Love me like you do

Miss?

After a bath, analized and signing some contracts, reviewing designs and taking calls, I start dressing for Rebeca's big night. She loves her birthday, I wonder why it will be. I go into the changing room and while I look at the clothes that are there, I remember what Rebeca and I talked about in the car. It's true, I've changed. Since when do I wear designer clothes all the time? Since when did I care? I don't really care about all that, I just buy it because I can. For a long time I wanted to have money, now that I have it, I am going to enjoy it.

I'm in the mood for casual, classic, so I grab a pair of skinny jeans, designer white blouse, and my newly purchased black Louboutin lady peep vernis and get dressed.

I style my dark brown hair with some californian waves, I put on a little makeup and voila, I’m ready for this night. Taking some things that I might need, I leave the room.

-Charly, we leave in half an hour. We’ll take the A5- I order as I go to the kitchen.

- Yes, miss, everything will be ready. - he answers.

I take some iced tea from the fridge, some food that Bertha, my housekeeper, has left ready to heat. While it is heating up in the microwave, I arrange a tablecloth, a glass and some silverware on the kitchen counter. The microwave beeps announcing that my food is ready, I put some relaxing music on the music player and I get ready to eat.

The cell phone rings.

- Ambroa - I answer

-Pau, please don't get mad at me- Rebeca’s voice says, and I know when she says that it's because she did something wrong.

-What did you do, Rebeca López?- I ask, anticipating the worst.

- Do you remember the boys from the beach?

- Yes, what’s the matter with them?

- Edgar called me to ask for your phone number and ...

- What? I’m really hoping you said no -I interrupt her speech, which honestly, is making me nervous, but nervous in a bad way.

- No, no, no, don't worry, I didn't give it to him, that's why I'm calling you, I wanted to ask you before doing it, I don't want you to kill me later, can I give him your number? - she asks very sweetly

Peace of mind comes back to me - no, you can't - I answer harshly.

-Ok then! I knew you were going to get ballastic on me - she articulates smiling - that's why I didn't give it to him, I told him that if he wanted it, he would ask you personally. Girl, I tell you, he is very interested in you.

-He knew me for about 3 seconds and wants my number? He is so annoying. I'm not interested.

-Ay Paula, you are adorable, and it does not take more than 3 seconds to fall in love with you - she says, and we both know that he is joking.

-Ok, I'll see you in a bit.- I whisper, wanting to cut the call.

-Ok, see you soon.- hangs up.

Finishing my dinner, I brush my teeth and when I look in the mirror, I see a practically unknown figure... a mature, confident, determined, broken, especially broken figure. It's me, yes, but I'm totally different from what I was about 8 years ago. I smile wistfully remembering the old days.

***

-Let’s get going, Charly- I take my jacket and go to the garage.

Charly opens the car door for me, as always. Go around the car and gets into the driver's seat, start the engine and we're on our way to the birthday girl's house.

- How’s your wife, Charly? - I ask making conversation

-It's better, thanks for asking.

-Everything ok with the pregnancy?

-Yes, the doctor said that is something normal, she just needed to get some rest. - he answers calmly.

- Good, I'm glad to hear that, you know you can ask me anything you need.

- Yes, miss, thank you very much.

- your welcome.

I check some emails on the phone, to entertain myself a little while we get to the party. Minutes later we are at the entrance of Rebeca's house.

-Ok, Charly, it's time to have fun- I express, making quotation marks with my hands.

Charly smiles with amusement, he knows I'm being totally sarcastic. I let myself in the house without knocking, because of the music no one will not listen to it.

-Paula! -Rebeca shouts in the distance and rush towards me- you came!

-Obviously I came, I told you I was coming, didn't you believe me?- I say smiling while I hug her, -I got you something

- you also got me a gift? You know you didn’t have to.

- I know, but I really wanted to give you this.- Happy birthday!- I smile from ear to ear, and the best of all is that this smile sincere. Finishing saying this, Charly walks in with a huge shoe box.

- What? are you kidding? Christian Louboutin's limited-edition buccaneer boots? –Rebeca screams when she sees her gift. Gaping.

