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The air is filled with soft jazz music, creating a sophisticated ambiance. The Velvet Lounge is not overcrowded, maintaining an air of exclusivity.
“The usual?” James, the bartender, asks as we approach the bar. It’s as if this place remains ageless. It’s not a place I come often, but I do like the personal touch he gives when I do appear. I’ve come here many times with Lucas and a few times with Belén.
How could I forget?
James is wearing a crisp white shirt and a classic black vest. His skillful hands expertly craft cocktails, and his attentive eyes survey the patrons, ensuring everyone is well taken care of.
As Belén and I settle into a secluded booth, the place has a group of professionals in business attire engage in hushed discussions at one corner, while a couple enjoys a romantic evening nearby.
“Hi, I’m your waitress of the day. My name is Claire.”
She’s dressed in a sleek black dress with bright blue eyes and a smile to serve and please.
“Here’s the menu and if …”
Her attention shifts toward James who is calling her with my order. I notice that not only did he remember what I order, but a cosmopolitan for Belén too.
“Does Leticia know you’re here with me?”
Shit, I forgot to tell her.
“No. I better tell her.”
I take out my phone, but then think otherwise of it, as I don’t think Leticia would appreciate us being here. I can’t deal with what Leticia would like or not. My thoughts are just with the fucked-up situation called my family.
“He remembered that I like cosmopolitans.” Belén smiles as she takes off her coat and dumps it to the side. I don’t know if it’s the drink that has cheered her up, or the fact that I never sent a message to Leticia.
“Thank you.” I smile at the waitress, whereas Belén says nothing. Another trait of hers that I didn’t mind at first, but it bugs me now.
“Yes, I’ll like some wings, nachos, and a bit of everything to pick from. Belén, do you want something in particular?”
She shakes her head. “No, it all sounds good.”
As the waitress takes our order and leaves, I can't help but appreciate the ambiance of The Velvet Lounge.
“So, how have things been since I’ve been gone?”
“Fine. You fucked Leticia, didn’t you? This is why you were there for so long?”
Her abruptness surprises me, because we’ve been gone for one month and now she’s worried if I’ve popped her sister’s cherry or not?
“I don’t think it is any of your business.”
I take my shot as if it’s medicine and knock it back. Between drinking in the limo and having not eaten all day, I should feel a little tipsy and tired, but I feel nothing physically, only emotionally.
“You decided that you didn’t want to marry me.”
She waves her finger, the Spanish coming out of her. Something she seems to conceal and want to hide most of the time, which is why she speaks English with no accent. A trait she insisted on having, because she said there’s no point learning a language if no one can understand you. Leticia speaks it with an accent and at times, she may forget the odd word, but everyone understands her perfectly.
“The more time we spend together,” I pause as I choose my words carefully watching her narrow her eyes at me, “the more I realize we were far from compatible.”
She scoffs, “So you think Leticia and you are more compatible because you’ve fucked.”
“We’ve been intimate. Yes. I don’t understand why you’re being so crude. You made it perfectly clear that you didn’t want to marry me.”
“I told you that I couldn’t. You want kids. Insist on them, and I can’t give them to you.”
“Because of one doctor.”
