The others were exchanging looks as Ernesto poured viscous red liquid from a green wine bottle into a glass and added carbonated bottled water and a twist of lemon.

“Thank you,” I said, and took the glass. As they all watched me, I took a sip of the salty, mineral-tasting drink and swished it in my mouth. “Yes, I get the grass notes and also something like chamomile. Delish.” Then I gulped down the rest of the drink. It hummed through me, making me feel alive and sexy.

I pulled off my scrunchie and shook out my hair. Then I sat on the arm of Oswald’s chair, very casually, as if I was merely resting.

Lily pivoted in her chair toward me. “Do you think it’s normal to drink blood, Milagro?”

“The Masai subsist on blood, milk, and bark. Are you saying they’re abnormal? Excuse me if I find that culturally insensitive of you.”

Lily looked pleased and said to the others, “Her level of denial is amazing. It’s a pity I can’t write a case study on her.”

“Lily, don’t you ever go off the clock?” I said, moving my leg closer to Oswald’s and admiring his jean-clad thigh.

The others began talking about investment property, but I put my mind to a more serious topic: maybe my superhero talent was receiving brain waves. I attempted to read Oswald’s mind and find out if he was sending any lustful messages to me. I wasn’t sure, but I thought he probably was.

The hour grew late and we all said good night to Ernie. AG walked Edna to her cottage, and Gabriel took Lily’s arm and guided her down the drive toward the house.

When I bent over to retie my shoe, Oswald politely waited for me. I retied the other shoe and said, “I don’t like it when they’re not equally tight.”

“I know.”

“It’s strange having you know all about me when I don’t know anything about you.” The breeze blew his chestnut hair forward and I reached over and brushed it back. The zizz from him melded with the buzz from the cocktail in a most remarkable way.

He said, “I don’t know much about what you’ve been doing lately. Everyone avoided talking about you because they thought it would upset me.”

“Ozzy, how did we meet?”

“It was at that book party for your ex. You were the sexiest thing in the room, and when I asked if you wanted to leave, you came right along. You’ve always been ready for a good time.”

“Is there anything wrong with that?”

“I was definitely in need of a good time, then,” he said. “Later, though, you got bored here. Or you got bored with me.”

“How could I be bored in a place like this? It’s fantastic. And you’re fantastic, Oswald.”