Page 81 of Sombra
Will you wear handcuffs?
Yes
No X (but you can use those ribbons)
She’s grinningdown at her desk. The professor calls on me, and I have no idea what he asked.
Joder.
“What’syour next tattoo going to be?”
The four of us, Trent, Dani, Kim, and me, are sprawledat a table at Bar Marueco after class, enjoying the late afternoon. In her short time here, Kim’s come a long way—from not knowing what tapas were to, this time, when I asked her what she wanted, ending up ordering plates for the whole table on her own. Taking care of getting her owntinto de verano—wine with lemon-lime soda—makes her even sexier than before because she’s being assertive and askingfor what she wants. Especially when she wants to be tied up with ribbons. Fuck, that’s a fantastic mental image.
And it might come true. I take a sip of my Alhambra lager.
Dani answers Kim’s question. “I’m not totally sure what design I want next. Trent and I were talking about getting something to honor my brother who passed away. I was actually thinking a bowl of cereal and a spoon.No one would understand why I had cereal tattooed on my side, but tattoos aren’t meant for anyone else to understand but the person who gets it. They don’t require explanation.”
“Degan was mad about cereal since he was a kid,” Trent says. “So it makes sense. I want to get a new tat also, but I don’t know what.” He pulls up his T-shirt sleeve, and both Kim and Dani react to his biceps withan intake of breath.Bastard. He’s so oblivious. “Something to honor Degan as well. Maybe his dog tags. And something for Dani.”
Reaching for a ring of fried calamari, dredging it in brava sauce, and popping it in her mouth, Kim smiles. “I love that. I was thinking about getting a tattoo, but I don’t know what.”
Trent nods and drinks his San Miguel beer. “Well, what do you like?”
“Before I came here, I wouldn’t have been able to answer that. Or I would have asked for everyone else’s opinion first. Now? I’m not totally sure, but I know I’ve always thought dragonflies were really pretty.”
I’m picturing a dragonfly tattoo on Kim. It would lookmuy lindaon her. There’s a pen on a table, and I start drawing on a napkin.
Dani claps with delight. “Oh, I lovedragonflies. They’re the symbol of transformation.”
Kim sets down her tinto de verano. “Really?”
“Yeah! In about every country—or so I’ve heard—they symbolize change.”
“Wow! That’s so appropriate for my life right now.”
“Here. I’ll show you.” Dani pulls out her phone, does a quick search, and reads, “The dragonfly is the symbol of clarity, emotional and mental maturity,transformation, self-realization, illumination, adaptability, and wisdom.”
“It’s so perfect,” Kim whispers. “I love it!” She sees what I’ve drawn. “That’s it!” She takes the napkin and slips it in her bag.
I nod in agreement, but this is Kim’s decision to make. Almost unconsciously, I begin tracing my drawing of a dragonfly on the back of her hand. It is perfect.
“Where areyou two traveling next,” I ask Trent. Dani’s quite the globetrotter, and I always want to hear about where they go.
“Not sure. Dani’s racked up so many frequent flier miles, we can pretty much go anywhere at any time. But we’re pretty happy here.”
“Yeah.” Dani nods. “I like knowing I can leave at a moment’s notice, but I don’t need to now.” She and Trent exchange a look. “If youtwo ever want to escape, let me know. I can have all of us flying for free.”
“Thanks,” I say, and my mind starts drifting. Taking Kim to the United States. Going with her to London. Being with her always.
“It feels like I’m traveling just being here,” Kim says. I smile, forgetting this is all still new to her. “I know there’s so much more. I wonder if there’s a job I can do whereI get paid to travel.”
“There’s a ton. Flight attendant, for starters.” Trent grins.
“Yeah, but I'd like to stay put for a while. Like the way those stores do pop-ups for a few weeks or months. But I don’t know what I’d sell.”
Dani gestures for the waiter to bring her another sangria. “What do you like to do?”
“Cook.”
“So be a pop-up chef. Or run a food truck.”
“I need to learn a lot more before I do that.” Kim’s waving her arms as if she’s pushing it away.
I think it’s perfect for her.
