Page 26 of Sin and Seduction

“Emmie, you have got to meet the bartender. He’s absolutely fantastic!” she giggles out, a glass of pink-colored liquid sloshing around in her hand.

She trips over her dress, and I catch her, some of her drink spilling on her mom’s dress, causing her to hiss and shoot daggers at Gabriela.

“Fucking compose yourself, child! Why is it that you always find an opportunity to make something about yourself, hm? Can’t you go one night without making a complete fool of yourself?” Camila grumbles at her, dabbing the liquor off her dress and walking away into the crowd.

I meet Gabriela’s eyes and see tears shining through, her head hung in embarrassment.

“Please, Gabriela, she’s just had a long night. Don’t cry—” I begin.

“No, no. She’s right,” she says, wiping furiously at her eyes. “I always fuck something up,” she says sadly, her lips trembling and shoulders beginning to shake.

I grab her hand and pull her with me to the stairs, rushing her up and into my bedroom. I bring her to the bathroom and sit her on top of the rim of the bathtub, wetting a towel and wiping the wet trails of mascara off her cheeks. She lets me, her tears continuing to fall.

`“Why are you so nice to me? Nobody else ever is,” she whimpers, and I shush her.

“I’m nice to the people who deserve it. And you, Gabriela, deserve all the kindness in the world,” I say, and she sobs harder.

“I don’t. I’m a monster—a selfish, spoiled girl. My family has always said so,” she cries, and I pet her hair.

“Your family also traffics drugs across country borders and murders people in cold blood. Do you really think you should be listening to their input?” I say, and she snaps her head up, her expression shocked.

“How are you so brave to speak about them like that?” she asks, and I shrug, taking a seat next to her on the tub.

“Because ever since your family has come into my life, all I’ve seen is death and destruction,” I say honestly.

“Then why are you marrying my brother?” she asks, blowing her nose and making me smile.

“Because even though tragedy follows him, I am desperately in love with him. And I’ve seen more good in your family than my own. I see progress. I see hope, Gabriela. And I know it’s hard to see it now, but eventually, you will, too. You just have to show them that you’re not willing to take their shit. That you’re your own person, and you can handle whatever life throws at you.”

“And what if I can’t?” she whispers.

“Can’t what?”

“What if I can’t handle anything life throws at me?” she asks, her shoulders trembling as I hold them and force her to look at me.

“You have to try. You can’t crumple and hide when it gets scary. You have to lie to yourself and put on a brave face and handle it with all the dignity you can muster. And if you ever struggle, I’m here. I will always be here,” I say, and she nods, hugging me close.

“Emmie, there’s something I need to tell you. But you have to swear that you’ll keep it between us,” she says, chewing on her lip as I pull back and rest my hands on hers.

“Of course. You can tell me anything,” I say earnestly as she fidgets with her hands.

“I’m, uh...I’m pregnant,” she says, and I freeze.

“And it’s...it’s James’s baby,” she says, and I swear you could hear a pin drop onto the floor with the silence that spreads in the room.

“Are you absolutely sure it’s his?” I say, standing and pacing as she wipes at her tears.

“Yes. He’s the only man I’ve been with in a year, and I just found out this morning. My period was late, and it never is. I took four tests, Emmie,” she cries, and I stop pacing to look at her, weeping in her designer gown on the bathtub.

I kneel in front of her and pull her hands from her face, forcing her to look at me.

“Listen to me,” I say, holding her face in my hands.

“We will figure this out. Whatever you want to do, I’m here to support you. If you want to keep it or—”

“I want to keep it,” she whispers, and I nod.

“Then you try to relax and keep this pregnancy at minimal stress. Do not worry about telling anyone right now; we will find the right time soon. Right now, just worry about you and your body,” I say, wiping her face again.

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