Page 22 of Red Queen
“Will you ever get dressed?”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty comfy like this.” He knows what he’s doing. Teasing me with a fun time I know won’t happen today. He’s cruel.
I’m about to get closer to him, but my phone starts ringing. Perfect timing. I look at the screen, and I see the name “Mallorca” pop up. I look at Mateo apologetically. I unfortunately must take it. It’ll be a painful conversation. Can’t see what ridiculous thing she came up with now.
“So I have this idea, and I want you to bring it to life.” What happened to hello? How are you?
“Hello to you, too. Alright, go ahead.” I let out an inaudible sigh, as she yaps for a solid ten minutes about how she wants to change the venue from the beautiful rural city to a huge house with a huge field that is next to the ocean, and that she wants white doves. All these two and a half months before her wedding. “Yeah, no, what you’re asking for is the bridal consultant’s job. So please, talk to them about it.”
“I thought that’s your job. Why can’t you do it?”
“Ma’am, I just told you it’s not my job. That’s not what I’m qualified for. Do you have a bridal consultant?”
“I didn’t think I needed one. Thought you’re taking care of everything.”
“I don’t. Do you want me to find you one on such short notice?” I emphasize the last couple of words, but I doubt she cares that it’s going to be almost impossible to find someone this late.
“Yes, do it. And have her call me tomorrow.” Tomorrow. Of course, pendeja.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Okay, bye.” Not a thank you in sight; she just hangs up on me. I am so not ready for bridezillas.
I click on Rylee’s name, an old friend, quickly calling her, hoping she has availability. It’s ringing, and ringing, and ringing, but she doesn’t answer. Well, I hope at least she’s gonna respond to my text, so I click on the message icon and send her a text. Let’s manifest.
Mateo and I spent the rest of the day together. He took me to a couple of places I haven’t been yet, showed me around his favorite parts of Monaco.
There was one that particularly stood out to me, which was a little park behind a museum, called Jardins Saint-Martin. It’sbasically a garden; it’s full of beautiful and unique plants and flowers, such as Yellow Sage, Coralita, and pistachio trees. At the exit, there’s a flower shop where you can buy some of the flowers that are in the park.
He insisted on buying me one I liked, so now I have a bouquet of the prettiest blue lilies I’ve ever seen.
I feel like I got to know him a little better today. Maybe we’re getting along better than I thought.
15
MATEO
In the few days before we left Monaco to head to Canada, I spent a lot of time with Rosa, but it still didn’t feel like enough. Whenever I was with her, I felt like I was in heaven. I felt happy and…carefree. An emotion I haven’t felt in a while.
We also helped Nathan recover. He got lost that night and spent itnotat his home, obviously. We managed to find him, but now I wish we hadn’t. Since I filled him in on the details about Rosa, he doesn’t leave me alone. He’s dancing on my nerves, that little idiot.
He always asks for—no, demands—updates, whether we already held hands or looked into each other’s eyes. I think he suspects that I’m actually starting to like her.
Now, we’re in Canada. Tomorrow’s media day, so I should head to bed early, but I have other plans. I worked up the courage to ask Rosa on a date while we were still in Monaco, and tonight’s the night. She laughed in my face at first, which hurt a little, but it did sound ridiculous, I’ll give her that.
I’m trying to get ready for the date, but Nathan is constantly interrupting me with texts. It probably doesn’t help that I keep nagging him to help me, since I have no idea what to wear.Thank god I know what to do with my hair, which is the only thing keeping me grounded right now.
I feel like a goddamn schoolboy getting ready for his first ever date. I’m taking her to an Italian restaurant in the suburbs of Toronto, one that’s not too crowded, so she won’t get overwhelmed. I don’t want to look like a fuckboy, or a homeless person.
Lucky me, I didn’t plan on having a date, so I had to go on a shopping spree because I didn’t like any clothes I had. I get annoyed by the sound of my friend’s notifications, so I call him.
“Were you waiting for me to call you?” I laugh as he answers right away.
“I didn’t want to bother you with a call, but I was getting tired of texting.” I hear him plop down somewhere. He’s probably in the hotel room.
“I’m in desperate need of your help, Nathan.” I let out a sigh and click on the video call icon. “I don’t know what to wear.”
“Uh… I think this is good. She’s gonna love this.” He says it with such seriousness, I can’t help but laugh. I’m still in my underwear. “Alright, show me the options.”
