***
“Remind me again. Why are we spending our romantic evening with Claudia and Rubio? If romance is what you’re after, it seems counterproductive to have other people in attendance.” I’d forgotten my shoes in my hotel room and we were forced to go and retrieve them. The clock in my dash display reminded me we were supposed to pick up the other couple in an hour.
“Because, Best Boyfriend in the World, it’ll be fun. Also, Rubi really wanted to take Claudia somewhere nice. He’s been saving up since Christmas. Can Fabes is supposed to have amazing food. I still don’t know how you managed to make reservations. How did you get reservations anyway? It was pretty short notice.” Livvie checked her lipstick in the visor mirror for the third time. I think she just liked the way her lips looked in red. So did I.
“It was short notice because you didn’t tell me I was supposed to plan something. Valentine’s Day? I’ve heard of it, but I had no idea people actually participated in such… sentimentality. Don’t they get enough of that during Thanksgiving and Christmas?” I put my blinker on and moved to the passing lane to get around someone in what appeared to be a golf cart. Fuel-efficient cars. Bleh!
“Changing the subject, James. I’m on to your tactics.” Livvie glared. A smile played on her lips.
“I went down to the restaurant in person and charmed the hostess. She was very amenable.” I grinned. Livvie’s smile turned sour. “You asked.” I shrugged.
“I didn’t ask you to flirt with another girl.”
“I didn’t say I flirted. I said I was charming. I simply explained that I was a cad who’d made the grievous mistake of not acquiring reservations to take my beautiful girlfriend and her entourage to dinner on the most romantic day of the year. I told her I’d be lost without you and that anything she could do to help me keep your favor would be worthy of my deepest gratitude. Then I tipped her a day’s wages.” I kept my eyes forward, though I knew my expression remained smug.
“Asshole,” Livvie said. She grabbed my hand and put it in both of hers, squeezing.
“Idiot,” I countered. “As if anyone else could hold my attention.” I squeezed her hand in return.
“I got you a present,” she said.
“Kitten,” I admonished. “We already exchanged gifts.” I’d given her pearls. She’d gifted me with the sight of her in a red cape and heels high enough to nearly put us at eye level. It had been a very short but enjoyable chase. No one could run in those things. I forbid her to wear them outside the house.
“Relax. It’s no big deal.” She opened her purse and took out a box of candy. I laughed.
“It looks open.”
“I ate most of them,” she said.
“You are so strange sometimes, Pet.”
“Method to my madness, Sexy. Open your hand.” I complied and she put the heart-shaped candies in my palm. When I looked at them, I felt as though someone had squeezed my heart. All the candies read “Be Mine.”
“I’m already yours, Pet. And you’re mine.” Stuffing my mouth full of candy hearts may have lessened the romance of the moment, but Livvie didn’t seem to mind.
“Yes, yours,” she said. She kissed my cheek.
I felt in my heart the affirmation of what I had come to suspect was true for some time. What she really meant was: I love you.
After retrieving my shoes and picking up Claudia and Rubio (I have never been comfortable with calling that man Rubi), we arrived at the restaurant with ten minutes to spare. I felt the slightest bit awkward as we approached the hostess. She was the same woman from the week before and she smiled warmly. However, I didn’t miss the way her eyebrow lifted as she saw the young crowd I’d brought with me. I could never be ashamed of Livvie, but traveling with three younger people made me feel… old. There had been a time when it wouldn’t have bothered me because I had no idea of my age. Regardless, the hostess greeted us warmly.
“Se?or Cole.” She pointed us in the direction of our waiter, who greeted us with a smile and asked us to follow him.
“Your last name is Cole? Like Sophia’s?” Claudia sounded incredulous.
“Strange coincidence,” I said.
Claudia shrugged and it made her look younger, despite the very adult cocktail dress she was wearing.
“I guess if you ever get married you won’t argue about whether or not Sophia will change her name.”
“Claudia,” Livvie hissed.