Page 103 of Raspados & Regret

We both freeze, and Elías clamps a hand over his mouth.

My eyes widen.

Silence.

More silence.

Then nothing.

He slowly lowers his hand and whispers, “We are so fucking dead if she wakes up.”

I laugh soundlessly, chest shaking.

He elbows me.

“Don’t laugh.”

“You started it.”

“You came to my house after midnight.”

“You told me to come get you.”

“And look at you, following directions.”

I look down at him while he looks up at me. His smile is soft and smug and sleepy around the edges.

“You’re annoying,” I whisper.

“You came inside me.”

My entire soul leaves my body. “The fuck, Elías⁠—”

“What? Am I wrong?”

“Your mom is asleep.”

“And yet you’re the one yelling.”

“I am whispering.”

“You’re emotionally yelling.”

I drag a hand over my face.

He laughs into my shoulder, and there it is again.

That feeling—not panic.

Not shame.

Something warmer.

Something worse.

I tighten my arm around him before I can stop myself, and his laughter quiets; his hand settles on my chest, over my heart. For a long second, neither of us says anything.

Then he whispers, “You can stay until morning.”