FOR RICHER, FOR POOR

CHAPTER SEVEN

I guess being drunk in front of Lorenzo was something I had never imagined. Nadia was flirting with Lorenzo's friend, she left me there with Lorenzo after winking at me. "Fancy seeing you here," Lorenzo said somewhat sarcastically as he took a seat next to me. "Back at you. Didn't expect you to see you here," I said to him.

"I never pegged you for a clubbing kind of girl," Lorenzo said as he smirked.

"Ha-ha very funny," I responded making him laugh. "I haven't been clubbing since college, this was Nadia's idea." I defended myself. Why, I don't know, I didn't have to explain myself to him but I didn't want him having the wrong impression of me for some reason.

"Nadia?" he asked.

"Oh yeah. Nadia my best friend, the sexy lady with black hair flirting with your friend." I said pointing towards them at the dancefloor. Lorenzo just laughed.

"So, what are you doing here?" I asked as I ordered another drink from the bartender.

"George just dragged me here. I prefer a silent night indoors." He said.

"George?" I asked.

"Yes, my friend who's with Nadia." He explained.

Oh yeah, that friend. I just sat there sipping my margarita as I looked at him and him at me. He said something that I didn't hear, I was soaking in his handsomeness and essence.

"Well, do you?" he asked.

"I'm sorry what did you say?" I asked.

"I asked if you'd like to dance with me?" he repeated as he smiled. Making me laugh, I was too drunk and everything seemed funny at the moment. "I'm not a good dancer and the fact that I'm drunk reduces my capabilities to a negative."

"Don't worry. You have me, I'll take care of you." He said offering me his hand. I slipped my small hand into his large one, making me feel relaxed. As he led me to the dancefloor, I felt people push on to me but my eyes were glued to Lorenzo. He took my hand leading me to stand in front of him, he looked into my eyes, making me feel drawn to him. He placed a hand on my back, making me release a shuddered breath, as his other hand held mine and placed it on his chest, we slowly danced, despite the blasting music around us.

"I'm glad I met you, Kathleen, you are really beautiful," he said in a low husky voice. Heat rose to my cheeks, my voice stuck in my throat and all that I could do was just smile. We continued to dance, making me instinctively lay my head on his chest. I felt safe with him, I felt like I could trust him, and open up to him like I was exactly where I should be. I raised my head to look up at him, as we looked into each other's eyes, it was like everything faded away and we were just the two of us in that moment. I felt the urge to kiss him as we both started leaning in, I stopped and ran off leaving a really confused Lorenzo. I was feeling nauseous. I went to the washroom, there was a line of ladies waiting to use it, I saw another bathroom and rushed to it puking my guts out.

After about a minute or two of puking my guts out, I heard someone washing their hands when I looked up it was some random guy. "Are you okay miss?" he asked. I stood up from the floor, "Yes I am now. Thank you for asking," I responded, "what are you doing in the women's bathroom?" I asked him confused. He let out a small laugh, "actually this is the men's bathroom," he responded. My eyes went wide, "I'm so sorry," I said as I backed towards the door. I dashed out the door not waiting for a response, bumping into Lorenzo on my way out, "are you okay? Why were you in the men's bathroom?" he asked confused.

"I didn't know it was the men's bathroom. I was puking my guts out," I said defensively.

Lorenzo came and put a hand over me, "Come, let me take you home," he said.

"Thank you. Let me just go tell my friends so they don't worry about me." I told him, and he nodded in response.

I went back to the dancefloor scanning if I could find either Olivia or Nadia but it was hard to find a specific person amidst all the bodies rubbing against each other, I'll just text them from the car. I could feel my head starting to pound. I went back to where I left Lorenzo.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

"Yes, I'll text my friends from the car," I said. I honestly was starting to feel dizzy, I couldn't keep my eyes open. Lorenzo reached out for my hand, and took me out through the back door, from there on things are a bit fuzzy.

