Ask the Sinners

Future

"Okay, Iari is almost here," I said. "I need you all to promise me that you won't be weird."

Nemesis, who was taking a sip of water, looked up and stared at me. "F**k you."

Riliane and Allen burst into giggles. Margarita whacked their heads, then smiled at me. "We won't be weird," she half-threatened, half-said.

"I'm going over to make sure Carlos hasn't died yet, so I won't be here," Banica told me.

"I'll make sure Nemesis doesn't get punched when we go to the store." Gallerian grabbed his youngest daughter by her jacket collar and held her in place. She wiggled but couldn't move.

Margarita grinned. "I'd love to see her punched. Ow!" she cried, rubbing her head where Kayo had flicked her.

The tailor looked at me with sympathy. "They're all idiots," she said. "I'll make sure Iari is fine. Plus, I'll watch the twins. They've asked for my help with something."

On cue, the twins gave me big smiles that instantly made me suspicious of them. Riliane tilted her head, but the doubt was already forming. She grabbed Allen's hand and ran off.

  Outside, a car door shut loudly, and mostly everyone scattered. Nemesis stayed with me, cup still in hand.

  She took another sip. "You really like her, huh? Good for you." With that, she left me in the kitchen.

  Iari knocked on the door. I hurried over to open it. As soon as she saw me, her arms were wrapped around me.

  "Sati!" Iari squealed. Her arms tightened.

  I hugged her back, holding her in my arms. We stayed like that until someone said, "You're letting bugs in. I don't want to deal with them." It was Allen. I thought about something but decided against it. We pulled apart.

Allen was leaning against a wall, bowl of snacks in hand. He gave me a peace-sigh before leaving the room. Iari tugged at my shirt sleeve.

"Let's go to your room. I want to talk to you." She grinned at me.

I led her up the stairs, closing the door behind us. Margarita made a face at me right before it shut. Pulling Iari onto my bed, I laid facing her. She began giggling, tapping my nose.

"You ever think about the future?" she asked. "Like, what you wanna do with your life?"

"I figured I could just make videos and make money from that," I said. "Though, I don't think it's make as much money than if you did it."

Iari sat up. "No, I mean like getting married. Because I want to. I've known that for so long."

I followed her up. "Honestly, it never crossed my mind. I figured I wouldn't date, so marriage wasn't on the table."

"Then you met me," she breathed out.

"Then I met you," I responded, tapping her on the nose. "You've been one of the best things that's happened to me. You're amazing, Ia. I love you, and I would be so happy to marry you."

"You mean that?" she asked, blushing. "Like, you wouldn't get tired of me and leave?"

"Never!" I practically shouted. Below, the garage door slammed shut. Nemesis and Gallerian must have left. Wait, no. I could hear Nems shouting something. Banica had to have been the one to leave.

Iari kissed me. For a second, I was shocked. But I did the same.

Once we broke apart, she said in a quiet voice, "Let's get married."

I looked at her, a smile on my face. "Yes, let's get married."