Page 15 of Holiday Plus-One
“Did you know?” I ask him.
“Not until this morning and I told Tracie to talk to both you and Victor about it.”
“So, you talked to me through breakfast and was around your sister but yet nothing, huh?”
Riley shakes his head.
“If you noticed, I wasn’t really speaking to Tracie through breakfast and neither did I show up for this bullshit they called a cake tasting, did I? Look, I wasn’t there when everything was happening nor will I invalidate what happened to you in high school, I’m sorry that my sister would do that to you. I don’t condone bullying; I’ve seen it so many times in my life so don’t think I would sit there and think it’s okay. I just wanted to check up on you.”
For a moment, neither of us speak as we stare at each other.
“I’m fine.” I answer.No, no I’m not.
Riley doesn't say anything instead he pulls me in for a hug; a warm hug that I return without hesitation.
“Would ice cream make you feel better?”
Instead of being upset, my anger dissipates, and I laugh.
Riley lets me go and hands me the bouquet again. “You forgot these.” Then he stretches his hand out for me to slide mine in. “Come, let me take you around.”
Smiling, I slid my hand into his.
“Thank you for the flowers.”
“I mean, this is our first date, I have to do it right.”
“First date?” I repeat with a chuckle.
“Mmhmm. Hopefully by the third date, you’ll agree to be my plus one to your brother’s wedding.”
“As upset as I am, I would never miss Vic’s special day. He’s always wanted to find someone he could share the rest of his life with, that useless romantic.”
“I thought it was hopeless romantic?”
“He’s a useless romantic for this moment but I’ll change it when he finally pulls his head out of his ass.”
“He’s going to call you in about an hour tops.” Riley chimes in.
“I give him 2.”
“30 minutes then.” He smiles as he leads me towards his black range rover.
Riley
The datethat Valentina didn’t reject went well. Although our flirting and closeness in vicinity caused us to want to devour each other, she had to leave so we didn’t even get our first kiss in.
It doesn’t matter though because today is the second date, one that’s going to happen later but for now, I have to deal with the damage that Tracie has caused. When I walked into my place, she was hysterical about Vic not talking to her because he needed space. She thinks it's cold feet and I know damn well it isn’t. I don’t like having these conversations with Tracie because she’s not a child but sometimes… These things have to happen.
One thing that I’ve learned about Valentina, from Mimi of course, is that she loves collecting old books so for our second date, I’m taking her to this vintage bookstore that I know of that’s a little bit outside of town.
Valentina is quiet as I drive but she isn’t upset or anything, it’s a peaceful quiet. One that I really like. I’m used to having to fill in the blanks or the quietness because my last dates made it impossible to just be able to read, sip coffee or hell, watch a movie in silence.
As I get lost in thought, I feel her eyes on me.
“You’re staring, Valentina.”
“Am I?”
