Page 308 of Ricardo

“Fine, yes. It’s a little weird,” I admit.

His mouth moves into a triumphant smirk. The pain medication makes it a little slower than usual, but he manages it.

His eyes settle on my stomach again, but this time the look is different. Softer and more curious. It makes my chest ache.

Yesterday, we told him.

We didn't make the mistake of splitting up the news this time. We told him together.

He had been quiet at first. Ricardo’s whole body had gone tense beside me as we waited for his reaction, though outwardly, he remained calm. I had been braced for anger, for hurt, for the return of that cold distance that had carved into me before the shooting.

But Dante only looked at me for a long time, then at his father, then back to me.

Then he said, “Well, that explains why you’ve been eating so much.”

I had sobbed instead of the laugh he expected, and a look of panic had crossed his face.

Ricardo assured him that it was just the pregnancy and that I’ve been crying at the drop of a hat lately.

I had hit him and cried harder.

But so far, Dante is taking it all right.

I do not know if that will last. I do not know if the hurt will come later, when he is stronger, when the medication is fully gone, and he is able to feel everything properly.

For now, I will take what I can get.

I will take him staring at my stomach like it might sprout something and attack.

“I don’t even look pregnant yet,” I say.

“I know.”

“Then why do you keep looking?”

He shrugs, then immediately regrets it. A tight breath leaves him, and his eyes close for a second.

I sit up straighter. “Pain?”

“Annoyance.”

“Dante,” I scold.

He opens one eye. “Some pain.”

I reach for the call button.

“No.”

“You’re in pain.”

“I hate that damn medication. Makes me feel all loopy and stupid.”

“You don't need the medication to be all stupid,” I shoot back at him. “You do that just fine on your own.”

His mouth curves. “A little respect for the man with a hole in him.”

“A sewn-up hole,” I say with much effort to keep the joking mood going when all I want to do is start crying again at his words.