Rule #27
TAKE A brEAK AFTER THE HURRICANE TO ENJOY THE SURVIVAL
CAI
I spend the morning pretending to be the queen of the castle.
I wrap myself in one of Sonny’s plush bathrobes, slather lotion I find on the bathroom counter all over my body, and make myself a coffee from the Keurig in the kitchen.
I sip it while looking at the mountains before the day gets too hot.
When I moved to Arizona two years ago, I was amazed by the landscape.
At the time, I had only ever lived in Miami, and the tallest thing we had to drive on was the Rickenbacker Causeway.
I had grown up around beaches, tropical plants, and enough mosquitoes to make you sick.
Phoenix is the polar opposite. At first, I found the dry deserts and jagged mountain lines awe-inspiring but lonely.
Desolate and strange, it reminded me of the alien planets in Star Wars.
After some time, I’ve grown used to them. They’ve become the backdrop to my adult life, my adult home.
Now, sitting on Sonny’s patio, they take on a different shape. The tall tan peaks are a wall, a protective fence for the queen in her new castle.
Any other day, getting three pieces of bad news in the same morning would’ve triggered a stage-five meltdown.
Today, however, my employer’s email letting me go, the message that my lease was up, and even Trevor’s texts, promising to make this split way more difficult than it needs to be, aren’t bringing me down.
I am still riding the serotonin-Sonny-induced worship high from last night.
I’ll figure it out eventually, just not today.
This is a monumental moment for me. I, the compulsive worrier, the anxiety-fueled self-flagellater, the one who can’t bear to think that anyone hates me, am totally at peace and not bothered at all by the morning’s unpleasantness. I take it in stride and stretch lazily before messaging Sonny.
I am shocked to hear of the job. For some reason, this hits me harder than all the bad news. I can’t believe it; did he really have such faith in me? To allow me to play a part in something he holds so dear? I feel honored and equally nervous about letting him down.
I begin to think about the paths in the game I played a few days ago.
Would I be able to live up to the story that drove me to tears?
I find a notebook and a pen and start writing out ideas.
Without knowing the theme or background of this game, I can’t provide specifics, but I jot down some general themes, ideas, puzzles, and traits.
I find myself reflecting on those tales from my family.
I wonder if I could tie in the retelling of the Bay of Pigs or the ghost hunting.
Maybe there will be a place for the stories of my grandfather crossing piranha-filled waters as a little boy, or the foiled plots I heard about during the Cuban revolution. I have no shortage of ideas.
I write and plot until the doorbell sounds.
For a moment, I hesitate. Is it ok if I answer his door? I open it, peek out, and see a box on the stoop. The package Sonny mentioned!
I grab it excitedly and open it, revealing a red, floor-length maxi-dress with a V-neckline and long sleeves. The material is butter-smooth, and although it’s a long dress, it feels like a comfy, worn shirt. I squeal in excitement and take it to Sonny’s bedroom to try it on.
I’m disappointed to see that Sonny has gotten a size too small. I am able to squeeze into the soft, stretchy material but just barely. It clings badly to my thighs and shows every ripple and dimple.
My phone buzzes.
Sonny
Got the notification that the package was delivered. Did you get it?
I frown.
Cai
Yea, but it doesn’t fit right.
Sonny
Oh no! Can you show me?
I look at myself in the mirror again. I do already have it on…
Sonny
Please?
I smile at the text. “What the hell, why not?”
I angle the phone at the image in the mirror and shift my pose, trying to find the most flattering one. Even still, I won’t include my face in the shot. It’s too embarrassing. I snap it quickly and send it before I can change my mind.
Sonny
You look good enough to eat. It’s even better than I pictured.
I look at the message, stunned. Is he being polite? Does the picture not show how it clings? How it pulls across my hips? Isn’t it obvious?
I default to my usual, self-deprecating humor.
Cai
Delicious like a stuffed sausage?
Sonny
***
Is it uncomfortable?
He really genuinely likes it!
Cai
No, it’s comfy, just a little snug on the booty.
Sonny
I noticed. It’s perfect
I’ll have to get used to being with someone who appreciates my body, instead of politely putting up with it.
