Page 43 of Love Off Course

“When I get you all alone, we’re going to have so much fun,” he murmurs, quiet enough for only me to hear. “Promise me one night to show you.”

I want to promise him more.

“One night to blow my mind and make me fall in love with you, huh? Sounds like a challenge.”

He smiles against my lips. “No one said anything about love, but I do love a challenge.”

My heart flutters. Why does it flutter so much around Camilo? It excites me and saddens me all at once. I wish Momma were still alive. It’d be nice to work through all these messy feelings with my mom.

I don’t even realize silent tears are falling until Camilo kisses one away. He stops tweaking my nipple to caress my stomach and nuzzle his nose against my hair. It feels good being held together. I’ve had to be strong my entire life. What a relief to let someone else be strong for me, even if only for the night.

“FUUUUCK!”

I jolt upright from a dead sleep, but something hot and heavy pins me. Camilo is passed out despite the fact someone is screaming.

“Camilo!” I cry out, swatting at him. “Someone’s hurt.”

Like his ass is on fire, he jumps up, nearly sending me toppling off the cot in the process. Several people start lightingcandles and turning on flashlights. They all point toward the sound.

It’sThe Exorcist.

Breathing heavily, hair dripping in sweat, pale, and the face of the devil.

Araceli.

“She’s in labor,” I choke out. “Oh God.”

“Shit,” Camilo curses. “How close?”

She growls at him, her face turning purple. Then, she screams at him. “Real fucking close! You swore if you were here and this happened, you could do it!”

Do what?

Oh God.

He’s going to try and deliver her baby?

“I can,” he assures her. “Let me grab some supplies.”

I scramble off the cot and start smacking the legs of my friends to spur them into action. “Camilo, go to her. We’ve got this.”

It’s a mad dash as everyone rushes around grabbing towels and water. Camilo has recruited Carson and they’ve hurried off to wash up. Araceli is pacing, only to stop and double over in pain, every so often.

Doris keeps babbling about something and Dale tries to shush her. Damian’s high-pitched voice grows higher and higher as he panics.

“Get yourself together, honey,” I snap, grabbing him by the bicep. “Take a walk.”

He whines but bounds off. Estefania rushes over to me, a worried look on her face. Camilo has pulled up a stool and is trying to coax Araceli to lie down on the cot in front of him. She’s growling and pacing, making no moves to obey.

“Come on,” I tell Estefania. “They need help corralling the bull.”

We approach slowly. Araceli shoots us a withering glare that makes Estefania flinch, but I ignore it.

“Time to lie down. Baby is coming,” I tell her in my firm, no nonsense tone.

“Bitch, don’t touch me,” she hisses.

I grab her arm. “You have to lie down and deliver that baby. Man up, woman!”

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