- You deserve them, just for putting up with me, you'll look great in them!

-Ok, but let me be clear that I support you because I love you and because you’re a great friend.- states while giving me a thank you hug. I suppose. - drinks are over there, food is on the side table. Socialize and have fun. - remarks, emphasizing that last word - And Paula, you look so sexy.- adds winking at me.

-Thank you, I'll go say hi.

I walk around the room, saying hello to old acquaintances, but no one important, I reach the backyard and see another handful of people. I start to say hello and I realize that there are many people with whom I have lost contact with, it isn’t that I am dying to talk to them, but I would like to know what they have done with their lives these past years. Information never hurts, you know. After a few false greetings and a few “How are you?”, I end up chatting with Dan, an American guy that Rebe and I met on our sabbatical year while surfing in the States. I haven't heard from him in a while, so I’ll catch up with him.

- Hello, Am I interrupting something?- I hear a voice as someone touches my shoulder.

- A little- I say as I turn to see the source of the voice. It's Edgar, what does he want now? so annoying ... Although I promised that I would be nice tonight, so I'm going to deliver.

-Hi Edgar, Right? - I ask as I approach to greet him with a kiss on the cheek.

- Yes, you remembered, I'm glad,'' he says proudly.

- Um, yeah- How the hell am I not going to remember you? If you had the nerve to try to get my phone from someone else, stupid - this is Dan, Dan, this is Edgar - they shake hands - we were talking about the waves in Australia, have you gone surfing there? - I ask Edgar, since he's here, I have to include him in the conversation.

- No, I haven’t left this continent, yet ... - Edgar answers - but I’ve heard that they have sick waves there - he adds.

- Yes, I was there recently and ... - Dan begins to tell anecdotes of his last visit to Australia, meanwhile, Rebeca joins us.

-Well, well, well, I see you’re very entertained, may I know what you’re talking about?" Rebeca asks as she wraps her arms around Dan and me.

-Dan was telling anecdotes from Australia - Edgar answers.

-Perfect, I think I'll join you for a while,- says my friend.

-Well, I'm going for drinks, does anyone want something? - I ask

-I want a beer and another for Dan- Rebe answers.

-I go with you,- Edgar says with a sordid smile.

-No, I can handle it alone, thank you,- I say, and his smile fades. Yes, I know what you're thinking honey, but don't get your hopes up on me.

I'm walking to the bar station for a couple of beers, when suddenly I hear my name being called in the distance. He is tall, blond, tanned, green eyes, upturned nose, full lips, and a foreign accent, he cannot be other than Eugenio. And he comes with a friend. I feel my breath stop for a moment at the sight of him. -s**t, what was that?- I wonder mentally.

- Hi Paula, how are you? We haven't seen each other for a long time, how's everything going? - Eugenio asks, wrapping his arms around me.

-Great!, and you? Yes, we haven't talked for a long time- I answer while we continue hugging ... and I can't take my eyes off his friend, who smiles seductively at me.

-This girl you see here is the complete package.- He says to the guy behind him, I saw him somewhere.

-Paula, let me introduce you to Emilio,- he adds and finally lets me go.- I Knew I saw him somewhere!

-Hi - I say to Emilio, offering my hand.- Aren't you the boy I saw today at the beach?

- Yes, we’ve been introduced before - says with a big smile and bright eyes as we shake hands.

When I touch him I feel something strange, a kind of electric wave passing through me ... I don't like this ... I quickly withdraw my hand from his and instinctively put it into the pocket of my pants . Trying to hide my nervousness.

-Has Rebeca seen you? - I ask Eugenio, trying to divert attention from my stupid reaction.

- No, she doesn't know I'm here, she thinks I'm still in Argentina, I had to come back earlier to be with her on her birthday, you know how much she loves her birthday, I thought I'd surprise her.

So that was happening to Rebeca earlier at the beach, SHe was sad ‘cause Eugenio wasn’t here to be with her on her birthday, and I was almost unleashing the hunting dogs against him.

