Unfortunately, nothing slipped past Guadalupe. “Spill it, Ginger. What’s his name?”
“Nobody, Guadalupe. I’m just enjoying my lunch.”
She and Eva smirked at each other and then turned back to me.
“Fine,” I said while reluctantly putting down my spoon. “I was just thinking about how Jorge’s friend Gavin has been there a few times for those parties.”
Of course, Eva’s eyes lit up. She was obsessed with movies.
“Isn’t that exciting, Ginger? Your boyfriend is friends with a movie star!” Eva had a big mouth.
Guadalupe nearly fell out of her chair, but not because she heard the phrase “movie star.” “Boyfriend? Ginger Bowers, why didn’t you tell me you were seeing someone? What does he do? Is he alto, oscuro y guapo?”
But before I could correct both of them, Eva—as usual—went off about her love of movies.
“Have either of you seenHouse Pharaoh? It takes place in 19th-century England, and it’s about a homeless man who falls in love with a high-class socialite. Oh, it’s so romantic!”
I folded both of my hands over my chest and then corrected both of them before they got carried away. “For the record, I am asingle, independent woman who doesn’t have time for a relationship. Jorge is nothing more than a friend. We talk on the phone every Tuesday night, and that’s literally all there is to it.”
Guadalupe looked suspiciously at me. “Isn’t that the guy you danced with at Paris’s wedding last year?”
“Yes,” I said while staring into my soup.
“And isn’t he alto, oscuro y guapo?”
Eva was now giggling to herself, knowing she had gotten under my skin. Ever since I had struck up a friendship with Jorge, she always wanted to believe that we were more than just friends.
“Yes,” I said quietly. “But it’s possible to just be friends with a tall, dark, and handsome man.”
“Speak for yourself,” Guadalupe giggled. “As much as I love Yuslan, I can’t control myself whenever I see an alto, oscuro y guapo man.” Seeing Guadalupe clutch her heart while reminiscing about all of the handsome men who frequented the spa caused me to relax a bit.
I wasted no time reassuring her that no funny business was going on between Jorge and me. “He’s just a friend, you guys. Besides, Jorge lives in Belgium and is sleeping with his business partner, Ria. Does that sound like the kind of guy I want to get mixed up with?”
Eva’s right eyebrow turned into a hook. “If he’s just a friend, Ginger, then why did you practically hiss Ria’s name?”
Even though I had become jealous of Ria, I was dead set on not getting involved with Jorge. Between his history with women and how great my life was going, why would I take that chance? “If either of you thinks that I’m going to pursue a relationship after busting my ass for this MBA and getting the promotion of my dreams simultaneously, then you’re crazy. I’m a different woman than I was when I met him.”
After we finished our lunch, Guadalupe brought out a tray of miniature cakes that she had baked. My eyes lit up once I saw a passionfruit-flavored one, and my fingers instantly reached for it.
Eva, on the other hand, refused to move her hand. “No, thank you, Guadalupe. I need to lose a few more pounds.”
“Like hell you do,” she said while sitting down next to her. “Where is this coming from?”
Eva looked at me and then back at Guadalupe. “Anthony dumped me for a supermodel, remember? That never would have happened if I didn’t have such wide hips.”
Guadalupe leaned forward on the table, a gesture she made whenever she was about to give us some motherly wisdom. “First of all, Eva, I would kill for a body like yours. It’s called an hourglass figure, and those hips you’re complaining about will attract a fine man just when you least expect it! Second of all, as one of my favorite employees, I will not tolerate you reminiscing about some rat bastard who wasn’t worth a second of your time!” And just like that, Guadalupe shoved a miniature purple cake into her mouth, causing Eva to laugh.
As I focused on my miniature peach-colored cake, Eva started talking about how horrible the break-up had been. I knew what Eva was going through all too well. Which was precisely why I didn’t want to get sucked down that rabbit hole again. Not after being dumped on Paris’s wedding day last year.
Guadalupe was doing her best to cheer up Eva. “Do you think you’re ready to date again, Eva? Because there are plenty of hot, single guys in Miami who would trip over their own two feet to have a woman like you!”
Eva just shrugged and looked down at the table. “I’m not sure, to be honest. But maybe Anthony will see me tagged in pictures online of me dancing with a guy. I might be heartbroken, but I still want to get revenge.”
While the two discussed getting back at Anthony, I focused on the makeup, pretending to decide on an eyeshadow color. I was really thinking about Jorge, though. He hadn’t been too exciting at Paris’s wedding last year, but the two of us had struck up a long-distance friendship after Chase gave me his number. As he told me all about his diamond business from his luxury apartment in Antwerp’s Diamond District, I had started to grow quite fond of him.
Get your head out of your ass, woman. Why wouldn’t he be like every other guy, who’s only interested in sex and the fact that you don’t need their money?
Sensing that Guadalupe would pick up on my obvious bow-out of their conversation, I swathed several shades of blush onto my hand.
