mom and Aunt are watching you. Stop staring at her for fuck’s sake, at least blink your goddamn eyes like a normal human,” Leo mutters close to me.
I look down at my plate.
After dinner, everyone heads to the game room. In the past, I used to take my leave by this time, but today I don’tneed to. I will be staying here overnight and then leave tomorrow with my Dove.
They choose the “Guess the Movie” game. Everyone splits into two teams, one team for American blood, the other for Italian blood. They play this game every Christmas with this team arrangement.
Uncle, Mom, Wen, Avira, and Leo are in one team. Dad, Aunt, Ma, and Pa are in the other.
“It’s good that you are here. We will also have five members on our team,” Pa says.
I nod.
Avira stands in the center. “Ok, ladies and gentlemen, since we have a new member who doesn’t know the rules, let me repeat them.” Her eyes meet mine, and her smile widens. My lips curl on their own. She is just looking at me, and yet I feel warmth spreading through me everywhere.
“So, Zoan, the rules are simple. One team will give a movie name to a member of the other team, and he or she will have to make the other members of their team guess the name. You can’t speak, and you cannot write letters in the air. Got it?” She tilts her head.
I nod.
She sits down among the other members of her team, discussing the movie name.
Wen gets up. “Ok, we have the movie. Pa, come here and take the movie name.”
Pa gets up, moves to the center, and Wen whispers the name in his ear before settling down. Pa turns toward us and shows three fingers.
Aunt speaks, “Three-word name?”
Pa nods.
He shows one finger.
Dad speaks, “First is…”
Pa waves one hand.
“Get lost,” Ma says.
Pa shakes his head.
“Go,” I say.
Pa points, then shows three fingers and points toward me.
Dad says, “Third is also ‘Go.’”
Pa nods.
