“You are forbidden from using portals,” Nima said. “No traveling to Earth—”
“Or to anywhere else,” my father interjected, to which I rolled my eyes, because I would never again hop through a creepy portal. “For a month.”
“Deal!” I shouted before they could tack on some extra punishment.
“She took that much too well.”
“Maybe we were too lenient,” Nima agreed.
My gaze volleyed between them, praying they weren’t reconsidering their decision. “You made me get engaged,” I shot in.
Both their eyes narrowed.
“Clearly, you’reexceedinglyupset about that,” Iba said.
I smiled; they smiled.
I walked over to them and leaned in for a group hug.
Nima sniffled loudly. “Never do that again,abiwoojin. Never goanywherewithout telling one of us where, promise?”
“I promise.” My arms tightened around their necks, and their arms tightened around my back. “I love you.”
“Not as much as we do, Amara,” they said at the very same time.
“Ut Rowane retri,” Iba added.
I swear, they shared a mind. Was that how Remo and I would be someday? Always surfing on the same wavelength?
As I stood, Iba turned to my mother. “Should I have that talk with Remo tonight or tomorrow?”
I coughed. “A talk?”
“If you two are planning on spending time together,privately,” Nima said, “you can bet we’re going to have a little chat with him.”
“Weren’t you on your way to see Cruz? Cruz who you thought was dead. Cruz—”
“You made your point, Amara.” Iba shot back his whiskey. “But tomorrow . . .” He wagged his finger.
“I’ll warn him.”
“Because you’re planning on seeing him tonight?” Nima asked.
Where was that field of mud when I needed it?
“You shouldn’t keep Cruz waiting. He must be exhausted. I’m exhausted.” I feigned a huge yawn as I backed up toward their sliding glass door.
“Pappy and Nana are expecting you at breakfast tomorrow,” Nima said.
“I’ll be there.”
One of her black eyebrows creeped up. “Alone?”
Although a blush stained my jaw, I asked, “If he’s free, can I bring him along?”
“He probably won’t want to after that talk—”
I cut off my father, “Please, don’t scare him away.”
