“So that we can introduce ourselves, of course.”
“Uhm…” I flick my eyes to Ember, looking for help.
“That feels a tad… threatening, Mother,” Ember says diplomatically.
“Don’t you worry. I promise I’ll be friendly,” she reassures.
“We are always friendly.” Ahmose nods.
“I should’ve warned you that Mother can be… intense,” Ember mutters under his breath as he gently moves Amina out of the way and takes his place next to me with his arm around my shoulder.
“No shit. SHOOT! Sorry. You didn’t prepare me for them at all,” I whine, stumbling over my words. Meeting his parents feels like a big step in our relationship, and it's blindsided us. I almost want to be mad, but the love and happiness on Ember’s face when he looks at his parents quells most of my anger.
“Their number, please, darling,” his mother asks, already typing something into her phone.
As I recite my mother’s phone number, I question silently how the fuck I went from cuddling Ember to giving my in-laws my mom’s phone number. No… Not in-laws. We aren’t mated yet!
“This will be delightful,” she giggles, looking just like her son, as she presses the call button.
Behind her, Ember’s father studies me carefully. “You are safe with us,” he says quietly, reassuring me as my anxiety ratchets up a few notches. It’s nice having another omega around who can understand what I’m feeling, even if it’s Ember’s dad.
I feel like I should defend my parents, but I’m not sure it’s worth the effort.
“They aren’t bad people.” I swallow hard. “My dad just never knew what to do with me as his only omega child.” I shrug helplessly.
Ahmose nods, reassured that I’m not scared of my family, just a little estranged.
Amina walks away, phone ringing in her hand, before pausing to look at me with a bright smile that would rival her son’s. “Oh, and Sunshine?”
“Ma’am?” I ask, scared of what she could possibly need from me now.
“Welcome to the family, darling. We are so happy that Ember has finally found you,” she says, turning back to her phone call.
My chest is tight with some unnamed emotion, almost choking me with the sensation of belonging to this amazing and loving family.
Chapter Nineteen
Sunshine
Trepidation rolls through me as Amina puts the phone on speaker as it rings. Her face is serene, seeming to anyone that she doesn’t have a care in the world. Ember is leaning against the kitchen island, arms crossed, watching me unravel with his usual calm. His father is seated at the kitchen table, radiating the same inner peace as the rest of his family.
Maybe I should take up yoga. That would help me find the same energy as these psychopaths, I’m sure.
“Breathe,” Ember murmurs.
“I am breathing,” I hiss.
“Hyperventilating is not breathing, Habibi.”
The phone stops ringing with aclickas my mom picks up the other line.
“Hello?”
“Hi there! Am I speaking with Sunshine’s mother?” Amina asks, her voice bright and cheerful.
“Yes… May I ask who is calling?”
“Wonderful! My name is Amina Abbas. I’m Ember’s mother.”
