The Next 365 Days by Blanka Lipinska

Author:Blanka Lipinska
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Published: 2022-08-03T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

I sat blindfolded by the kitchen island. After I confessed to knowing Spanish cuisine, I was placed here to await my test.

‘All right, let’s start with something easy,’ said Nacho, feeding me a bite. ‘We’ll do three tries. If you guess each one, you get one wish. If you guess wrong, I win and you have to accept my wish.’

I nodded, chewing the meat. Because it definitely was some kind of meat. I swallowed and said: ‘Insultingly easy. That’s chorizo.’

‘Which is?’ he asked, kissing my bare shoulder.

‘You told me to guess what it was without elaborating,’ I snapped. ‘It’s Spanish sausage.’

He laughed and offered me another morsel.

‘Jesus, that’s how little you think of me? That’s jamon—aged ham.’ I chewed the delicious, salty meat with relish. ‘I can’t wait to tell you what my wish is. You’re going to regret this!’

‘Now something sweet,’ Nacho said with amusement. I opened my mouth. ‘I’d much rather stick something else into your pretty mouth,’ he added, laughing.

A second later, I smelled his minty breath and then his tongue gently slipped into my mouth.

‘I won’t let you go that easy,’ I mumbled, trying to push him away. ‘Give me the third sample.’

I chewed on the next item for a while, losing my confidence. I had no idea what that was. Smacking my lips, I chewed until there was no taste left. It tasted of pineapple, strawberry and mango. I frowned, trying to dredge up any idea of what it might be.

‘Who’s going to regret losing now?’ Nacho asked from behind me. ‘What was that, bee?’

‘That’s not fair,’ I said. ‘It was some kind of fruit.’

‘And its name?’

I said nothing.

‘Do you give up?’

I tore the blindfold off and looked at him.

‘I can show it to you. If you don’t recognise the taste, you’ve probably never seen it.’ He opened his palm. Inside, there was something that looked like a large green pinecone.

I turned the fruit, sniffed it, patted it and felt it from all sides, but Nacho was right—I’d never seen it before.

‘It’s a cherimoya,’ he said with a grin. ‘So. Will you act honourably and fulfill my one wish?’ He crossed his arms, challenging me.

I thought for a moment. Recalling what had happened an hour before, I concluded that my failure would probably lead to some very intriguing consequences.

‘All right, Marcelo. What do you wish?’

‘Leave with me.’ My mouth opened. I wanted to protest, but Nacho raised a hand. ‘I’m not suggesting you move in with me forever. Just for a little while.’

His smile was disarming. I melted like the last icicle of winter during a sunny spring day. There was one more thing I had in common with that icicle—looking at Nacho, I was so wet I nearly leaked water.

‘That was a trick.’

The Canarian nodded.

‘You are a conniving, sneaky…’

‘… ruthless killer who now stands before a woman naked and offers her food only to steal some of her for himself,’ he finished, spreading his arms. ‘That’s me.’

I wasn’t going to say no, but I decided to string him along a bit longer.

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