“Would you like another drink?”
Yes, but only because I’ll need to be wasted to get through this evening.
“No, that’s all right. I’ll wait for my date and then we’ll have champagne. Thank you for asking, though.”
As it got closer to fifteen minutes past our scheduled time, I was starting to worry about Ginger. I was also starting to become self-conscious about everyone staring at me, probably wondering why I was sitting all alone at a table for two. My mind started racing, wondering if Ria had shown up at the Lavender Dreams Spa to confront Ginger.
That’s something she would do.
Right as I was about to call Ginger, she arrived and sat down, clearly out of breath.
“I’m so sorry that I’m late,” Ginger said while opening up her menu. “Guadalupe and I were discussing a few things about the salon, and I didn’t want to rush her by saying that I had to leave. She’s like a mother to me. I was going to call or text you, but traffic was awful, and I can’t figure out how to work my hands-free option while driving.”
I picked her left hand up, brought it to my mouth, and kissed her finger right above the diamond ring. “You never have to apologize to me, Ginger. Believe me. I completely understand about running late due to work. And I can show you how to work your Bluetooth after we eat tonight if you’d like.”
Our waitress brought over a bottle of their most expensive champagne, popped it open, and then poured each of us a glass.
“To your new promotion at Lavender Dreams Spa.”
Ginger looked breathtaking as she studied the menu, especially as the candlelight flickered against her gorgeous auburn hair.
“Everything looks so good here. I can’t decide between the calamari or one of the shrimp platters.”
“I highly recommend the lobster. The cheese melts between the succulent chunks of lobster, and it’s absolutely mouth-watering.”
“I love that you know me so well, Jorge.”
And I hope that you still love me after this evening is over.
After placing our orders with the waitress, I was eager to hear how her evening had gone with Margo and Eva. She’d mentioned going with them to The Spicy Pineapple, which was a safe choice. After the fiasco there with Ria, her chances of showing her face again were pretty slim.
“It was so much fun! These past few weeks have been so busy, between work and, well, the whole Ria situation.”
I didn’t know how to reply because anything that came out of my mouth would eventually lead to us discussing a fake wedding. So, I shoved a piece of bread into my mouth.
“Anyway, they couldn’t believe Ria just up and walked out of the restaurant! Talk about a drama queen.”
I nodded while washing the bread down with some champagne, hoping Ginger would keep on talking, but she waited for me to respond. “That would be the understatement of the year.”
Ginger told me all of the details regarding her promotion, and I found myself completely entranced by her beauty. She was wearing the diamond tennis bracelet on her left wrist, and it was impossible not to notice how all of the diamonds sparkled together with her engagement ring.
Fake engagement ring.
She started waving her hands in the air for emphasis, and fellow diners took notice of her jewelry. Several women eyed the engagement ring with envy while sitting across from their husbands and wearing ones considerably smaller. But Ginger wasn’t the type of woman who cared about the size or cost of something.
All she cared about was authenticity, and I suddenly realized that life without Ginger would be meaningless. She let out a long moan while taking a bite of her lobster. “Jorge, you were right about the lobster. This is the best I’ve ever had.”
“You deserve it after earning that promotion, Ginger. So, did you say that you also get more vacation days? Because I’d love to visit Paris with you sometime.”
As long as you don’t kill me over what I’m about to ask of you.
Whenever I interacted with Ria—whether it was about work or something personal—she always came off as phony. Which oddly suited her well, given how plastic her body had become. The last time she discussed plastic surgery with me, she was looking into butt implants. I didn’t want to offend her, so I merely nodded along. But nothing about her felt or looked real anymore.
Her personality aside, Ria was attractive before she went under the knife. Now she was a walking advertisement for silicone and collagen.
“Of course,” Ginger said while continuing to speak, “as soon as they mentioned more vacation time, my first thought was ‘where am I going to go?’ But I’d love to go to Paris with you!”
I reached across the table and took her left hand, smiling at her while once again rubbing circles over the ring. There were a million things that I wanted to say to Ginger at that moment. I tried to pour my heart out to her and tell her that she had turned me into a better man. She needed to know before we started our relationship, I was nothing.
