Page 61 of Shameless in Vegas

FIFTEEN

JOAQUIN

AT AROUND NINE IN the evening, Natalia and I are with Lili, Mamá, and Papá in the great room taking coffee and dessert, but Natalia hasn’t touched any of it. Her plate of a tiny, chocolate raspberry torte and cup of espresso are sitting on the side table next to the loveseat where we’re sitting, and she hasn’t picked them up once.

It wouldn’t be weird, except that she didn’t really eat anything at dinner either, and the whole time, she’s been holding her stomach and trying to mask a pained expression.

“Weddings are stupid, and I’m never getting married,” Lili declares, swirling her spoon through her espresso and then pulling it out to point at our parents. “If you guys try to arrange a marriage between me and some random guy, I will refuse.”

“Well, then I suggest you find a man on your own with excellent prospects,mijita,” Papá says in the gentle tone he always uses with Lili because she’s thebaby, but not even that is going to leave her exempt from his expectations of her. “Otherwise, I may be forced to reevaluate your inheritance and the kind of lifestyle I provide for you.”

Lili sticks out her chin. “Then I’ll just get a job and provide for myself.”

His shoulders shake with a deep chuckle. “Okay,mija.”

“What?” She tilts her head. “You don’t think I could work for a living? I totally could. I went tocollege. I could get a good job.” She looks at Natalia. “Hey,mana. Where did you work before Joaquin trapped you into a life as a trophy wife?”

Natalia blinks up at her, lips parting, but still holding her stomach. She looks like she’s about to be sick, both from the question and whatever is making her so nauseated. I know she can’t offer therealanswer to that question, and I’m not ready to serve up her guilt on a platter to my father just yet, so I lean forward in preparation to answer.

Natalia speaks up before I can come up with something. “A substitute teacher,” she says in a soft, restrained voice. “For the elementary level.”

“Oh.” Lili’s brows lift, impressed. “Huh. I wouldn’t have guessed that. You actually kinda look like you’re in sales.” She looks at Mamá. “You know. Like a lot of those women Colin used to work with when he was still in sales. LikeEllebefore he fired her.”

Mamátsks. “Cariño, you are really going to have to try to let all of that go at some point.”

Lili sighs loudly and slumps back in her seat.

“I didn’t go to college,” Natalia goes on, ignoring the exchange, “but I was able to complete a program…” Her voice falters, and her lashes flutter as she shifts in the chair, still holding her stomach. “That was a sufficient—”

I silence her with a hand on her thigh and by speaking quietly into her ear. “Baby, are you sick? You look like you’re going to be sick.”

Natalia swallows heavily and halfway looks at me. “A little.”

I brush a lock of her hair away from her face. “Do you want to go lay down or something?”

“Um.” She nods slowly, looking away from me and toward the floor. “A bath might help.”

“Okay, then let’s go get you in the tub,” I say, standing up and wrapping my arm around her back to help her stand, and then turning to address my parents. “We’re going to bed.”

“Is everything okay?” Mamá says, starting to push up out of her seat.

I wave my hand at her. “Everything’s fine. She’s just not feeling well, so I’m putting her to bed.”

Mamá sits back down, beaming and clutching her pearls. “Eres un buen esposo.You make meproud,mijo.”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes, because Iwould besuch agood husband. Even in this fake-as-fuck marriage—to a woman who I thought was here to murder me, but might actually be some kind of double agent or something else altogether, and I have no fucking clue which it is—I’m still attentive and considerate to my wife. I’m still taking care of her. I had every intention to take care of her and love her for the rest of my life before I found that fucking phone.

All of this has proved to me that,yeah. Iamhusband material. But once I get this shit sorted out, and this is all over, I’m with Lili on the topic. I amnevergetting married.

You know… like, for real.

“Buenas noches a todos,” Natalia says weakly as she manages to stand up straight and starts out of the room without any help.

“Hey, let me help you,” I say, taking long strides to catch up with her and then bracing my hand on her back, not missing the fact that she flinches at my touch. “Are you sure you don’t want a ginger ale or something?”

She shakes her head. “Just a bath will be fine,amor. I appreciate your concern.”

Her tone is soodd. I really think she just feels like shit, but with everything else going on in the background, I can’t help wondering if this is somehow related or a side effect orwhat.

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