Elena
Gerri and I have arrived at a place that I would not describe as the most elegant bar on the planet, but it is a downtown, trendy club, where there’s dancing and a DJ up on the stage. It’s the perfect setting to blow off some steam. We hit the dance floor and dance the night away with anyone who’s near. It feels so good to finally get away from drama and stress. I do, however, really wish Leo were here. He would look so good among this crowd. And he’d be the hottest guy in the room, hands down.
Gerri is definitely enjoying herself and the single life. She’s dancing with some young, twenty-something guy.
“Hey, Gerri!” I shout over her latest conquest. “Wanna get a drink?”
“Sure!” I grab her hand and lead her through the crowd. This place is insanely packed. Luckily we have a VIP table where we can relax and have a little space around us. And it doesn’t hurt that we have our own personal concierge.
He pours us a round of vodka shots, and we cheers then take one more. As I do so all the problems in my life just melt away.
“You look so good now that you’ve had sex!” Gerri shouts over the music.
“What?” I scream. I can’t really hear her so I scoot closer where we can talk.
“I said,” and she screams, “You look so good now that you’re having SEX!”
“Geez, let the whole club hear,” I say, embarrassed.
She laughs like it’s the funniest thing in the world.
“I know about him,” she says.
“Know about what?” I act nonchalant.
“Oh come on! You’re not gonna dish the dirt? I know you’ve been fucking him.”
“Who?” I love pretending that I don’t what she’s talking about.
“You know, that damn sexy cop. The guy any girl would spread her legs for given the opportunity.”
“Ooooh,” I laugh. “You mean him. I don’t kiss and tell.”
She laughs hard and signals the concierge to make us a couple drinks. “Alright, alright, you can dish the dirt later. But how’s it going?”
“Great. Just great. In fact, I may be meeting him later tonight.”
“Moving right along, huh? Does your ex… what’s his name... Bobby…”
“Barry!” I interrupt her, not angry at all that she would forget his name since he’s trying to wring me out on this divorce.
“Yes, Barry! Does he know what’s going on? Does he know about Leo yet. I would love to be there to see the look on his face when he finds out.”
We laugh and cheers to that, and I admit, “Yes, Barry knows. I guess you could say he found out the hard way. But I don’t care, because after all, he has been so nasty to me regarding this divorce.”
“You know what?” she begins, pulling back a shot. “It’s going to get better. It always does. Besides, for a man like Leo, who cares what his brother thinks.”
“Yeah, I know you’re right.”
“But what you gotta watch out for if this Barry uses that information, about you two, as a means of going after you in court. You need to be prepared for that. Divorces can be messy,” she says with a slug of her drink.
“You’re right,” I concede. “But I only really met Leo after Barry had been out of the house for six months. I never cheated on him. I would never cheat.”
“Oh well, considering that, I don’t think you have anything to worry about in court. As long as you can prove that, you’re fine. They won’t be able to hold it against you.”
She’s right, of course, but this conversation is making me acutely aware of the strange fact that I am, indeed, dating Barry’s brother. How bizarre is that?
“You know what the weird part is?” I ask her. “I’m dating Barry’s brother. I mean, Leo and Barry are really brothers, and even though they’re not that close, it does make things seem a little awkward.”
“Well, are you happy? Honestly, I haven’t seen you with this kind of sparkle since you started working for me.”
I sip my drink slowly, thinking about Leo and how he makes me incredibly happy. It’s more than I ever could have hoped for.
“Yes, Gerri! I am soooo happy. Like, my sex life is on fire. And it’s not just that. I could really fall for this guy.”
“Then there’s your answer. Brother-in-law or not, you deserve to have some joy in your life, and you should appreciate it and savor the moment. Forget your stupid ex. This isn’t about him. This is about your life.”
She’s right, of course, but just hearing the words come out of her mouth gives me peace of mind.
“There’s more, Gerri. I said I might be falling for him, well . . . I think I am falling for him. He’s the perfect guy.”
And with those words, my heart thumps a little harder in my chest, and I realize that all my dreams are coming true. I’ve become lucky in love at last.
“Wow! Now that is something worth celebrating. You finally found a guy who deserves you. Let’s drink to that!”
Gerri asks the concierge to make us a couple of Cosmopolitans to toast to. As he does, she’s flirting with him, and my mind idly turns to what I’ve just admitted, and I think about Leo and about how he’s made my world seem right again.
“To you finding love, my dear! To Elena and Leo!”
Gosh, what does she think this is? A wedding? I laugh to think of it, but I cheers with her anyway. I deserve this. I deserve to revel in my happiness.