Just one time
It was only two weeks before Eric was a regular at the Moreno’s residence and restaurant again. Although Alex was cold with him at first, he eventually came around, but things had changed. Sofia knew things would never go back to the way they once had been.
Angel knew Sofia had feelings for Eric. She’d told him the morning after the New Year’s Eve outburst. She wouldn’t hide it anymore. If her brothers wanted to believe she was still a child, they could. But they couldn’t force her to hide the enormous affection she had for Eric. He was back to eating at their place regularly. Sofia fawned over him, making him special meals and deserts.
Alex and Angel watched, pretending it wasn’t any different than how she behaved before New Year’s. But she saw the look of irritation when Alex would walk in the kitchen to find her laughing with Eric. The jabs about him being in their kitchen more than they were began to take a different tone, especially from Alex.
Sofia didn’t care. After months of sneaking around, she’d mastered a few things that drove Eric insane. He’d returned the favor, and they’d been so close to going all the way several times. She loved stripping down to nothing for him at his house, but the fear of pregnancy kept them from doing what she wanted to so badly.
It was only a few months before she turned seventeen. Years Nfavoago, her father made a comment she never forgot. “You can’t have a boyfriend until you’re seventeen.”
At the time, she thought it was completely absurd. Now that it was only months away, it didn’t sound so bad. She could hardly wait. Her dad had probably forgotten, but she would be reminding him.
Though she and Eric were making the most of their stolen moments, and she was tired of lying about where she was going all the time. The sneaking was exciting, but they’d had too many close calls. She wanted to be able to just say, “I’m going to be with Eric all day.”
More than anything, she wanted the damn girls at school to know Eric was off limits. They’d already had another argument about a girl who was all over him all the time, and even asked him to the prom. Eric promised that if he couldn’t go with Sofia, he wouldn’t go at all. Sofia felt bad. She didn’t want him to miss his prom, but him taking someone else was out of the question.
Sarah and Angel were back together, and as inseparable as ever. It was a Friday night and all the guys and Sarah were over. They were out back playing pool. Angel and Sarah were cuddling in the corner, while Alex and Romero played. Sofia stood next to Eric as usual, laughing it up. Alex glanced up from where he’d bent over, ready to take a shot. Sofia caught the glare and smirked. “Who’s winning?”
“Who do you think?” Alex said, easing up his expression.
“This just isn’t my game,” Romero said, “Try me at bowling. Then you’ll lose your ass.”
Alex rolled his eyes and took a shot.
“You guys wanna go bowling tomorrow afternoon?” Romero looked around.
“I’m down,” Angel said.
“No.” Sarah raised her eyebrow. “You have a fitting tomorrow.”
Angel groaned. “That’s tomorrow already?”
“A fitting for what?” Romero asked.
“His tux, for the prom,” Sarah answered for him.
“No shit.” Romero laughed. “You’re actually wearing a monkey suit?”
“Aren’t you?” Angel stood up off his bar stool and walked over to the small fridge next to the bar.
“You have to.” Sarah added.
“I dunno. I’m not sure if I’m even going.” Romero turned to Eric. “You going?”
Sofia tensed up. Eric shrugged. “Depends.”
Romero glanced up from where he was ready to take a shot. “On what?”
Eric took a deep breath, glancing at Sofia. “If these guys will let me take Sof.”
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Sofia almost choked on her gum. Both Alex and Angel stopped what they were doing and stared at him. She had no idea he was going to just put it out there like that. Before they could answer, he added, “Otherwise, I’m not going.”
Everybody seemed to hold their breath.
“We could go together.” Sarah finally broke through the tension. “It’ll be fun.”
To Sofia’s complete disbelief, Alex lifted a shoulder. “If Angel’s gonna be with you guys all night. I’m okay with that.”
Sofia could hardly contain herself. All Angel had to say was okay and they were home free. He finally looked away from Eric and glanced back at Sarah. Sarah gave him a pleading look, and Sofia knew it was done deal.
Angel shook his head, but smiled at Sarah. “Yeah, we can do that.”
Sofia jumped off her bar stool, hugged Angel then Sarah. Next, she rushed over to Alex and squeezed him.
“All right, all right,” he said, sounding as annoyed as she expected him to.
Just so she’d be able to get away with hugging Eric, and she wanted to so badly, she hugged Romero. Sarah laughed. Finally, she came back around to Eric, who gave her a warning look, but she hugged him anyway. “Yay, I get to go to prom!”
She knew her parents wouldn’t have a problem with it, either. They loved Eric.
***
The Prom was Eric’s first chance to make a statement about his and Sofia’s relationship. If there was ever any doubt that Sofia was off-limits, Eric made things crystal-clear now. He’d seen enough eyebrows lift as they walked around, holding hands, to know people would be talking even after prom.
Angel and Sarah being elected prom queen and king should’ve been a good thing. Except an ex-flame of Angel’s, Dana, had had a few too many, and she and the rest of her cheerleader girlfriends decided to protest and demand a recount. It started to get ugly when all of Sarah and Sofia’s friends from the track team came to Sarah’s defense.
