Page 92 of Zalis
“I have a nose.” The aroma was unmistakable. It was a simple recipe but one of Gemma’s favorites.
“So Zalis’ dad? Wow.” Emry fanned herself. “You lucky girl.”
“Gross, that’s my father-in-law you’re talking about.”
“I mean, you’ve got all that to look forward to.”
“Please don’t say anything I won’t be able to get out of my head for twenty years,” Gemma pleaded.
Emry chuckled, bumping her shoulder to Gemma’s. “Hey, Mom and Dad would be happy for you.”
“You think?” She had wondered.
“Well, Dad would give himself a stomachache trying all the new food.”
Gemma could see her father stuffing himself at an alien buffet. “That’s on brand for Dad.”
“Mom would cry so hard.”
Gemma swiped at the tears in her eyes. She was a bawler, just like her mother. “True, but she wouldn’t like the dress or hair.”
The dress was nontraditional, a sleeveless concoction of ruffles with splashes of ivory, seafoam, and deep navy that made her feel like a goddess rising from the ocean waves.
Emry tugged on a strand of Gemma’s cotton candy pink hair. “Who doesn’t like candy fluff?”
Gemma batted away her hand. She liked that hair color made it easier to tell her apart from Emry. Before, Emry’s scar was how people kept the twins straight, as hurtful as it was. Now, thanks to the pink hair, they were no longer the pretty one and the other one with the face, but the blonde and the weirdo with cotton candy hair.
“I think it would have grown on her,” Gemma said.
“I wish they were here.”
“Me too.”
Emry bumped shoulders again. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Mittens lingered a few minutes, tail thumping against the floor, before she followed Emry. Gemma smiled because while Emrywas convinced the massive cat didn’t trust her, she knew the cat had a favorite and it was so obviously Emry.
The night sounds of birds and chirring insects returned. Autumn in this part of Sangrin was stunning. The leaves turned a deep maroon and aubergine. The breeze carried the scent of fruit ready for the harvest. Paper lanterns decorated the yard, sitting along a gravel path and hanging from trees. She couldn’t wait to see them glowing tomorrow night.
“Nervous?” Zalis’ voice drifted over from the next window over.
“When did you get here?” Her body perked with excitement. She hadn’t seen him for weeks while he finished the project on Val Mori. The plan was for Gemma to arrive on Sangrin days ahead of time to help Lyresh with the final details, while he would fly in from Val Mori the morning of the wedding.
“I just arrived.”
“I miss you,” she said.
“I’m coming over.”
“No, it’s bad luck to see the bride,” Gemma protested.
“That Earth superstition makes no sense. I have seen you several times.” There was a rustling of leaves and Zalis appeared outside the window. “I would like to see you again.”
“Don’t look,” she whispered, scooting over to make room for him on the window seat.
He covered his eyes with a hand, then spread his fingers apart to peek through, and grinned.
Gemma laughed at his ridiculous behavior. “That’s not what I meant. I suppose it’s not midnight yet, so we’re okay.”
