Page 100 of Tell Me What You Want, Or Leave Me

“I still love you even if you don’t want to talk to me.”

Afterward, I turn around in the bed. A good while later, when I’m almost asleep, I feel Eric move and hug me. I smile and fall asleep.

By November, I’ve had it with Laila.

Every day I find it harder to keep her close. Since she knows I know her secret, she’s declared war on me. Of course, whenever Eric is with us, we are two great actresses.

Flyn’s on a field trip with his school, and tonight he’ll sleep elsewhere. My grumpy Smurf grows older.

“Flyn comes back tomorrow,” I say at dinner. “I’m sure he’s having a great time.”

Eric nods and smiles. Thinking about my nephew always has that effect.

“By the way, my work ends next week, and I have to leave,” says Laila.

Mother of God, that’s great news!

“Oh, what a pity!” I say, lying like a scoundrel.

Laila looks at me, and I blink.

Eric knows me and raises an eyebrow. “When are you going?” he asks her.

“I want to look at tickets for November seventh.”

“I have to go to London for a few days for work next week,” he says. “If you want to come on the jet with me, I’d be delighted.”

“Cool!” she replies.

Stop!

Eric is going to London?

How has he not even told me?

I decide to shut up and wait. When we’re alone, I’ll ask.

Once dinner’s over, we watch TV for a while. Because she’s insufferable, Laila sits right next to us. But I’m restless, and I want to talk to Eric.

“Honey, I have to talk to you,” I say.

Hearing that, Laila surprises me and quickly gets up.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” she says with an angelic tone. “Tonight I want to read anyway.”

Once he and I are alone in the living room, I can see Eric knows I’m upset about the trip, and, eager to placate me, he goes to play something on the stereo.

“You like this song a lot,” he says, giving me a wink. “C’mon, dance with me.”

Surprised he wants to dance, I get up to join him.

I don’t want to miss this!

And then “Si Nos Dejan,” that wonderful ranchera, starts to play, and I hug him.

“I love this song,” I whisper.

Eric smiles and squeezes me against his body.

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