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“Mm,” Eloise says, shoving a whole piece of gouda into her mouth. She chews and exhales. “Mmm,” she says again, swallowing. “Yeah, I was hungry.”
She happily snacks on the food while I open the champagne.
“They gave you a whole bottle?” she asks, brushing some cracker crumbs from her lap.
“The bartender didn’t seem to care,” I say. “This party is a drop in the bucket for Diego’s family.” The cork pops, and we both jump, smiling at each other. “Salud.” I take a swig and hand her the bottle. “To a successful mingle.”
“Was it, though?” she says sadly, taking a drink. She passes the bottle back to me.
“Why do you always do that?” I ask.
“Do what?”
“Move your goals.”
“I don’t.”
I cut her a look. “You are too hard on yourself.”
“Ha.”
“Why ha?”
“I’m way too easy on myself,” she says softly.
I raise an eyebrow. “Do you really think that?”
“I mean … yeah. Look at me, Agustín.”
I am looking at her. I’m always looking at her. The setting sun makes her skin glow golden against the rich blue fabric of her dress. Her curls cast intricate shadows along her jawline, and down the length of her neck. Her eyes are like green pools, endless in their depth.
Her breath hitches in her throat. “I’m not normal,” she says.
“Normal is boring,” I say. “Why would you want to be normal?”
“Because being normal makes the world an easier place to live in.”
“Do you think I’m normal?” I ask.
“Obviously.”
“I don’t find the world to be an easy place to live in,” I say.
“Yeah, but you can go to a party without having a panic attack.”
“You are at a party right now,” I point out. “Not having a panic attack.”
She shoots me a sardonic glance. “We are literally sitting next to pipes and an industrial fan. Not out there being social.”
“You’re moving the goals again,” I say. “When was the last time you said, ‘I am proud of me’?”
She worries at her bottom lip and takes a long drink, then coughs. “You sound like my therapist.”
I beam. She laughs.
“That wasn’t meant to be a compliment.”
I pluck a slice of cheddar from the plate, pop it in my mouth, chew thoughtfully, then swallow. “I am going to take it as one anyway.”
