I parked my car in the garage and started walking to the building entrance. The entire ride back was me going back and forth between excitement and despair. Excited that I would be going with him to Garren's event, but sad because my one sided love was confirmed. I had hoped against everything that he would say that it was me that he loved. Sad, I know, but hoped anyway I did.
My phone rang.
"Hey Ian, I am walking into the building now."
"Well come down to the front, I will be pulling up in about a minute."
"Sure." I say as I change my direction heading toward the stairs leading down to the main lobby.
He came to a stop as he saw me exit from the side door. I opened the door to sit inside.
"Hello, beautiful." He said leaning over to give me a kiss on the cheek.
I gave him a brilliant smile. "Hey! So what is the special occasion?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to take my two favorite women out, that is all." He said this normal enough, but there was a glint in his eye. He was up to something, but I was too distracted at the moment to ask more questions.
"Okay." I fastened my seatbelt and settled in. "May I at least know where we are going?"
"Well that is part of the surprise." He says grinning.
I hum in response as I stare out the window at the scenery as it passes by, but I don't notice it, my mind already in a far off place with a certain someone with shoulder length black hair and almond shaped eyes that turn into half moons when he laughs.
My vision blurs slightly causing me to blink rapidly in an effort to keep renegade tears at bay. There isn't any cold water around that would hide my red eyes if I were to cry now. Not to mention, I didn't wear the waterproof eyeliner today, so it would be a total disaster.
I suppose I should be happy for him, I mean, typically that's the expectation of a friend right? I knew what I was getting into that day almost six months ago now, right? Well, yes and no. I had been very naïve to think that I would become his friend without any attachment. Good lord, I am sure if he had said the word that night at the premiere, I would have been his. How did I get here?I sigh as I blink back another round of tears.
"Gabe?"
I jump slightly at the feel of a hand on my thigh. I look down, and then up at its owner. "Hmm?"
"You okay over there?" He asked me stealing glances as he veered onto the freeway. "I said your name like three times. You feeling ok? You aren't getting sick are you?"
I shake my head a bit animatedly. "No, I am fine." I take a deep breath before continuing. "I was just thinking about work. Now that it's getting warmer, there will be a lot to do in the up coming months." I say hoping that it was believable. "David said there will be a few weeks that we will be down in Washington DC in June and July. I am going to have to apply for one of those TSA passes because I will be flying out more often."
"To DC?"
I nod. "There are also talks of another office in Florida or out in Texas. So depending on which way they go, I will be also going there. We will find out next month. I have incidentally become the face of the company as Jonathan has said." I give a half-hearted laugh.
"Really? That's great! I still can't believe that I am in the presence of a true celebrity, and she is all mine." He reaches over to stroke my cheek. "Between your schedule and mine, there will be times when we will barely see each other." He shook his head. "Will you still have time for me with your new found social status?"
"Of coarse I will, you know that. If you can, you should come with me when they decide on the next office location. At least for a day or two." My mind swirled as I thought about what I just said. What if it were to happen like it did in Washington? What if heturned up at my door like he did before? There wouldn't be anyway I would be able to spend time with him.
Stop it Gabe, even if that were to happen again, and it won't, but even if it does, things are so different now. You have to stop thinking this way about him and get over it. For crying out loud, he is getting married.
It occurred to me then that I didn't even ask him anything about that. That was so rude of me. I guess I was just too busy being in my feelings to be the friend that I am supposed to be to him.I decided that I would make a point to ask on Wednesday. Wednesday-"Ian, I have an event to go to on Wednesday evening. I know we were supposed to see that show, but I just found out earlier today and I just couldn't tell them no." Well I couldn't.
He sighed, but nodded. "I understand. I guess that is what happens when you are the face of the company." He takes ahold of my hand. "Tell you what, I will see if I can just switch my late evening to Wednesday instead of Friday, and we can go Friday. Hopefully you will still be available."
"That would be nice. I will make sure Friday is saved for you, if something comes up again, then you will just have to come along. I will demand it." I smile at him and he squeezes my hand. See? You can do this with him. Life will be good with Ian.I nod to myself; everything will be fine if I can just get through Wednesday. "Why are we here?" I ask as he gets off of the freeway near Cambridge.
"Mother is staying over here. You remember? She used to teach at the school years ago. She came up because one of her colleagues is being honored at some award banquet tomorrow evening. She called me this morning to let me know she was coming and so I decided today would be a good day to meet with her for dinner."
"Oh, okay." Well at least I know that this wasn't a pre-arranged meeting. I thought to myself feeling slightly relieved. I wouldn't know what to do if he had planned this.
About ten minutes later, we were parking. The street was littered with college students even for a Sunday. I guess with the semester at an end and graduation approaching for some, there was only too much cause for celebration.
