Page 60 of Sombra
I don’t want to be left alone with Sonia. Especially not one looking at me with Puss in Boots eyes. Smacking her gum, she prowls over to me, wearing high heeled sandals, a shiny top, and white pants. I’d take a step back, but I’m already plastered against the counter.
“Why don’t you have time for me?”she asks. “I never see you.”
This again. “Sonia—”
“I miss you. Do you miss me?”
“Sonia—”
She cuts me off again. “I want you around so you can be more involved with my project.”
“What project?” I don’t care about her project, but it’s plain she’s not going to leave until she gets whatever she came for.
A phone materializes from the white pants. Not surefrom where, since they’re so tight you can see that she’s wearing a nude-colored g-string. “You’ll be so excited.” Her fingers dash over the screen like she’s playing castanets. She pulls up an Instagram account called “Ginger Snaps.”
“Okay. Look, Sonia—”
“Are you going to ask me what Ginger Snaps is?”
I let out my breath and resist the urge to wring her neck. Speaking evenly,like I’m talking to a child, I say, “Sonia. Why does it say Ginger Snaps?”
“That’s my online name!” She squeals.
With a better look at the screen, I see picture after picture of her around her farm in revealing clothes. I knew she was attractive. But. “Joder. Two million followers?”
“I’m getting sponsors! But I want to mix up the content. You know. They want a love interest.If I had you, we’d make a gorgeous team.” She reaches up, and her lips press against mine. I pull back immediately in disgust.
“No, Sonia—” I haven’t touched her since Kim got here, and I hope to never touch her again.
“What’s wrong?” With a finger on my lip, she pouts.
I’ve had enough. I never want to hurt a woman. But there are times when I need to make things clear. “Let’s… let’s not do that—”
Fury registers on her face. “It’s that American, isn’t it?”
I wish it were.
“No. She has a boyfriend.”
Her hands ball into fists, the points of her nails pressing into the palms of her hands. “But ever since she came, you haven’t paid any attention to me.”
I barely paid any attention to her before, too. Heat flicks up my spine. I don’t wantto yell at her, but—
“I’ll show you,” she announces. “I will show you how well we go together. You’ll see. It’ll be worth it.”
Shaking my head so vehemently, I see stars, I protest. “No, Sonia—”
“What’s not to like about this?” She gestures down her slim hips. “And you know what happens if we don’t?”
“Now that’s not right—”
“It’s more right than you know.” Spinningon the heel of her sandal, she flounces away. With her hand on the doorknob, she hisses, “I will see what my father thinks about this.”
“Fine. Go tell him. I will save my family some other way. I’m not marrying you. You’re seeking to chase my family off land that we have lived on for six generations. That will kill my grandfather. That will make my grandmother mourn. And you will have theirblood on your hands. My siblings and me, we can find another place. And my mother can stay with us. We will take care of her. My aunts and uncles too. But the loss of the way of life. That is on you.”
With a last flounce, she goes out the door.
My stomach drops to my knees.
Did I just doom everyone?