I woke up with a splitting headache, the club was a bad idea, I should stick to my usual nights in. I assessed my surroundings, this didn't look like my apartment. I quickly looked down at myself and breathed out, I still had my clothes on.

"Good morning," Lorenzo came in holding a glass of water.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"You're at my apartment," he responded so casually, handing me the glass and some tablets.

"This should help with the headache. Once we got in my car you seemed out of it, kept mumbling things I could barely understand, when I tried to ask for your address, you told me I'm pretty and just blacked out." He explained himself smiling.

Oh gosh this isn't happening, "so you think I'm pretty huh?" he teased me. I covered my face with my hands, this is so embarrassing. He just laughed, "While you were asleep, I went out and got you a few things that you might need, they are in the bathroom and the bathroom is through there," he said as he pointed out the bathroom. I got up and rushed off to the bathroom, "once you're done feel free to come and have some breakfast," he shouted.

"I will. Thank you," I shouted back. The bathroom was oddly clean for a guy, I've never seen a bathroom this clean even from the guys I dated. Beside the sink, there were clothes and a toothbrush set there for me, that was so nice of him to do. I looked in the mirror. Oh my God, I look horrible, the lipstick smeared, the mascara running down, my hair didn't look so bad though but I looked like I had a long night and still smelled of beer, I do need a shower.

I entered the shower, luckily there was hot water. I took a shower, got out, it took a long time to dry my hair, I brushed my teeth, I looked at the clothes in the bag, it was a pair of black sweat pants, a tank top and a pair of underwear. Well, he thought of everything, the clothes were comfortable. I took my clothes folded them and put them in the bag and left the bathroom.

His apartment wasn't big but it was neatly arranged. "You are too neat for a guy," I commented as I looked at his collection of vinyl records and books.

He laughed, "I'll take that as a compliment and say thank you," he said. "Is there anything specific you want for breakfast?" he asked from over the small kitchen adjoined with his living space.

"No anything is good," I said. I came across a book with a lot of papers on his study desk. "What is this?" I asked raising the book to make it visible to him. "Umm, that's private. I'd appreciate it if you don't read it please." He said. I placed the book down and headed to sit at a coffee table near the kitchen, "You are an artist, your home just shows it," I commented. "I do my best really," he said and just shrugged it off.

He handed him some green liquid, and I looked at him questioning the substance, "Oh that's a recipe someone taught me, it helps with hangovers. Trust me you'll enjoy it," he said.

"You know how to do everything, don't you? You can paint, build, and now cook?" I said taking a sip of the drink, it was sweeter than it looked, "This is nice, thank you." I said.

"You're welcome." He said.

"Well, I'm done. Breakfast is ready, I made pancakes and coffee, just as you like it," he said as he placed everything on the coffee table one by one. After he was done he took a seat, "let us dig in shall we?" he said gesturing for me to eat.

I place the drink beside me, digging in. I couldn't hold back the moan that escaped my lips once I tasted the pancakes, Lorenzo laughed, "I take it that you enjoy the pancakes?" he asked.

"So much. You're a really good cook," I said.

"I guess my mother would be proud. She taught me well," he said as he continued eating.

"Yes, she should," I replied and continued to eat.

After the extremely delicious breakfast, I helped him do the dishes. "So what plans do you have for today?" he asked.

"I have to go and make sure everything is in place for tomorrow. I'm nervous about how the café turned out well for the opening," I said airing out my worry. He was about to respond when his phone rang after he picked up the phone call, he seemed worried.

"I have to go. It's an emergency." He said as he went to change into some clothes.

"Anything I can do to help?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it. Will you lock up?" he asked.

"No, I should be leaving too," I said as I went to take my clothes and put on my heels.

"You don't have to yo…" he started, "I know but I want to, I have somewhere I need to be also," I said cutting him off.

He locked up, we went downstairs, and he hailed a cab for me, "See you tomorrow," he said shutting the door. Well, that didn't end as I expected. I hope everything is okay with him I thought as the cab took me home.