The Dancing Torera

35

Anais

Today was Sunday which was Esteban's only day off.  I washed the dirty breakfast plates, begging Esteban's mom rest. She had done all the cooking and prepping for us all morning.

Esteban comes behind me, kissing the cusp of my ear before grabbing a towel and helping me dry. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"

I shrugged, rolling my eyes before looking at Esteban.  "Do I have to go?" He had invited me to tag along his press conference at the prestigious El Lujo hotel. It was an all day affair and I wasn't sure if I wanted to tag along. Only 4 days remained until his big matador match. It was the first time I would be at an lucrative event like this.

"Anais, I want you there. Plus you have to meet all the sponsors. They like seeing the El Niño's and their girlfriends."

I place another plate onto the counter before meeting his eyes. "Okay. I don't have practice until 6pm on Monday. Do you think the conference will be done by then?"

"I think so. It's from 8-4pm. I'll drive you to the studio after"

I wash the last two plates and place them on the counter before moving to the cabinets to stack them away.

"But I need something to wear? What do I even wear to a conference?"

"We can go into the city and shop? Or?"

"Or?"I ask, turning to face him.

"You could just ask my mother for something? You and her are the same size?" He suggested.

"I feel bad. I never returned her other red dress she lent me. Remember what happened to it" I squinted reminding him of what we did in it. It was the first time he ate me out.

"She doesn't hate you for it" he smiles boyishly, walking over and pulling me into his arms. "Plus, you looked so good in that dress. It would have been a crime to pass up a snack like you that day" he teased, pulling me into his lips. We kissed passionately until I broke.

"Go. I'll finish up in here". I nodded and walked over to the stairs, making my way to Mrs. La Renta's room.

"Mrs. La Renta??" I shouted, pressing my knuckles against the surface of her open door.

"Anais stop! Call me Gloria." She shouts, carrying a heavy pile of clothing and dropping it to the floor. "Just trying to do some laundry." She blushed, excusing the mess in the room.

"Esteban has his conference tomorrow and he said to maybe to ask you for something to wear for the conference tomorrow." I smile awkwardly. Although Esteban's mother and I were warm to each other, we were not that close.

She leaned against her bed, looking at my figure before snapping. "I have the most perfect outfit!"
She walked over to her closet, ruffling through the hangers of her spacious walk in.

"Here it is!!" She announces, pushing a soft white off the shoulder dress into my hands. "It's what I wore attending meetings and conferences with Esteban's father. You know he spent the last bit of money he had so I would look nice at the press conferences? He wasn't the famous matador Spain knows and loves today."

I smile, listening to the sweet tale. "How sweet!"

"He was a true romantic." She went over to a box on the floor of the closet carpet and took out a small photo. "Look this was the photo from that day. It was his most famous match since it was his first."