Living With Him

Fifty-nine: The Invitation

"You didn't like it?"

The mix of surprise, and I guess disappointment is still evident in Andres' eyes as he asked his third question about his gift.

"I loved it," I assured him. "I just didn't know that I should've worn it tonight."

"I see," he nodded.

I don't know if there's such a requirement, like in the movies, that when someone gives you clothes, you're to wear it to dinner or a date or whatever it is you are to do with the person who gave it to you. But then again, I'm not in a movie so I wouldn't know.

I actually tried the dress, and it was a perfect fit as well as the shoes. That's evident, of course, given that he worked with the people who used to buy my clothes and shoes for me when I was still-

"How did you know I was here?" I blurted out the first thought I grasped just so I could break my own train of thought.

"Right," he smiled and bit his lower lip. "I looked you up on social media but your accounts are private, so I added Audrey."

He scratched the back of his ear before he shyly told me how he asked them where I was or if they could give him my number. Audrey didn't give him my number because she somehow projected her frustration with our old employer on him. It was Justin who gave him the location but didn't give which hotel I'm in.

Now I'm wondering how he found me. There are about 5 hotels in the area and more than 5 transient houses which won't make it easy to find someone unless they're a celebrity.

We were heading back to the buffet table for a second round of dessert when the teenager from earlier happened to pass us by and stopped when she saw me.

She looked at me from head to toe before looking at the man beside me.

"You found your girlfriend," she gave him an approving nod and I felt my eyes widen a bit.

So that's why she said I looked familiar.

"I did," he smiled and gestured a high five but she ignored it.

"Cool," she said and walked away.

He watched her walk away.
"How old is she, like, fourteen? Fifteen? She ignored my high five!"

"Kids are much cooler these days, I guess" I said and asked for my 3rd scoop of ice cream tonight."

The phrase, "your girlfriend" still rings in my ears but Andres might've been pressed to lie. Well, since it was a teenager that he asked if she happened to have seen me around.

❀❀❀❀❀❀

We sat by the beach and Andres continued to share his travel stories with me. It was really nice to see and hear from him again.

I didn't talk much, I just sat there listening to him talk about what he's done in the past year. I did feel him giving me hints to talk and share anything about me, but I didn't really feel like talking.

I didn't realize that we'd been sitting in silence until I heard him sigh in content as he stretched his back.

"So how are you, George? Like, how are you-really?"

I turned my head to his direction but avoided his eyes as he waited for an answer.

Can I really tell him? Will I be triggered and start bawling?

"I don't think I'm ready to talk about what happened." I know that I didn't really answer him as to how I'm doing, but I know that he took the hint.

"Alright. I won't push it," he nodded.
"I just wondered what could've possibly happened because you two seemed like you wouldn't just go apart like that. I heard some of the house staff talking and..oh, I'm sorry. I just expressed respect for your boundaries and here I am talking too much."

I couldn't help but laugh at how embarrassed he felt. I understand that all he wanted was to catch up. I guess I will talk to him about it once I'm ready.

❀❀❀❀❀❀

"That sun kissed glow looks good on you," Audrey pointed out as she walked around the room.

It's only a week before the wedding and she's more relaxed than before, but I can still see how she's trying to hold it together.

"Thanks," I smiled. "So, are you excited?"

She plopped herself beside me on the couch in her living room and gave out a deep sigh.

"I actually never thought that the day would come that we would get married," she smiled a little. "I always thought that we would stick to the 'Wedding's just paper" belief, but here we are."

I scooched closer and wrapped my arm around my bestfriend.

"I'm happy for you," I smiled and rested the side of head on hers.
"My best friend is getting married!" I grinned and she laughed.

"We'll be gone for a month for the honeymoon. Will you be okay?"

I sat back and looked at her.

"Of course I'll be okay! I have work and Kuma. I'll be pretty busy." I answered.

"Did you and Andres get to talk?"

I rolled my eyes at her and smirked.

"We did. It was amazing how he found me but I do blame your husband-to-be for telling."

"I smacked the back of his head that day, don't go hard on him. I made sure not to hurt him and apologized after because he might change his mind about me."

We both laughed.

"No. He won't leave you, Audrey. You guys are end game, and I'm happy for you both."

"We've been through a lot, that's for sure."

We were busy smiling at each other when she suddenly sprang up from the couch.

I looked at her and widened my eyes a little as I waited for her to speak her mind.

"You don't have a plus 1 yet!" Audrey cupped her face as she stared at me.

"I don't need a plus 1."

I think we both know you do. It's a wedding and you'll be all alone.

Oh shut up.

"How about Andres?" she suggested. "Though I hate him a little because I know him and he-who-must-not-be-gossiped-about have connections, I think he's a nice person."

She disappeared from the living room and came back with her phone.

"I don't know if he's a wedding person," I tried to brush her suggestion off.

"He just said yes!" she beamed.

"Oh, Audrey..."