Chapter 16

He winked at me and I had to choke on more pasta to keep from responding. Gabriela was looking at me strangely all this time.

"It's because of thoughts like those that fifteen-year-old girls end up pregnant and single," my dad blurted out. Tell me something, Anna, are you having relations with that guy? Because from now on I tell you, I don't want to be a grandfather at forty.

Hearing that I nearly choked on my own saliva.

"Forty! “Mom burst out laughing,” you mean forty-six, dear. You are no longer young, look in the mirror, your fallen hair speaks for itself.

I was still coughing and pounding my chest.

“Yes, I said forty. Anna, tell me how old is that guy, I don't want an old man abusing a naive young lady like you. Remember that guys are only looking for one thing. Just one!

"Dad! "I screeched at him in horror once I managed to stop coughing." Please stop.

"She looked twenty-four," Au