A pit forms at the base of my stomach, as I drop the device back into the chair. “Darlin’, your phone,” I begin.
“Leave it,” she calls with a sigh that makes me hesitate to say anything else. “I have other things on my mind tonight.”
My lips quirk into a grin; if that’s the kind of night she wants, I’m happy to oblige. Still, I stare down at the screen.
Three missed calls.
Three interrupted moments.
Three times Marina could have been pulled away or upset.
Wishing I could swipe away her worries the way Magnus does with dates, the pad of my thumb slips across the screen, and suddenly, the missed calls have disappeared.
We’ll have enough time for distractions tomorrow with the party and what-not. Tonight, as requested, will be just for us.
Chapter 28
Marina
Okay, so this close friend’s party is not a wedding—nope, I’ve somehow stumbled into something more intimate.
A baby shower.
It would have been better to let Gil handle this one on his own. Meeting his family yesterday was one thing, but going to an event like this? It feels like something reserved for a serious girlfriend.
Then again, maybe in a few short days, that’s what I’ve become.
At least I’ve learned a little more about portal travel. The gateways that are always open—those require water that’s enchanted.
Which means I won’t be able to get to Gil from my bathtub or send a message in the shower. Royals sometimes commission mirrors made with water that they can waltz through, but it’s rare and expensive. Though, it’s something these friends apparently have access to.
“You can get anywhere with portal travel,” Gil explains, “but having a mirror or a portal hidden in the springs makes access more permanent.”
“What if you tried to visit me back home?” I ask, only to watch his face fall.
“So long as I have a trinket like this,” he says, holding up his wrist to show off the colorful friendship bracelet, “I’d be able to get close to you, but it would leave an opening that someone would need to watch over.”
An opening…
I bristle imagining a circle of golden light opening at a grocery store or in the middle of the senior living center that anyone could tumble through. Gil gets out a black feather and pale blue ribbon. These must be the trinkets that will lead us to his friends.
We jump into the guarded portal deep in the swamp, only to tumble onto the solid ground of what appears to be a small backyard artist studio.
Sure enough, there’s a magic mirror here. A doorway pulses like something from a storybook, its edges gilded and pretty. I can’t help but trace my fingers along the little carved moths and butterflies.
A bridge between worlds, which makes me wonder just who we’re meeting.
We exit the studio and stand together in the woods. Gone are the overgrown trees and sparkly flowers. We’re somewhere in the mortal realm with a large cabin standing before us. Gil walks at my side without any glamour, which means these friends know him—therealhim—and we’re in a remote enough location that disguises aren’t needed. He’s holding an enormous box containing a gift he’s obviously very proud of picking out by himself.
I helped wrap it, adding a giant bow to the box, which isn’t much of a contribution to the whole thing. Still, he asked if he could add my name to the card, but I didn’t think that would be appropriate, given that the context would essentially be,“Love, a close family friend and his new girlfriend.”
I’m borrowing a dress from his mom. It’s a little tight around the chest but light and flowy. The fabric is a beautiful seafoam decorated with pearls at the hem and collar. It’s fancier than anything I’ve worn in a long time, and I just hope I don’t spill something on it. My mother’s fringe vest is layered overtop likea comfort blanket. As we wait by the door of the large cabin, I nervously fiddle with the edges.
“You look perfect,” Gil says quietly, tugging at my hand to bring me closer. I relax into the feeling of his shoulder touching mine.
The door flies open, revealing a woman—and dear God, she might be one of the prettiest people I’ve ever seen. Her pale face looks like it’s been smoothed with a social media filter with perfect brown doe eyes and long lashes. Her brunette hair is decorated in ribbons, and she wears a puffy, pink baby-doll dress that displays her very full bump. Iridescent wings wrap around Gil, pulling him in close.
“Oh my God, hiiii!” she says, and it’s a hug—literally just a hug.
