FOR RICHER, FOR POOR

CHAPTER SIX

It's been three days since I ran away from Lorenzo. I try to keep my distance from him, making things professional. Nadia got in my head and made my relationship with Lorenzo weird. Now I'm reading too much into the things he does either to me or for me. When he touches my hand, I feel weird and warm inside, and when he smiles at me I unintentionally blush on top of it all I have to fight through all the weirdness and act casual all the time, after all, we are about to start spending an insanely amount of time together.

Today he said he'll come help me hand out flyers around. I just hope I don't be all weird around him. Hopefully, he doesn't bring up the incident of me running off and being all weird.

I was standing in the middle of the café, I have to admit we did a great job. The walls were all painted, the counter was cleaned up and modernized, the shade up front was amazing, and Lorenzo did a good job. The tables came a couple of days back and I struggled to find the perfect way to position them, the hardest part of being a perfectionist, but after my umpteenth trial, I just gave up and decided to let them stay like that.

The bell jingled, I turned from over the counter, and held my breath, "Lorenzo," I whispered.

He looked around, finally spotting me, he smiled and waved as he approached me, "Why do you seem surprised to see me? I did say I'd come here to help you, right?" he said.

"Yes, you did. And I'm not surprised." I said. "Let me finish up here then we can go," I said dismissively. I wasn't doing anything I just needed time to pull myself together, I honestly didn't expect him to come. I awkwardly rearranged some cups and plates, dusted myself off, picked the flyers and I was ready to go. "I'm ready now let's go?" I asked him. He nodded and followed me to the door.

We walked all around the city, handing out the flyers. Lorenzo seemed to do a much better job at it, yet girls kept sneaking glances at him but never actually sticking around long enough to talk to him. I just laughed at their behavior while I kept on handing out the flyers. It took a few hours but we ran out of flyers and we had nothing to do.

"Hey want to go and listen to me play?" Lorenzo asked out of nowhere.

"Umm, sure why not," I said unsure of what else I could have said.

He took my hand and smiled down on me. We walked to a certain pawn shop, the owner seemed to know him. They talked a bit and I could see the guy keep looking at me, after a few words were exchanged we left and we went to a public park bench, "Wait, you're going to sing here?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, I am. And you milady you're going to sit there and be your natural beautiful self," he said as he prepped his guitar.

Seriously did you hear that? How does he just casually say things like that to me and not expect me to be affected? Or am I just reading too much into everything? You know what Kathleen don't even think about it just be calm and relaxed.

He made a melodious sound. And started singing.

And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain. My friend I say it clearly and state my case of which I'm certain.

Was he singing a song by Elvis Presley? I love that song. I can't help but just stare at him. He is full of surprises I didn't expect that from him. I looked at the crowd gathering I'm not the only one enjoying this, the crowd even offered tips as he kept on singing, I was hooked on listening to his voice as he sang on. My phone buzzed, I looked at it, it was a text from Nadia. Are we still on for tonight? Oh yeah, we were gathering together for a pre-celebration of the new café. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Olivia, Nadia, and I. Yes, we are. See you at 6. I reply. I didn't invite Lorenzo after my last weird encounter, didn't want to embarrass myself again, let alone have Nadia do the embarrassing for me. Plus, he'll be there for the actual grand opening so everything will be fine. The applause brought me out of my head and back to earth. Lorenzo looked at me smiling, and the crowd dispersed. He took the hat with tips and gave it to the homeless guy who was sitting by the tree at the park. I couldn't help but just smile. He performed such a noble act with so much ease, it was admirable.

"You're full of surprises." I said to him as we walked through the park, he looked at me and smiled, "How's that?" he asked. I chuckled, "Never pegged you for a 1950s pop song kind of guy," I said. "What did you peg me for?" he asked. "You know, more modern songs kind of guy," I said and laughed. He just shrugged and smiled as he looked down on me. I couldn't help my eyes wander to his lips, he was about to lean in, and I just blurted out, "Anyway, I have to go. I had something planned with my best friend for tonight. See you at the opening." I waved him goodbye and left.

I got home and prepared for our little party tonight. "Kat! Are you ready yet?" Nadia came shouting through the door. "Shouting doesn't make me get ready any faster Nadia. Also, Olivia would be coming too, I don't think she's ready yet," I answer.

"I'm good to go," Olivia said from the bathroom doorway. I look at her, "How?" I asked confused. She just laughed and went to Nadia. I put on some lip gloss and get out of the bathroom.

"What are you bitches wearing?" Nadia asks her eyebrows creased and looks at us up and down. "Hell no, this won't work. You guys don't think I'm just going to this lame get-together, no offense Kat, and going home?" she said walking to our closet.

"Today I'm going to get wasted, and so are you two bitches?" she says going through my clothes first, "Jesus Kathleen when did you last go shopping? Remind me to take you to shop for more dresses." She says and moves to Olivia's closet, "Whoa. Now this is what I'm talking about? Olivia, I underestimated you. Kat, you could borrow a page from Olivia's book or in this case wardrobe." She said with so much admiration, making Olivia smile and I just stood there offended.

She picked a black low-cut dress with long sleeves for Olivia and a short silver dress with an open back for me. "You don't expect me to wear this in front of the old couple, do you?" I asked looking at the dress. "Sweetie it wasn't up for debate. Now go get ready you're making us late." Nadia said pushing me to the bathroom.

We left the house around seven, and I have to admit we looked sexy. We got downstairs, and when we left the building I was shocked, "An Audi A5? Nadia, is this your car?" She laughed, "yes, it is. You like it?" she asked. "Umm hell yeah," I said as I slid next to her and Olivia at the back. "You have got to let me drive it," I asked excitedly. "Baby, you will just not now. We're already late because of you," she said and drove us through the city. We went to the café, but we didn't stay long though, Mrs. Johnson shooed us away saying we should go have fun and that they'll close up. Off we went to get loose according to Nadia.

It's been a while since I partied, I don't think I can hold my liquor anymore. "This is the new club, right?" I asked. "Yes, it is I got us a backdoor pass. This is going to be fun." She said after parking the car and practically dragging us to the back of the building. The music was loud, I realized that I hadn't been to a club since college, I might as well enjoy myself while I'm here.

I headed to the counter and ordered a beer, Olivia and Nadia were dancing, so I took my beer and started assessing the place. It was packed, their arrangement was not that bad and their entrance was… This can't be right! Lorenzo?

"Kat seriously? A beer?" Nadia said snatching the beer from my hand but I wasn't paying attention to her. "What are you looking at?" she asked following the direction of my eyes. "Oh, I see you haven't lost your taste in men. They're cute." She said turning me around to face the counter. "That's Lorenzo," I said to Nadia. Olivia came and joined us, "That's the mysterious Lorenzo? We should invite him here." Nadia said excitedly. "No, we shouldn't!" I shouted.

"Too late they're coming here anyway," Olivia said. I can't deal with this sober. I ordered shots for all of us. "Hey Kathleen," I heard his voice just after I downed the last shot. I turned around, "Hey Lorenzo," I said giggling. Maybe the shots were a bad idea I thought.