"It has been years since I have been over here." Ian says as he gets out of the car, the tone of his voice heavy with nostalgia. We used to hang out here all the time. There was nothing out where I went to school and so we would drive almost an hour here.
"Yes." I said shutting the car door. "I remember the stories you and Kenny would tell us." I looked around at the various shops and bars. "So this is "The Strip", hmm? It does have a certain charm." I asked as he joined me on the sidewalk. Taking my hand in his, we began walking along the busy side road to the main street. "So, at which one of these fine establishments will we meet your mother?"
"It's just around that corner there." He said pointing to the buildings on the left side of the parking lot. "They make really good Spanish food there according to my mother's friend, so she suggested we eat there today. You like Spanish food, right?"
I nodded. "It's okay, not my go to food any more, but I will eat it."
"Really? Why did I not know this? You used to live for it." He let out a laugh. "What is it now? Greek? "Thai?"
"Korean, actually." I said a bit too hastily as I recalled the meal I had not long ago. I felt a small pang of guilt for admitting that to him, but what would he know?
Still...
"Really? Humph."
"Well lately I have had a lot of Asian food for the lunches and dinners, I honestly can't say how many times I have had sushi in the past two weeks." I told him with a genuine laugh. "I think sometimes people believe that eating sushi makes them seem more sophisticated."
Ian laughed out loud. "You know," He said after catching his breath, "I think you are on to something there. I hear the big wigs talk about eating sushi all the time. It makes perfect sense now. Here we are." He said as we stopped in front of a door.
A sign hanging on an iron rod swayed slightly above the door read, Tapas and Tequila.I smile. "Sounds like my kind of place."
"I was hoping you would think so." Ian said as he opened the door for me.
Inside, the sparse lighting and candles on every table created darkness that was cozy and inviting and the food smelled great. As my eyes adjusted, I could see on the far wall a bar and behind the counter where shelves full with bottles of tequila of every shape, size and flavor. This is definitely what I needed.
A hostess came up to us quickly, a well practiced smile on her face. "How many?" She asked looking at me. Her eyes widened a little, her jaw dropping slightly.
"We are here with Edna." Ian said speaking up.
The girl turned to him. "Oh, okay. Follow me she said as she resumed staring at me.
She led us through a set of double doors into a side room where a DJ was set up in the corner playing the latest salsa I realized as I recognized the song currently playing.This is the song we danced to at Rena's funct- Gabe, knock it off. Now.It was too late though, my mood took a dive and I was ready for my first shot of tequila.
"Ian! Gabby!" A voice said suddenly distracting me from my sulking. I see a woman coming out from behind a table waving excitedly. It's Edna.
She wraps her arms around her son, squeezing him, tightly from the sound of it, as he breathlessly squeezed out: "Mother, it is good to see you!"
Then it was my turn. "Gabby! It is so good to see you! How is my budding superstar?"
The hostess who was still standing close by spoke up. "Are you Gabriel? Gabriel Leighton?"
"I turned to her once Ian's mother managed to let me go and nodded.
"Yes, I am she." I admitted with a self-depreciating smile.
"Ohmygod!" She said covering her mouth with her hands, performing a little excited dance. "I thought it was you, but I didn't want to embarrass myself. I thought to myself, "Why would Gabriel Leighton be here in Cambridge, and here nonetheless? I am such a fan of yours! I watched your interview with Kimberly the other day. You are so gorgeous! I can't believe that I am actually standing here talking to you. You are such an inspiration for my friends and I; we are trying to get into modeling. You wore that dress so effortlessly." She sighed, a wistful look in her eyes.
I didn't know what to say. I knew that I had a "following" as Greg had put it, but this was the first time I had someone in public actually recognize me and started fan-girling. It made my mood ten times better. "I don't know what to say." I told her smiling. "Thank you, as pretty as you are, you shouldn't have any problem obtaining your goal. I'll tell you what, I know for a fact that the woman who designed my gown will be scouting models soon for her debut at fashion week. Here, take my card." I said to her as I fished once out of my clutch. Email me; I will put you in contact with her. I can't guarantee anything, but it is worth a try right?"
The girl squealed with excitement as she took the card causing several people near by to stare. "You are awesome! Thank you so much!"
"You are welcome-"
"Elena."
"You are welcome Elena." I couldn't help being affected by her excitement.
"Well I have to get back to work. Thank you again!" She said practically floating away from us.
"My little Superstar!" Edna said again wrapping me tightly in another bear hug. "How have you been Gabby? I feel like it has been forever since I saw you last.
"Mother, it is Gabe, not Gabby."
"I know Dear, but Gabe is so masculine sounding. You don't mind, do you?" This question was being directed to me as she pulled away a bit to look me in the eye.
"It's fine." I suppose I could be called Gabby.Although the idea made feel a bit standoffish, but I understood that was just the way she operated. She practically gave all of Ian's friends new names if she didn't like the one they told her.