Page 26 of A Discovery: Love and Other Things
Ladies, always listen to your mother.
I should have listened when Mom nagged me to pack some nice outfits for my trip, because then I wouldn’t have had to borrow another inappropriately sized outfit from Angela for tonight.
I kept one hand anchored to the hem of my dress so Felipe wouldn’t get a prime view of my underwear as I climbed the narrow steps to the pub ahead of him. The peasant dress that she’d loaned me wasn’t indecent, per se, but my ass was much larger than the firm nectarine Angela boasted. The hem kept rising higher than it should have because of my shape.
In America, it wouldn’t have been an issue, but we were in a country where modest dress was preferred. Angela had convinced me that the length of the dress wouldn’t be a problem when I had been getting dressed, and I had realized too late that movement, specifically walking, made it straddle the line of decency.
I climbed the steps quickly and reached the hostess booth in record time. Thankfully, my ankle was in fighting shape again. Felipe motioned to the hostess for a table for two, and we followed her to our seats through a bare-brick archway into the busy pub. Sounds immediately assaulted my ears. The loud chatter of patrons. The scrape of barstools against the cherry-wood floors. The voice of a commentator narrating a cricket game on the big-screen TV at the end of the room.
Most of the light was supplied by wall sconces littered about the walls. Photos of Buckingham Palace, Shakespeare, and other British memorabilia adorned the space. An oversized British flag that hung over the tchotchke-adorned bar transported me to a different country altogether. It was as if we had teleported to England by way of stairwell.
“This place is so cool!” I exclaimed as Felipe pulled a chair out for me. I eyed the bartender behind the counter serving a frothy glass of beer to another customer. “How are they able to serve alcohol here?” I had thought Egypt was a dry country, even though the ancient Egyptians had brewed their own beer and used it for temple offerings.
“Special permits,” he replied, taking his own seat. “There are a few places around the city that cater to tourist locations, like hotels and restaurants. There’s even a Mexican restaurant two streets down that serves margaritas.”
My mouth watered thinking about spicy tacos with cold margaritas. “Oooh, I miss Mexican food!” The food in Egypt was delicious, but the Cali girl in me missed tacos.
“Let’s take the rest of the crew there next time,” he offered. “The drinking age is officially twenty-one and I think Isabella is the only one who is underage, though I don’t think she’ll be too keen on drinking anyway.” His smile sparkled even in the low lighting around us.
I still felt guilty about accepting his offer to go out just to stick it to Dr. Campbell, but I didn’t regret it. Felipe was easy to be around, and I enjoyed his company. It felt nice to be out with a friend and socializing like a normal human as opposed to the robots we were expected to be on-site.
I grinned. “That sounds like a great idea.”
Just then, the waitress came to our table to take our order. Felipe ordered us a round of mild ale, and a plate of fish and chips for himself. I went with the cheese pizza because I was a basic bitch and there was nothing like beer and pizza on a night out.
I tucked a rogue bunch of curls behind my ear as the waitress collected our menus and left us alone.
“You look beautiful.” Felipe’s eyes scanned my loose tresses that seemed to have a life of their own tonight. No matter how much product I applied, my hair still looked like I had stuck my finger into an electrical socket with the dry air.
“Oh, thanks.” I felt my cheeks heat.Relax, Kitty. This isn’t a date.Felipe was a nice guy, and he was probably just paying me a platonic compliment. He was well aware that I was only interested in being friends, so perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to return the sentiment. “You look great, too,” I added.
He looked like a celebrity in his fitted crewneck T-shirt and jeans. His full head of dark hair was styled into a mock-messy do. I still swore he could pass as a famous soccer player or something.
“Thanks,” he replied. “So, I have a question.”
The waitress returned with our drinks and food. When she left, I said, “Shoot.”
“How come you go by ‘Kitty’ and not Sanura?” he asked, dunking a fry into the tiny cup of ketchup.
I took a long chug of my first alcoholic beverage in weeks, letting the heady taste roll over my tongue. “It’s not that I hate the name. I think I just grew tired of having to explain how to pronounce it all the time. Growing up, my teachers would have a hard time getting it right, so I got fed up and just went by Kittybecause it was foolproof to pronounce.”
I held up a slice of my gooey pizza to offer to him.
“No, thanks.
I took a bite. It definitely wasn’t as good as a pizzeria pie, but the orgy of chewy dough, melted cheese, and tomato sauce hit the spot. “Good, because I don’t think I want to share it with you now.”
He chuckled before returning to the topic. “Well, I guess you’re finally in a country where everyone can pronounce your birth name. By the way, did I pronounce it correctly?”
“Perfectly!”
He picked up another “chip.” “Thank God for the way Dr. Campbell enunciates your name, like he’s pissed at you or something. It made it easier for me to learn it.”
I smiled awkwardly. The mere mention of Dr. Campbell’s name was enough to make me grimace. Every time my name rolled off his tongue, it sounded like a curse. Like a dirty secret he wanted no part of.
“Speak of the devil.” Felipe nodded over my shoulder.
My scalp prickled before I even turned in my chair.