Dana and a few of her friends were actually escorted out during Sarah and Angels dance. Sofia was livid. More than once, Eric had to hold her back. The Moreno in her was alive and well and ready to kick some ass.
The only mistake Angel made was giving Dana a moment when she begged for it just outside the banquet hall. Eric suspected the tears streaming down her face had a lot to do with Angel giving in—big mistake. Sarah walked away, with Sofia going after her.
Angel only spoke to Dana for a moment before going after Sarah, but he had his hands full. Sarah insisted he take her straight home. Of course, Angel wasn’t having it. He asked Eric if he could just hang out with Sofia for an hour or so, then meet up with them later at the beach. Eric wished Angel good luck, and was off and running.
As usual, Sofia en [ualof her joyed tormenting Eric. There was a small hidden cove they’d discovered just weeks ago at the beach. The massive boulders and lush bushes that surrounded it rendered them virtually invisible to the rest of the world.
With a blanket and a few beers in hand, they entered their secret cove. Eric’s heart beat more erratically than it normally did when he knew he’d have Sofia in his arms soon. Each time with her had become harder to resist doing what they both yearned for, but knew they shouldn’t—couldn’t.
No sooner was the blanket down than they were on it, kissing frantically. He loved the way Sofia was always just as crazed as he felt when they were together. She drove him insane, yet she did nothing to hide her need for him.
Her hands were at his zipper. “Sof, baby, no, not here.”
“Why? No one can see us.”
“What if your brother shows up?”
Sofia frowned. “Are you kidding? Sarah is so pissed, and I don’t blame her. That bitch, Dana, nearly started a riot. Angel should’ve told her to go to hell. They’ll be here, but it’s going to be a while before he convinces Sarah.”
Eric gulped as Sofia continued to unzip him. With that crazed teasing look in her eye, she smirked and began to straddle him. Eric sat up with one hand on the blanket to support himself, and the other on her leg. “Babe, we can’t.”
“Just once,” she whispered, “don’t you wanna feel it, just one time?”
Was she crazy? He wanted to feel it over and over with her, but this was insanity. “I don’t have any protection.”
“We’ll stop before anything happens.”
Eric laughed nervously. “That’s something I’m supposed to be saying, not you.”
Biting her beautiful lip, she gave him her signature smoldering stare. The stare she knew he couldn’t resist. He was a goner, and he let his head fall back, every ounce of rationality smothered by something much more powerful.
Her dress covered him from seeing what was going on underneath, but he gasped when he felt her warm and soft on him. She went very slowly, her awestruck eyes on him the whole time. She closed her eyes, pinching her brows, in obvious discomfort. “You okay?”
She nodded, but didn’t answer and kept going. This wasn’t how he wanted their first time to be, but no amount of resistance could stop this from happening now. He was so far gone, his heart nearly punched out of his chest.
“You sure?” He managed to get the words out, but even breathing became a struggle.
She nodded, her eyes blinking very slowly. And then—her eyes widened and she smiled. “We did it,” she whispered.
Eric’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he breathed in deeply. He should tell her to get off—that was it—he was ready to explode already. But the ecstasy of it all dazed him. Then she did the worst thing she could at that second—move. Desperately trying to hold back, he begged, “Sofie, get off.”
She did in a hurry and though she’d been just in time, he knew they’d slipped. It wasn’t a complete miss. The blanket covered him as his entire body still pulsated. Sofia leaned into him. “That was close.”
He wouldn’t even mention just how close. From then on, they’d have to carry protection, always. No matter how much he wanted to believe what Sofia had said, just one time. There was no turning back now. As aware of how hazardous to his life this was, there would be no way in the world he could ever say no to that feeling again. Not with Sofie.
***
Sarah’s laughter carried all the way to Sofia’s room. The sound of it usually made Sofia smile, but now all she could think of was one thing. She stared at her phone. The calendar was open and she counted again. It was exactly twenty-eight days since her last period. She’d been late once or twice since she started her period, but not in over a year. It came every twenty-eight days like clockwork. Sofia could almost time it. It should’ve been that morning. She’d even worn a pad to bed like she always did the night before she knew she was starting to avoid any messes.
Here it was, three in the afternoon and nothing. She and Eric had done it a few more times since prom night. Eric made sure they had protection every time, but the fact remained, prom night they hadn’t. She wouldn’t panic Eric yet. In the past, she’d been one or even two days late, but that only happened twice in the past three years. What were the odds that it would happen again the month after she’d had unprotected sex?
As much as she’d pushed it to the back of her head ever since, not a day had gone by that she didn’t think about that moment of passion, when she’d completely ignored her better judgment.
She wasn’t even a day late yet, and her anxiety had already reached the frantic stages. The only person she’d confided with all this time about the things her and Eric had done was Sarah, but she hadn’t told her they’d become sexually active.
After reading a few more articles online about the early signs of pregnancy, she couldn’t sit still anymore. It was wishful thinking, more than anything on her part, that made her check one last time before going downstairs—nothing—not even a trace. Her body didn’t even feel the same as it usually did. She was usually achy and bloated. Now she was neither.
