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.”