Page 58 of Sombra
“That’s exactly what I want. That’s why I came here. I didn’t want to be stuck. I didn’t know precisely what I needed, I just knew I was missing something.” I nod along with her words, completely understanding.
And not just those about the small town.
I’d been missing somethingin my life, and I didn’t know what it was.
But it was her.
My face is ten centimeters from hers. “Do you want to do that?”
Her pert nose flares. “Do what?”
I bop her nose. “Do things you’ve never done before.”
Watching the joy return to her face is a pleasure unlike any I’ve felt before. The Kim I met at the airport is back. The one with spirit. “Yes,” she whispers.“Yes.” Her back straightens. She blinks rapidly and licks her lips. Then with a little clap, she squeals, “Yes! This is what I want!”
Caught up in her happiness, I laugh out, “So what’s one thing you want to do?”
Without any hesitation, she knows. “I want to eat new foods. I already am—”
“I’ll have to feed you atortilla del Sacromonte.”
I’m going to hell for suggestingthat.
She grabs my shoulder. “What’s that?”
This is a gift. I can’t help but tease her. “A delicacy.”
“I’ve seen episodes ofWeird Foods. What is it?” She’s sitting on her hands, she’s so enthused.
“An omelet made from beef testicles and brains.”
I’m amused watching her react. Besides the eyes widening and neck veins popping, she makes a retching noise. “Oh myGod. Maybe I’m not that brave. It’s for real?” A giggle escapes her mouth, which becomes uncontrollable.
I start chuckling. It grows and grows. I hold my sides as I keep laughing and laughing, until I howl, “Yes,es verdad. It’s a special dish from Granada.”
Her next words wheeze out as tears run down her face. “You haven’t had it. Have you had it? Oh my God, you’ve had it. That’s… disgusting. Or amazing. Or—what was it like?”
“Quite good. Shall I ask Mari Carmen to prepare it?”
The look on her face is worth all the precious metals in the royal armory. Wide eyes, shaking her head, sobering up. “Nuh-uh. I’m not ready for that. I want to try new things, but that’s like saying I want to try building something for fun, and I’m thinking model airplane while yousign me up to build a whole skyscraper.”
“It’s okay—”
“Or I want to get a pet and you send me a gray whale.”
I’m still laughing. “You don’t have to go that far. Why don’t I teach you the guitar like we talked about?”
“Yes. Please. And I want to help you harvest the olives.”
“You must.”
“And travel everywhere we can within a day trip, at least.”
The possibility of an overnight trip with Kim suddenly explodes in my head. Kissing in a gondola in Venice along a canal out of the way. Naked together before a roaring fire in a cabin in the Swiss Alps. Partying in Mykonos and then sleeping in late after—
“And get a tattoo.”
I stare at her. “For real?”
