Oh, how? Do you always forget so easily the women who undressed you the night before?
A spark flashes in his eyes. What is this laughter?
Believe me, I would not forget that.
Dora jumps off the chair by the islet and assumes a warlike pose with his fists on his hips:
What the heck? Whats going on here?
I never get stuck in a relationship between couples. What they do without telling each other is their own business. But here is a special case. I dont know why, but it is.
Maybe because she is my cousin, I tell myself, although I myself know that Dora and I do not like each other, we have nothing to lose.
Another thought flashes through my head: You are upset because you were easily forgotten by the guy with thoughts about which you woke up today. I decisively dismiss it, hanging the label bullshit, and move on.
First I turn to Dora:
But what. This same Nick came to Seans bachelorette party last night and impersonating a club owner named Cash. Then I turn to the impostor in question. Although I try, but I can not resist the mocking tone. And you? Are you Cash or Nick? Dont you think that could be more original? Calculation would be verified, or what?
I had no doubt that now Dora would bring forth righteous anger at Cash / Nick, and that immediately would begin to repent or at least get out to justify what he had done. But she got what she least expected.
They both began to laugh.
My confused look only seems to enhance their fun. And the anger in me grows accordingly.
The first to speak Cache / Nick:
I suppose Dora didnt have time to tell you that I have a twin brother?
Chapter 4
I observe how the whole gamut of emotions is displayed on the face of this cute girl. Embarrassment, anger, chagrin, pleasure, then embarrassment again. The final chord is complete bewilderment.
Are you kidding.
Hardly. Why make up such a story?
She continues to stunned at me.
So, then youre Nick.
I nod:
Right.
Cache and Nick.
I shrug:
Our mother liked country music.
And Cash is the owner of the Sunset Club.
Exactly.
That excuses you.
Strictly speaking, no. In any case, no. Anyway.
And nobody fooled me.
I am laughing:
Yes, nobody fooled you.
She bites her lips without opening her mouth, the news digests. I dont think she guesses how sexy and charming.
The excitement subsided, the girl takes in air and asks a question:
Can I start all over again?
I grin:
Sure.
A dazzling smile immediately appears on her lips. Beauty puts forward her hand, saying:
You must be Nick, Doras boyfriend. Im Olivia, a little dumb cousin of Dora.
I grin again:
Nice to meet you, Olivia.
I doubt that you have at least something stupid.
The girl nods with satisfaction, turns and goes after the coffee pot. What remains for me not to follow her is to stare at the beautiful blonde sitting in front of me. Looking at Marissa, I always saw an elegant, stately, luxurious woman in front of me. But this morning I discover that I want her to be a cute, disheveled, fiery brunette.
Damn it! This is bad!
Chapter 5
Oh my God! It cant be! Are you serious? Mutters Sean, chewing on the wedding cake.
The crumbs fly out of her mouth, and that makes me laugh. Going with Sean to try wedding cakes is great fun, its better only my role at the bachelorette party.
I wish it was a joke, but no. It was terrible! I feel my face flush with shame at the mere mention of the story of Nick.
Its good that it was a brother, and not the one with whom you frankly flirted.
I slap Seans hand:
I did not flirt with him frankly!
No, but I did.
Of course I
Dont even try to lie to me, stupid girl. I know you too well. He has everything a bad guy should have. I wonder how it was you who didnt grab your legs around him, didnt bite your lips at him and did not turn your whole body around him right there and then.
God, Sean, youre talking about me like a whore.
About the whore? True? She looks at me skeptically.
We both sneak with a laugh. Seeing red fondant from the cake on Seans teeth, I start to laugh out loud.
Shut up. Its a bad word, I explain, imitating my mother.
She was a model of stiff integrity. The words whore and slut had no place in her vocabulary. But the words divorced and abandoned place was found.
Dont even hint at her. Crazy! says Sean.
You know, its really scary. Youre talking now, and your teeth are as if you just ate someones liver. Food coloring looks like fresh blood.
I ate. It was delicious. With chianti and horse beans, she says in the voice of Hannibal Lecter and makes a strange sound, sucking in the air.
We both laugh, the fashionably dressed saleswoman frowns at us disapprovingly.
You better shut up. Im sure that being thrown out of the wedding cake shop a month before the wedding is unfortunately.
Sean meekly smiles at the saleswoman and tells me, barely moving her lips:
If you had a piece of coal, we would bend it, put it in her ass and in a couple of days would get a huge diamond out of there.
You know what, Sean, Im sure that it takes much more time for coal to turn into a diamond than a couple of days.
Not in that ass.
Throwing a sidelong glance at the strict lady, I change my mind:
Maybe youre right.
Thats what, while all this sweet and brain-friendly food is circulating in our blood, lets make a plan for you to take Nick away from Dora. I think it will be the best wedding present to see how the face of this smug whore changes.
What? Are you crazy? Im not going to take anyone away from anyone.
And why? This guy is the one you always wanted.
I know, I say with a sigh.
And Nick knows. He is incredibly beautiful, charming, probably smart, successful, reliable, firmly on his feet all this my mother has driven into my head since childhood, convinced that my father is deprived of such qualities. And most important: Nick is not a bad guy. I can disagree with my mother in many ways, but I know for sure: with regard to men whom I should lay eyes on, she is right. I found evidence of her innocence over and over again. Maybe someone like Nick can help the facts get to my avid heart. Until now, it seemed like falling in love with bad guys is my destiny.