Sofia walked in on Angel and Sarah kissing in the kitchen. Angel didn’t even flinch, but Sarah pulled her lips from him. This wasn’t the first time she’d walked in on them. Her brother was incapable of keeping his hands off Sarah. He had Sarah pinned against the sink, but she squirmed her way out of his embrace in a blush.
Sofia forced a smile. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Sarah walked around the center island and sat down where they were supposed to be studying. “I’m just glad it was you and not one of your parents.” She shot Angel a look.
Angel smirked as usual, shamelessly unfazed by the interruption. He walked around the center island and took the seat next to Sarah, again his hand immediately on her leg. Sofia had never asked, but [er th all there was no doubt these two were active.
Alex and Romero walked in the kitchen from the back door and nodded when he saw Angel. “Good, you’re not busy. Give us a hand.” Alex kissed Sofia’s forehead as he walked by her.
“What do you mean, I’m not busy?” Angel attempted to sound annoyed. “I’m studying.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “You can get back to that when we’re done.”
“Done with what?” Angel stood up, but not before kissing Sarah.
“I bought a new bench and some more weights.” Alex pulled a couple of bottles of water out of the fridge. “Romero’s scrawny ass ain’t gonna be much help.”
“Dude, I’m right here. I can hear you,” Romero said as he grabbed a bag of pretzels from the counter.
Alex ignored him, instead turned to Sofia. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the restaurant today?” He started to the door.
“Yeah, I’m closing. I go in at four.”
He nodded. Angel put his hands up and Alex tossed him a water. “You taking her?”
“Nah, Eric said he could, right?” Angel turned to Sofia.
Sofia nodded, but before she could say anything else, Alex stopped mid-stride. He glanced at Sofia then back at Angel. “Why Eric?”
Angel shrugged. “I asked him to, so I could study.”
Alex’s face soured.
“All right,” Angel said, before Alex could start up. “I’ll take her.”
Alex didn’t even look back at Sofia before starting out the door again. “If you can’t, I will.”
Normally, Sofia would’ve argued, but today she wasn’t up for it. Alex would never look at Eric the same way again. Not after what he’d seen on New Year’s. Sure, he’d agreed to let Eric take her to prom, but that was only because Angel would be there. Angel hadn’t mentioned leaving her alone with Eric that night. Alex would have had a conniption.
Her brothers were in denial, not stupid. None of them, but especially Alex, were comfortable about her being alone with Eric so much anymore. She was only glad Angel hadn’t actually witnessed the New Year’s kiss himself, or he definitely wouldn’t be as okay about her being alone with Eric. Sal was much more laid back than Alex and Angel, but she knew the fact that he was gone so much had a lot to do with it.
Once they were all out, Sofia turned to Sarah and frowned. Sarah gave her a sideways sympathetic smile. “Only a few more months.”
Sofia had told Sarah about what her father had said years ago. She turned to make sure her brothers were out of hearing range, then back to Sarah. She leaned on the center island across from Sarah. “Do you ever worry about getting pregnant?”
Her question wiped the smile right off Sarah’s face. Her eyes widened. “Iinit [ed.pregnm on the pill.” Sofia stared at her without saying anything. “You’re not thinking of…”
Warm tears filled Sofia’s eyes. Sarah stood. “You have?”
Sofia nodded, wiping her eyes. The last thing she needed was her brothers walking in asking questions. It took a moment for it to sink in, but Sofia saw the moment it did in Sarah’s head.
“Oh my God, you think you are?” She looked as panicked as Sofia felt.
“I don’t know.”
Sarah didn’t say anything else, just stood there staring at her.
“I haven’t actually missed my period yet. I’m supposed to get it today.” She explained about never being late and always getting it in the morning. Saying it out loud had the opposite effect she thought it would. Sofia expected to feel better sharing with someone else. Instead, it made the reality of it jump at her. “I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Sarah stopped staring to glance out the window. “Alex,” she whispered.
Sofia turned so see him walking toward the door. She turned her back quickly and opened the refrigerator. The tears had begun to fill her eyes again. Alex would definitely have questions.
The door opened, and he came in. She pretended to dig through the cold-cut drawer when the freezer door was opened. “Can I get in here, Sof?’
She moved over to give him room. The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Sarah’s voice was a near yelp.
Sofia had moved over to the sink by the time Sarah walked back in the kitchen with Eric in tow. Alex was still busy filling a baggie with ice.
Still feeling very emotional, the sight of Eric nearly choked her.
“You ready?”
Alex turned to Eric. “Angel can take her, but you can stay and help me get my weights in the garage.”
Eric glanced at Sofia. “You sure? I can take her, come back, and help you. Angel said he had to study.”
Alex finished with the ice and walked over to add some water to the baggy. “Nah.” He didn’t look up from the faucet. “Angel’s got it. Come out here and help me. He walked toward the back door. “Romero’s more trouble than he is help. I told him it was too heavy, but you know him,” he chuckled, “dropped it right on his toe.”
Eric laughed, then turned to Sofia, a bit thwarted. For once, Alex’s unbending character had come in handy. Sofia knew she’d be tempted to mention her worry to Eric. There was no way she’d be getting any sleep tonight if she didn’t get her period today. No sense in both of them losing sleep… yet.
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