Have I ever dated someone who doesn’t recommend I eat right or exercise instead of giving compliments?
Suggested I’d look better if I lost five or fifty pounds?
Made comments like, “You have a pretty face, if only…?”
I look in the mirror again, trying to see myself through Sonny’s eyes.
Why have I been with men who seem to dislike what they saw when they look at me?
Not that I have to be for everyone, or that there shouldn’t be some standard of self-care, but I should’ve seen the men who tried to change me while merely tolerating my appearance as a super huge red flag.
Another thing Sonny has opened my eyes to.
I smile mischievously. If what he likes is raw, unrestrained, uncensored Cai, I will deliver!
I grab my toiletry bag, understanding the assignment.
SONNY
It has been a long time since I watched the clock, eager for the day to end so I can execute the plan that has been running through my head all day.
Sure, I could have left whenever, but I don’t want anyone thinking I’m not committed to this launch, or, even worse, resenting Cai for this change, especially if she starts working with them.
As soon as appropriate, I bolt and grab the pickup truck I’ve rented. It has been prepared to my specifications; actually, better than I imagined. I am buzzing by the time I pull up to the house, patting myself on the back for not having spoiled the surprise out of excitement.
“Cai,” I call when I step inside. “Ready to go?”
Cai appears at the top of the stairs.
I literally forget how to breathe.
The dress looks as if it had been poured over her curves, as if it had been made for her. Made to accentuate every glorious curve. Her hair is down and wild, framing a fresh face that glows with nervous excitement.
“Is this ok?” She asks, smoothing the fabric. “Can I wear sandals?”
I realize I haven’t said anything. “Sandals are perfect. I don’t know what to say. Beautiful doesn’t feel like enough. You’re… Ravishing.”
Cai smiles, a little bashful. “So where are you taking me?”
“Any guesses?”
“You told me not to guess!” Cai says defensively.
I do my best Miracle Max impression as I say, “Hoho! Look who’s so smart!”
Cai’s eyes light up. “The Princess Bride?”
I nod. “That’s part of it. I assume you’ve seen it?”
“Yeah, it might be my favorite movie.”
Nailed it.
“Well, come on then,” I say. “Before I decide to cancel the date and spend the night watching you walk in that dress.”
Nearby, there is a drive-in theater that offers views of the mountains. I have gone a time or two, and it offers a truly unique experience to Arizona. It isn’t the eye of a hurricane surrounded by glowing bugs, but it’s the best I can do.
I back the truck so that the bed faces the screen from the hillside. The sun is setting, and I can tell it’s going to be a beautiful night.
“Nice, we’re going to watch The Princess Bride at a drive-in? How cool!” Cai says, eyes sparkling.
I smile, ready to reveal the rest. I pull open the tailgate, exposing a decked-out bed: cushions, blankets, pillows, little lights, and a cooler with some snacks and drinks. Cai’s hands fly to her mouth with a gasp.
I am so glad for her response. How often have I been called corny or a “try-hard” when I planned any type of romantic gesture? How many movies, shows, or events have I gone to alone because no one wanted to join me or thought it would be lame?
In contrast, here is my dream girl, eyes brimming with tears because I have taken her out and made an effort in planning our evening together.
“May I?” I say, indicating the bed of the truck, lined with a plush cushion.
She nods. I lift her into the bed and jump up after her. I reach in through the little slider window, tune into the channel that would broadcast the movie audio, and turn up the volume knob
“This,” she gestures all around us as I turn to sit down next to her. “I’m overwhelmed by how nice this is.”
I gently tilt her chin up so she can see how serious I am. “You deserve this and more. Every second of every day. I want to spend my time proving that to you.”
She leans in and kisses me, a sweet kiss filled with promise and gratitude.
The sound bursts through the radio; the trailers are about to begin. We break apart, giggling like teenagers who just got caught.
I position the pillows so we can lean back comfortably, then pull out a thin blanket, charcuterie, and drinks. With every new item, her eyes light up with fresh awe.
We nestle close under the blanket as the night starts to cool, and The Princess Bride begins under a beautiful starlit sky. Before the first scene even finishes, she looks at me and whispers, “Can we do this all the time?”
I look at her with a small smile and say, “As you wish.”