Page 97 of Sombra
And his warm essence pumps into my mouth. I swallow it and keep sucking until his body relaxes, and he lets out a sigh
Then he pulls me up and gives me the most ardent kiss of the day, laying waste to my mouth. He tastes like me, but it’s faint from my shower, and all I care is that I’m starting the day in his arms. I don’t want to do anythingbut kiss Tavo today. And I hug him so hard I get button marks from his shirt on my front.
After a long while, we drop our arms and step back. He puts himself back in his pants and tucks in his shirt, zipping up and buckling. I find the towel and wrap it around my torso. With one more kiss, I look out to see if the coast is clear.
It is.
I dart across to my room, and he putshis hands in his pocket, whistling down the corridor like nothing has happened.
Nothing earth-shattering, except me being totally and completely in love with him.
“How’s school going?”asks Guillermo in Spanish as he passes me a soft-boiled egg. Although we normallyhave thick, lovely bread for breakfast, Tía Valeria got up early, made tiny eggs with toast points and squeezed oranges for juice.
I take a sip gratefully, although it tastes a little off, like the fruit was sweeter a week ago. Now the juice is pulpy, orange-colored water. With the egg in an egg cup, I cut off the top and dip in a piece of bread. Answering him in Spanish, I say, “School’sso much better. It’s amazing how much I’m learning each week.” And I pop the bite in my mouth.
The eggs taste off, too.
Tavo’s next to me, drinking coffee. His mom isn’t around, but several of the others are in various stages of getting ready for the day. Already done, Mari Carmen picks up her dishes and puts them in the sink, then leaves to go see Jorge. Tavo’s abuelo and abuelasit in the corner, sipping coffee and not saying anything.
I’m not handling the smell of eggs. It’s making me nauseous. That’s not normal. I usually like them.
Looking down at the plate, I’m not hungry. My stomach’s growling and empty, but I can’t eat anything.
Tavo studies me, then reaches over and touches my cheek. “Are you feeling okay?”
I open my mouth to say something,and the feeling rises in my throat. I’m going to vomit. Without answering him, I cover my mouth with my hand and run down the hallway, barely making it to the bathroom before I throw up last night’s dinner.
It hurts. My stomach hurts. The acid burns in my throat, and I just want to lie down.
I don’t really feel like I have the flu. No sniffles, no sore throat except for the painfrom throwing up.
And it hits me.
No.
Oh, no. No, itcan’tbe.
I took that pill. It’s supposed to work. We’ve been careful since that first time.
But it’s not one hundred percent effective.
I’m kneeling on the same floor I was kneeling on earlier, only now I’m shaking.
Tavo knocks on the door. “Are you okay, amor?”
I don’t know how to tellhim that I think I’m pregnant.
