Nini stared at herself in the mirror later that night.
"You look great, Nins." Kourtney said while flipping through a magazine on Nini's bed.
"You really think so?" Nini turned around slowly, watching the swirl of her black dress. "You think it's enough for a fake date with someone who's famous?"
"Girlie, you look stunning." Gina said, walking into her room. Gina volunteered to help Kourtney watch the kids while Nini went out with Ricky. Gina had been traveling for her job and it had been a couple weeks since she's seen the twins. She was missing them like crazy.
Nini went back to examining her reflection in the mirror. Black dress, hair up, teardrop faux crystal earrings, silver chain necklace, and black heels.
"Well, it's all I have so it'll have to do." She said, making a face as a strand of hair fell out of its clip. "Thanks again for watching them, you guys." She said. "I hate springing this all on you."
"It's not a problem," Gina said. "Besides, we want to be the first one you give the dirty details to." Kourt chimed in.
Nini rolled her eyes and glared at her friends.
"There will be no dirty details." She said firmly.
Gina and Kourtney just giggled.
"I'm serious. I-" Nini began but was interrupted by the doorbell.
"No sugar. Bedtime is in a half hour." Nini listed as she made her way to the front door. "And do NOT let them rope you into 'five more minutes.'"
"We know, Nins." Gina said, handing Nini her bag. "Good luck!" They exclaimed as she double check she had everything she needed.
Nini took a deep breath, realizing that she couldn't stall any longer, and threw her arms around her best friends.
"Oh my god, I'm going to dinner with Ricky freaking Bowen."
Kourtney and Gina laughed. "You can do it!" Kourt said, pushing Nini out the door.
"Miss Salazar-Roberts." A driver bowed slightly. "Mr. Bowen awaits you in the limo."
"Thank you" Nini said with a slight nod.
Her best friends waved to her as she followed the driver to the same limo she had ridden in before. It was getting dark, but she could still see all the neighbors with their noses pressed against their windows. The driver helped her into the limo. When she got settled in she saw Ricky sitting there, relaxed, sipping wine. Regrettably, Nini had to admit he looked incredible. He was wearing a royal blue suit with a baby pink button up and white high tops. Should she say something?
"We need to take you shopping" was how he greeted her.
Never mind.
"You are making it extremely hard to keep my promise." She growled.
He smiled at her, making her hand twitch.
"This is all I have. I can't afford anything else." She informed him.
"We'll go shopping this weekend." He said, basically ignoring her.
"What part of 'I can't afford anything else' don't you understand?" She snapped, her face heating red with embarrassment.
"I'll buy. Chill, darling." The term of endearment starting to roll off his tongue easily.
Nini clenched her fists. She hated feeling like a charity case, but she really couldn't afford any more clothes.
"Where are we going?" Nini asked after a few moments of silence.
"Baleen." He said casually.
Nini, however, choked on the champagne she was sipping. Baleen was one of the finest restaurants in all of LA. A meal there cost more than she earns in a month, nearly.
"That's so- that's so much." She stammered.
"Not for Ricky Bowen." He said snobbishly.
Nini rolled her eyes and decided it was better to just stay quiet. They entered the restaurant several (long) minutes later. As soon as they walked in, they heard whispers and saw flashes from cameras. Ricky didn't seem phased though, and the couple was led to a semi-private table.
"Can't we be seated in private?" Nini asked , breaking her silence.
"Nope. We want people to see us." Ricky said, pulling out her chair.
"Oh, right. I forgot." She said and then blushed when he gently pushed her and her chair in.
"You have to pretend you like me." He said, leaning in to whisper in his ear.
Nini forced what she hoped was a smitten smile on her face.
"I'm not torturing you." He chuckles, sitting across from her.
"I'm sorry." She said nervously.
"Just relax." He said, brushing some curls away from his face in an annoyingly cute way. "You have to look like you want to be here."
Nini took a deep breath and tried to relax her rigid posture.
"What's your favorite color?" He randomly asked.
"What? Oh, um purple." She said, opening her menu. "Good god. This salad cost more than my rent."
He laughed at her shock.
"Choose whatever you want. What's your favorite tv show?"
"Really?" Nini said, then responded to his question. "Survivor. It's my guilty pleasure."
"I like that show too. Jeff Probst holds a special place in my heart." Ricky joked, looking over his menu.
Nini raised her eyebrow.
"You would like Jeff Probst." She chuckled and smiled. "I bet he doesn't act like he's gods gift to women though."
They both laughed and Nini realized that he was legitimately trying to make her feel more comfortable. If she was being completely honest... she was grateful for that.
"Mr. Bowen, Miss Roberts, are you prepared to order?" a fancy waiter showed up beside them.
"What will you have, darling?" Ricky asked her.
"I'll have the lobster ravioli, please." She replied, blushing from Ricky's tone of voice.
"I'll have the filet. Rare." Ricky said, handing over the menus. "And more wine, please."
"Yes, sir." The waiter bowed quickly and walked away.
They fell into an awkward silence and Nini couldn't stand it.
"I'm sorry." She blurted out.
"For what?" Ricky asked. "Slapping me?"
Nini narrowed her eyes.
"No."
He smiled and gestured to them.
"Really? You like being my girlfriend?"
"I'm sorry." Nini stressed with a glare, "for not being a very good date. I haven't dated anyone since my ex."
"EJ?"
Nini nodded.
"Don't worry darling, I can make you a pro." Ricky said, taking one of her hands.
She tried to snatch her hand away, but he held tight, tilting his head in the direction of a person snapping photos with his cell phone.
"You need to work with me, Nini." Ricky said softly, brushing some of her hair out of her face with his free hand.
Nini knew this was true. She needed his lawyers. He held a hand to the side of her face. Another camera flashed.
"I don't want your ex to get your kids. You annoy me, and I annoy you, but he doesn't deserve those two." Ricky said.
Nini stared at him in complete and utter shock. Ricky Bowen was one big two-face: half ass, half sweetheart.
"And I need a better rep. We need each other, Nina Salazar-Roberts." He finished. "Pretend."
With that, Nini finally let go. Fighting this would do no good. She squeezed his hand and smiled at him. Then she shocked both herself and him when she leaned across the table to kiss his cheek.
"There's a bit of a vixen in you after all, darling." He said suavely, kissing the knuckles of the hand he was holding.
Nini couldn't believe herself. Looks like she really did have something to tell her friends when she got home. And she had three more months of this. She just prayed she would get through it.
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Nini's dress:
Ricky's outfit: