Margo, Eva, and I chuckled while nodding.
“That’s what happens when you cater to the elite,” I reminded her. “It’s a wonderful place to work, but some of the clients definitely want you to treat them like royalty.”
Eva snickered. “Yeah, and most of them are just married to rich guys without ever having worked a day in their life.” It was unusual to see Eva so cynical.
“Eva, I’m loving your newfound cynicism.”
“That’s what happens when you stay single for so long.”
And just like that, the air at the table got tense and quiet.
Yuslan smiled while leaning back in his chair. “What are we drinking tonight?”
I took a long sip of my drink while smiling at him. “All of us are having their spicy pineapple margaritas. You two should try one, too. So good!”
Guadalupe leaned across the table to get a better look at Jorge. “You know, Jorge, Ginger is one of our best employees. She never needs any help when it comes to doing her job, and I have yet to find any errors in her work. She’s also one of the sweetest, most giving women I’ve ever met.”
Yuslan nodded approvingly while sipping his margarita, wincing at how spicy it was. “My wife is right, Jorge. She’s a good woman who deserves a good man.”
“Believe me, I have every intention of treating her like the queen that she is, and I don’t have any plans on leaving Miami. This is my home, and I know that Ginger feels the same way.”
Our eyes met as he nuzzled my nose, and I realized that nothing could ruin our night.
“Get a room, you two,” Eva said while drinking another spicy pineapple margarita. “I’m sorry, it’s just kind of weird being the only one without a date tonight.”
Guadalupe leaned back and scoured the restaurant. “Eva, I’m going to find you an alto, oscuro y guapo man tonight!”
She held her hands up while shaking her head profusely. “No, please don’t do that, Guadalupe. Thank you for being so nice, but I was just joking around.”
Margo and I burst out laughing because we completely understood Eva’s apprehension. Guadalupe wouldn’t have thought twice about approaching a man and telling him that he should date Eva, and that’s not how Eva wanted to meet her next boyfriend.
“All right,” Guadalupe said while facing the table again. “But you’re going to find a good man one of these days, mark my words!”
I rested a little bit more against Jorge, enjoying the sound of his heart beating.
“I miss working with you guys,” Margo said. “Especially now that Ginger has been promoted and Eva has her old job back.”
Chase smiled at her while brushing some hair out of her face. “I can easily take care of Joanna if you want to go back to work. Besides, I love working from home.”
Margo burst out laughing while shaking her head at him. “Are you crazy? I can barely keep up with her as it is, and as she gets older, it’ll only get harder. I’ll go back in due time.”
Guadalupe looked so happy, smiling at all of us at the table. It was as though we were one big family.
Yuslan tapped Jorge on the shoulder. “Jorge, would you mind sitting with me at the bar for a few minutes?”
“Sure, no problem.”
The two of them sat down at the bar behind us, and I couldn’t help but lean back in my seat, wanting to listen in on their conversation.
“Two spicy pineapple margaritas,” Yuslan said. “I’ve noticed a change in you lately, Jorge. You seem happier. Is it because Ria’s gone?”
“That certainly adds to it, but most of it has to do with Ginger.”
I casually turned around to see Yuslan smiling at him. “I figured as much. I went through a similar change after meeting Guadalupe many, many years ago.”
Jorge chuckled while sipping his drink. “I’d love to hear about it.”
“I dated so many women before her, Jorge. Dozens of them would flock to me because, according to Guadalupe, I was alto, oscuro y guapo. As you can see, that’s changed over time.”
