Promises and Pomegranates by Sav R. Miller

asshole.”
“In America, it’s innocent until proven guilty,” Stella says, shaking her
head. “And don’t act like you weren’t singing the latest Aiden James single
just last week. I can hear you in the shower, you know.”
We make it through eggs Benedict, copious amounts of turkey bacon, and
endless flutes of sparkling cider before anyone brings Mamá up.
It’s me. I bring her up.
“You guys said she was despondent,” I accuse, pointing at Ariana with
my fork. “That she wanted me home.”
Ari shrugs, taking a bite of a cheese Danish. “She was, I swear it. There
were days that she wouldn’t even leave her room. I don’t know why she acted
so gross last night.”
“Maybe she’s jealous,” Stella offers, shrugging her bony shoulders.
It’s the second time someone has suggested as much in the last twentyfour
hours, and I don’t like that everyone seems to be catching onto
something completely invisible to me. “Of what?”
“I don’t know.” Stella squints at me through her glasses, pursing her lips.
“Take your pick, I guess? You know how Mamá is; now imagine getting
stuck in a life because of who your family is, and never getting out of it.
Once you’re stuck, you’re stuck.”
“We’re all stuck in this life,” I say.
“Are we?” Stella takes her glasses, pushing them up into her hairline. “Or
have you spent the last few months being wined and dined by your incredibly
dangerous, disturbingly handsome husband, on an island completely removed
from any and all famiglia drama?”
I poke at the remainder of my eggs, scowling. “It wasn’t like I took a
vacation. I was...”
Trailing off, I realize my sisters don’t technically know the full details of
the reasoning behind my marriage to Kal. And I’m not exactly sure what our
parents told them, so I decide to clear the air once and for all, hoping it’ll
eliminate the massive weight bearing down on my chest.
“Someone recorded Kal and me the first time we slept together.”
Ari snickers. “First implies there was a second, and third, and—”
Stella wraps her arm around Ari’s neck, clamping her hand over her
mouth. “We already know that. Papá wasted no time in telling everyone how
Kal seduced you. Not that you needed sympathy in the public’s eye, being
kidnapped and all.”