But first I need another drink.
6
Chari
This night is not turning out how I expected. But it’s probably for the best.
“Hey, sorry I’m late.” Lisa freezes when she sees my face. “Uh-oh. Come with me.”
I follow her to the back of the restaurant, toward a set of stairs. We walk down a few steps and stop.
DeLuca’s II is going to be a smashing success. All night people have been complimenting the decor, the food. The enclosed deck is beautiful, the whole place, packed. And everyone seems to be having a fantastic time. Everyone except me.
“This isn’t necessary.”
I can barely see Lisa’s face. The stairs are dark, the only light from the bustling restaurant and half-closed door above us.
“Yes, it is. I know that look.”
My eye roll is probably wasted on her on the dim stairs. Or maybe not, given what she says next.
“You can pretend to everyone else, but I was there when you tried on like ten dresses.”
“Three,” I correct her, still sipping the beer Enzo brought me.
“Okay, three. So what happened?”
“Exactly nothing. It must have been my imagination run wild this morning. He is exactly like I remember him. Nice. Funny. Easy to talk to. Incredibly sexy.”
I can see enough of her face to detect a smile.
“OK, I guess the sexy one is new. I mean, he was always hot, but there’s something about his confidence that really . . .”
“You’re getting off topic.”
“My point is that we were wrong.”
Lisa shakes her head. “I don’t think so. I know what flirting looks like, and Enzo was full-on flirting with you this morning.”
Another sip.
“Maybe he changed his mind? Maybe he remembered he doesn’t need to flirt with a country bumpkin. I’m sure he has legions of women who fall at his feet in New York.”
“You are not a country bumpkin.”
Except that I kind of am. And Lisa is too, but I don’t tell her that.
“OK, I’m a sophisticated socialite who also happens to be a teacher from a small town in Pennsylvania. You’re totally right.”
“I thought you said you were worldly?”
I have to smile at that despite the pit in my stomach.
“I lied.” And I’m about to do it again. I’m about to tell Lisa that I really don’t need to be down here, huddled on the stairs, talking it out. I survived just fine without Enzo before this weekend, and can do so again when he leaves tomorrow.
“Everything all right down there?”
Even in the dark, I can see the whites of Lisa’s eyes as they widen.