Page 98 of The Pacifist
Magni pointed to Laura. “Babe, tell them how well I coped with you changing from meek to strong-minded. And what about Pearl turning up here and coming between me and Khan? I’ve adapted, haven’t I?”
My mom pushed up from her chair and walked over to him. “Yes, you have. It always takes you a while, but eventually you make it work.”
He pulled her into his arms and shot Khan and Pearl a told-you-so look.
Khan held up two palms signaling that he surrendered. “Maybe in time you can adapt a little faster and skip the shouting and throwing things around part?”
My dimples came out as I smiled at my dad. “I second what Khan said, but I’ve got to go now.”
“Tell Jonah I want to see him in my office as soon as he arrives,” my dad called out behind me.
“It will be late. You can talk to him tomorrow.”
“Why isn’t she listening to me anymore?” he complained to the others, but there was no need for me to stop and answer him when Pearl did it perfectly for me.
“Because Mila is finally her own woman now.”
CHAPTER 21
Forever
Jonah
“Stop tapping your foot on the floor. It won’t make the drone fly any faster,” Anne complained.
Sitting strapped in for hours was a nightmare when my body was pumped with nervous energy.
I hadn’t called Mila because I was terrified that she’d tell me not to come. All I had done was write her a text informing her when we’d be at the border.
She had given me a short answer confirming that she’d arrange for a pick-up. Why were there no hearts, kisses, or puppies in the text? Mila always used to include a bunch of those things. I kept looking down at my wristband hoping for the words, “I can’t wait to see you,” but they didn’t come.
When we finally arrived at the Northlands, I recognized the two guards who stood waiting for us. They had been at the obstacle course back when Mason had challenged me to a race. It was a little past eleven at night and projectors from the border were lighting up the path to where they were parked.
They elbowed each other with excitement when Anne and I came close.
“May peace surround you,” I said and smiled at them.
They stared from me to Anne and then at each other like summer had come early.
“We’ve met before, do you remember?”
They both nodded.
“Were your names Kal-Rai and Neptune?”
“Kal-El,” one of them corrected me.
“Sorry. Anyway, this is my sister, Anne.”
Anne looked beautiful as she walked up to the two young men with a big smile on her face and reached for the hands of Kal-El.
He jerked his hands away.
“My apologies. Jonah warned me you might not want to touch me, but I was just so excited to meet Nmen that I forgot.”
“I don’t mind touching you.” Neptune had a charming grin on his face when he offered his hands to her. "As long as you’re okay with it.”
Anne lit up in a smile. “May peace surround you and your shy friend.”
