Something Borrowed

Chapter 22: Hate to Love You

            I was busy in the kitchen making dinner when Catalina's voice, or rather her shouts, sounded through the room. "Girls night out!" She shouted, slamming a bottle of rosé on the counter as she sat at the bar stool, staring at me expectantly. "Come on Daphne, you don't need to take your heels of darling," Catalina said with a cheeky grin, winking at me as she jumped from her seat in search of a bottle opener.

"Just because you lack manners, little sis, doesn't mean that I do as well," Daphne said, appearing around the corner, grinning at me. "How was your flight home with Nathaniel?" She asked with a knowing smile.

"We got into an argument this morning," I said nonchalantly, turning down the stove burner as I pulled three plates from the cabinet. "Have you spoken to him since you got back?" I asked.

She grinned rolling her eyes, helping me fix the plates of sautéed vegetables and chicken. "Nathaniel was furious that you are going out this evening with Catalina and I," she said with a grin, sitting beside me as Catalina took the seat on her opposite side.

"When is Nathaniel not furious with me, Daphne?" I asked, taking a bite of my chicken, savoring the taste. It had been a while since I'd cooked a meal in this kitchen. I let my fingers absentmindedly trace over the white granite. It was such a deep contrast against the rich browns in Rafael's home in Spain.

"Oh Astoria," Catalina teased. "Our dear brother missed his darling wife, as did we," she said perkily. "He might meet us at the club later," Catalina said nonchalantly, making my eyes bug out of my head.

"Wear something sexy," Daphne teased, making me scowl.

"How about the black dress that we got the last time we went shopping?" Catalina suggested, wiggling her brow.

I scrunched my nose. "I'm not wearing that dress for Nathaniel," I resolved.

"Who else would you wear it for?" Daphne asked, her eyes glittering with amusement.

I fought the smile that pulled at my lips. Rafael I wanted to say, but I refrained because Catalina didn't know about our rendezvous.

"Fine," I finally said, watching Catalina's eyes light up as she ran from the room. Daphne and I cleaned the dishes as we made small talk before Catalina came stumbling back into the room, nearly sliding into the island.

"Where are all of Nathaniel's clothes?" She asked, her eyes wide. Daphne and I looked at each other before we turned to face an anxious Catalina.

"Nathaniel moved back to his old place by the office until Astoria came back," Daphne lied easily as I set her a grateful look. "Did you find the dress alright?" Daphne asked in a motherly tone, ending the topic.

"No I -"

"We'll help you," Daphne and I chirped in unison, following a suspicious Catalina into my bedroom. While Daphne and Catalina searched the closet I waited in the doorway, letting out a breath I forgot I was holding in.

"Wear this!" Catalina shouted, barreling towards me, almost knocking me down. "Wear this wear this wear this wear this ah I love this," she rambled as I nodded my head, taking the blue dress from her hands. "By the way I'm borrowing the black dress," she chirped, closing the closet door behind her.

I laughed, slipping into the blue dress, zipping it up in the back as I swept my hair to the side. I took a deep breath before Catalina stepped out, grinning at me as she pulled her hair into a tight ponytail. "You look hot," she declared. "Navy suits you."