The kid shakes an ice pack in front of my face while she bounces on the tips of her toes. I reach out mindlessly and grab it from her.
“Are you okay?”
I wince at the sound of the child’s voice. It reminds me of Lana’s, right down to the slight rasp she has. Another dizzy spell hits me.
Lana rises and kisses the top of her daughter’s head. “Thank you, baby. That’s sweet of you to help him.”
“Do we need a doctor?”
“No. He just needs to get some rest.”
“And a strong drink,” I grumble.
Lana turns toward her daughter. “See? He’s good enough to make bad decisions again. All is well in the world.”
Her nose twitches. “That don’t make sense.”
Lana sighs. “I’ll explain in the morning, mi amor.”
“But—”
Lana points toward the stairs. “Vete a dormir ahora mismo.”
God. She looks and sounds just like her mother.
Maybe because sheisa mother.
My body goes numb.
Are you having a heart attack?
From the way my left arm tingles and my heart feels like it might launch itself out of my chest, I wouldn’t rule it out.
The kid points at me with a chubby finger. “He don’t look so good.”
“He’ll be fine. He’s just got a headache.”
“Maybe your kiss will make it all better like my boo-boos.”
“No,”Lana and I both say at the same time.
“Okay. No kisses.” The child crosses her arms with a pout.
Lana’s eyes dip toward my mouth. Her tongue darts out to trace her bottom lip, turning the tips of my ears pink.
You’re hopeless. Completely and utterly hopeless.
“Will you read me a story?” The kid interrupts us, her voice having the same effect as an ice bucket on my mood.
Could she really be mine? Would Lana hide a kid from me foryears solely because she hates me?
The room spins around me. I shut my eyes to avoid looking at my mini-me and Alana.
“Camila,” Lana warns.
“You still both owe the swear jar,” her daughter reminds her.
I can picture Lana rolling her eyes as she says, “Remind me in the morning.”