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My brother had never spoken to any girls. The poor kid was tooshy.
Kaza washed his breakfast down with tea. “She will once you use some complimentary lines to wooher.”
Ali stuffed an olive in his mouth, going evenredder.
Kaza loved teasing him. I think it made him feel like he had a younger brother. I guessed now that we were all family, that was thecase.
Zand rubbed my thigh with his free hand, and I squeezed itback.
Dahvi tickled my foot, and I flinched, poking my tongue out athim.
“You’ll like this one, my desert queen.” Kaza blew me a kiss from across the table. Then he turned back to Ali. “Was your father a thief? Because someone stole the stars from the sky and put them in youreyes.”
I moaned. “Does that actuallywork?”
Dahvi went to answer, but I raised my hand, stoppinghim.
“Never mind,” I said, “I don’t want toknow.”
“Oh, oh.” Kaza bounced in his chair. “I’ve got a goodone.”
Even Ali seemed amused for achange.
“Are you a genie?” Kaza made everyone wait in suspense for a few moments before delivering the end. “Because whenever I look at you, everyone elsedisappears!”
We alllaughed.
“I’m not saying that.” Ali shook his head and chewed some cheese, jam, andbread.
Kaza dunked a cucumber slice in some dip. “Trust me. She’ll loveit.”
I wasn’t so sure of that. If Ali’s love interest was half as smart as I was, she’d see through any corny lines. Besides, that wasn’t really Ali’sstyle.
Kaza patted Ali’s chest with the back of his hand. “Do you have a map? I'm getting lost in youreyes.”
Zand got a chuckle from thatone.
Kaza kept pestering Ali throughout the remainder ofbreakfast.
This sort of banter was pretty much how every meal went. And that’s how I likedit.
Once Zand and Dahvi were finished, they were out the door. Zand, to collect wood for the fireplace he kept ablaze all day long. Dahvi, to do his morning yoga. That was cool with me. I’d gotten into the habit of watching them. Something I’d never tireof.
So far I was pretty content with the way my life had turned around. I had my own home by the ocean, a larger-than-life family, and enough money to never worry about anythingagain.
The genies still possessed a little magic, but far from the great expanses they used to harness. It was enough to whip up a meal here and there, give me a rose, and take the magic carpet for a spin. But doing so made them tired and in need of arest.
I spent part of my days preparing plans to build my orphanage and school. At mealtimes I would join Dahvi in the kitchen. My nights were consumed with pleasure and passion with my men. I’d never been happier. Every day I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. I was so grateful to the gods. For once in my life my future looked incredibly bright. I was very excited for what else lay in store for my family andme.
But for now I had a big secret I was about to unveil to Ali. I couldn’t wait to show him. I tiptoed down the corridor to the little cage in myroom.
“Hello there,” I said, opening the cage door to give the little furry thing with the big expressive eyes inside it a scratch on itschin.
It squeaked at me and nibbled on myfinger.
I laughed, picking it up. “Oh no. I’m not a banana.” The little squeaker cuddled my neck, and I stroked its soft back. “My brother’s going to loveyou.”
I carried the monkey out into the living room where my brother was reading one of his books and Kaza was smoking a hookahpipe.
