My Mother's Boyfriend

Hot And Cold

Maya

Alejandro showed his appreciation of my appearance at least. It was done politely but somehow, my cheeks seemed to know the difference.

He’d smiled, showing his pleasure at how good I looked in his chosen wear for me. A peach-coloured dress and not the traditional red, long asymmetrical halter cutout, that covered my ankles perfectly to blend with the matching colour stilettos.

Earrings that hung to almost my shoulders. Drop earrings, I recall his sister saying as she and Tami fussed as they both dressed me for this occasion. And I am positive it costs more than my entire tuition fee. My hair and make-up were done to near perfection- I almost did not recognise myself. While I know I am- uh, not ugly, I just didn’t fully grasp how much the slightest of glam could alter you.

Like- I am attractive. I never saw myself as that. I’d stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror for far too long.

His mother was still out of the country. Alejandro said they normally would have a huge dinner at home with all the family that lived there, earlier than usual, and then they would go off to spend whatever remained of the evening with significant others.

I thought that was pretty rad, since they were not really one that I or others would think of as traditional- or romantic. As a previous outsider, I could say this- they seemed so cold. But I guess they are humans too, after all, with human feelin-

Twisting my lips, I drop my trail of thinking. They are a vampire clan. Cold-cut and k*llers. Cold bloody k*llers and nothing more.

Alejandro takes my hand in the crook of his as the household gushes at us. He seats me, then himself, in the backseat of one of the Noimichaels' black luxury cars, before he pulls out his phone and starts reading whatever it is that he is reading.

Texts, emails, maybe he’s reviewing contracts to unalive people- I don’t know- and he does not come off the darn thing until we arrive at the restaurant. Bougee.

Quickly, he’s out of the car and holding his hand out to me. I was caught unexpectedly because I was under the impression he would open the door for me at my side. Embarrassment catches my cheeks once more because I have adjusted myself to exit on the wrong side.

Smiling widely, I readjusted myself and took his hand, holding onto it very unladylike as I yanked myself out, not used to this sort of thing.

“Easy, easy,” he says for my hearing alone as he balances me. “Still not used to the heels?” One of his hands circles my waist as we head inside.

How am I supposed to stay focused and get him to kiss me when he has me hot and cold? On the ride over I was cold. So, turned off that I changed my mind about kissing him, and now he does this? Taking some of my weight from me, so I feel light and able to control my shaking knees to walk properly in the heels that are so thin, that I could st*b someone with them.

He is in a blue tuxedo, peach shirt and black shoes. And, as usual, he is dashing. Freshly shaved and lengthy hair styled to perfection to show off his undercut, Alejandro is a walking magazine cover. Gold cufflinks and two rings adore his masculine fingers. One he never takes off and the other, I put there.

He’s not snooty to the hostess and polite to the oldish waiter who comes to take our order. But he does turn me off when he uses a single finger to lure the man closer to him- so close that the old guy has to bend while he speaks in a lowered tone.

Meanwhile, I admire the fanciness of the place. Valentine's is so definitely a popular thing. While the decoration is not actually screaming Valentine, the backdrop did. One wall was designed with a non-solid heart, like watercolours, in three lines of colour- one red and two black lines. While two paintings hung beside it on either side. On the left, it is stated; ‘ISN’T’ then the heart shape and the other painting on the right states; ‘LOVELY’.

Weird for a five-star but warm and inviting. Isn’t love lovely.

Pendant lights serve as focal points and contribute to the overall aesthetic feel around the bar area situated on the far side, while chandeliers hang overhead- I bend my head when I catch Alejandro’s slight vertical frown.

“Don’t gawk, as if you have never seen things,” he’d said to me before.

Once again, I am acting childish. He’s told me this. I ‘act’ this way because everything is new to me. It’s wonderment, not childish. This makes me cold again towards him.

He had ordered beforehand. This explains a bit about why he was on the phone earlier inside the car but not for the entire ride. How long does it take to order food?

Five minutes later, we have our food in front of us. During those five minutes, I sip on wine and more wine while I stare at the brightly lit interior, but at a blank wall. Alejandro makes no effort at conversation either except to say, “Usually we have dinner at home but-”

“Tami filled me in.” My words were meant to silence him, though I am astonished that he does remain so, after.

Anyway, I hate it as he has ordered beef for me, and I do not eat that. Cold on him again.

Eating everything else because I am famished, he finishes the steak while I finish the wine, and then he orders dessert- another irritating thing. I thought when he learnt that I do not partake in beef eating, that he would have asked me about what I wanted or if I even wanted dessert. But no.

Again, I refused the fabulous cake that he ate while he sipped on his coffee, staring across at me. The forehead vein on his forehead also seems to glare at me.

Honestly, I despise this man. How could I even entertain the want of his lips on mine?

“What?” I muttered rudely, sipping the last contents of the wine that I poured myself, not waiting for the waiter to come to our table. I need wine now, not when the staff reaches over.

Eyebrow perched, he says in his usual low but clear tone, “You barely ate anything.”

“Isn’t that expected of your class?” I jeered back, rolling my eyeballs. Fancy living requires eating like a bird, and ordering seconds is almost frowned upon. It caused rumours Tami had explained to me, not that I did not know this. She said that this is how other people realised she was eating for two.

Tami laughed when she said, “Ironically, I usually order more for take-out, that I eat at home where nobody can see and judge me, or I eat whatever home has, when I get in. But when I was pregnant, I just did not care what other people thought.”

Alejandro raises a hand and pushes the tiny plate back that contains the barely eaten cake and is about to speak again, but I cut him off. Folding my arms across my chest, I leaned back, attempting to also cross my legs but failing to do so. “In case you did not notice,” I stretched my lips, “I am of small frame, and I had almost an entire bottle of wine. Where do you think food will fit?”

“Unfold your hands, mia moglie.” The large man said softly.

A side glance at the approaching waiter, I pouted. “What does that mean?” I wanted to ask Gabby or anyone else, but I felt too ashamed to ask. I refuse to use G*ogle translate to understand what he is saying to me. It makes me feel rebellious.

Leaning slowly towards the table, he repeats what he says and when I comply, he translates. “My wife.”

And now I am on board with kissing him again tonight.

“I never use disrespect to you, nor my family. Our marriage might not be real, Maya, but I will treat you as your mother would have wanted me to.”

Big yikes.

Cold, again.