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“I’ve met Xavier’s mom too. She’s great. He even invited me to Brazil; I haven’t taken him up on the offer yet,” Ale chimes in.
She’s trying to tell her that it isn’t out of the ordinary for him to invite his closest friends to such an intimate place. I know for a fact that he wouldn’t have shared the same moments with Ale. I find comfort in that.
Marrisa calms down a slight bit.
She knows that Ale is in a very passionate relationship with her future husband. There would be no way she would get with Xavier.
It’s the perfect cover-up.
“So when are you leaving for the land of movie stars, Vio?” Luca asks, moving the conversation in a different direction.
He’s talking about Indian Wells.
It’s the grand slam that never was.
In Riverside, California, close to Coachella Valley and to Palm Springs.
Indian Wells is known for its upscale and luxurious environment, beautiful desert scenery, and world-class tennis facilities.
The landscape is palm-lined streets and a strong commitment to maintaining the natural life all around.
In short, if you win, the prize money is large.
When I mean large, it’s approximately a million two hundred and sixty-two thousand two hundred and twenty dollars in your bank account.
That’s why it’s often referred to as the “fifth grand slam.”
It’s beautiful and quite honestly, I love it.
Mostly for that prize money, but it’s not LA, so the land of movie stars isn’t the best way to describe it. But I don’t tell Luca that, knowing he’s offering me a segue way far from the complicated situation at hand.
“I’m excited. Letty’s not competing for the first time in years, so it gives me an opportunity to have another title under my belt.” I smile in thanks.
“I’m excited to watch!” Xavier chimes in for the first time in a bit.
I haven’t failed to notice his silence.
“Are you going with her?” Marrisa’s words come out immediately after Xavier’s.
“I don’t know. Maybe if I have time.” He shrugs.
Shrugs!
Marrisa crosses her arms in protest, rolling her eyes in response.
She must just love me now.
Again, complete sarcasm.
The conversation dies down again. The food comes and the waiter sets the plates in front of us. The rest of the dinner is held in a deafening black hole of silence and small talk is had after we’re done eating.
We talk about the food, not being able to hold a conversation for longer than a few minutes.
Xavier begins to ramble about the mouth feel of the food.
He talks a lot when he’s nervous. I catch on to it immediately.
Once Xavier pays after Luca protests, we get up from the table.