-I want to see her reaction, do you know where she is? -

-She's at the patio, she wanted me to bring some beer - taking the beers from the bar - so be a good boy and bring the beer,- I ordered.

-Okay, I'm going to get my girl, be right back- Eugenio says as he makes his way to the backyard, leaving me alone with Emilio.

-So how did the beach treat you today? -Emilio asks.

-Good, pretty good, what about you? - I answer, where do you want to go with this? Calm Paula, it's just socializing.

-Well, after the beach we went to eat something, I would have liked you to invited you to come with us but you left so quickly, - he says while looking nervously at Charly, who is a few steps behind me - and then I went to the airport to pick up the surprise - Emilio whispers softly, his voice is so sexy, I could even say enchanting, he's so handsome, he looks like a magazine model with those worn-out jeans almost fitted, long-sleeved shirt slightly folded up, black shoes, I suppose also from designer, and as a final touch those eyes, wow his eyes, how did I not see them before? and his mouth, that mouth would look better being on mine, and those hands, on my body and his scent... wait, what am I thinking? Put an end to these thoughts Ambroa, you don't need more troubles for now.

-Nice surprise you got. Well, I have to go, it was nice seeing you ... and talk to you - I say quickly, trying to get away from these thoughts, I can't allow this, I can't allow myself to see him that way again.

-You can wait outside and get the car ready, I'll be out in a minute - I order as I turn around, addressing Charly, who has been behind me all night.

-Yes, miss.- He turns on his heels and disappears into the crowd.

-Miss? Does your boyfriend call you miss? - Emilio asks skeptically.

I just smile at him, I don't owe an explanation to anyone, but for some strange reason I answer - What makes you think I have a boyfriend?

-Well, I don't know, maybe because I saw him with you on the beach and here,- he answers, looking at me intensely.

-Bodyguard and driver, not boyfriend. It was nice seeing you- I turn around and go to find Rebeca to say my goodbye.

-Love birds, may I disturb you for a sec? - I say amusingly. I've always found it funny how these two show affection in public. - I have to go, something came up and I have to take care of it - a little white lie doesn’t harm anyone, and I already made an appearance anyway.

- You can't go yet! - Rebeca says letting Eugenio go from her arms - you’ll miss the cake!

-Save me a piece, I have to go, seriously. I'll call you tomorrow to see if we can do something, ok? Happy Birthday, babe, I love you.

-Ok, talk to you tomorrow, and I hope everything is ok with your situation - she says with a worried face.

-Everything is ok, I just have to keep an eye on some things, so others don't get out of hand.- I say with a smile - I'll see you later, Eugenio - I kiss them goodbye and make my way to the front door.

-Can I have your number before you go?- he asks, a vaguely familiar voice as he grasp my arm.

Automatically I say -NO- while I turn to meet the face of the voice and letting go of my arm with a pull, it's Edgar.- no, you can’t have it, and please leave me alone - I say with a stern look and my voice as cold as ice, I really do not want to have anything to do with this man, honestly He gives me a bad feeling. He froze and I keep on my way to the exit.

Charly opens the car door for me, as I get in, I begin to analyze what happened today, why did I think those things about Emilio? Has it been too long since the last time? Well that's no surprise, yes, some time passed, but that's no excuse to think what I thought. Emilio is handsome, yes, a lot, but I have already met other "handsome" ones and I never thought about them the way I thought about Emilio.

"Everything okay, Miss?" Charly interrupts my thoughts.

-Em, yes. Drive me home.- I demand.

-Right away,- says and starts the car while I look distractedly towards the front door of the house, and I see a well-known human figure raising his hand making a small farewell, my stomach shudders when I recognize the figure. Emilio. Involuntarily I return the farewell gesture as Charly makes his way down the dimly lit street.

Once in the safety of my home, I rush to my office to try to divert my mind. I review designs, trying to find errors, and mark them, so that the architects and engineers can solve them and my company does not collapse. Finally, hours later, sleep overcomes me. After a morning of exercise, an afternoon of surfing, and a night of partying and wandering thoughts, it's time to rest.