Chapter 4- Tiki Bar
Lizzie was giddy by the time she got home that evening. The contract had been received, and she’d signed it that afternoon. Her boss had all but cried over it. The cherry on top: a text from George Wick as she was heading home.
Do we need to drink to celebrate, or to drown our sorrows?
Lizzie wasn’t one to drink much in either scenario, but celebrating sounded nice—especially since she’d be tied up implementing this project for the next few months.
Definitely celebratory
She messaged back as soon as she got home.
She was met at the door by her sister, Lidia.
This was the first time in weeks that Lizzie had seen Lidia without her face in her phone or in front of her computer.
Lizzie might have been suspicious, except she was in too good a mood to think badly of anyone.
“Hey,” Lidia said glumly. “What are you doing?”
“What do you mean, ‘What am I doing?’” Lizzie asked as she kicked off her heels. “I literally just walked in the door.”
“No, I know. I mean, like, what are you going to do tonight?”
Lizzie looked at her sister quizzically.
Usually decked out in a perfectly chosen outfit with matching accessories and immaculate hair and makeup—Lidia took her role as the influencer of maybe millions (it had been a while since Lizzie checked) on social media very seriously—Lidia looked nothing like herself right now: baggy shirt, bike shorts. And… was that a scrunchie?
“Lid, are you okay?”
Lidia rolled her eyes and threw up her hands, exasperated, as if Lizzie had already asked her a million times. “Yes! God, can’t I just have a break for one day?!”
Lizzie put her hands up defensively. “Yeah, of course. I’m just not usually the person you go to if you need something to do.”
“Most of my friends are out of town…”
“Well, as honored as I am to be your last resort,” Lizzie said sarcastically, “what about that guy you were seeing? Dennis? Denny?”
“Denilo,” Lidia snapped. “And it’s his fault I have no plans tonight! We were supposed to hang out, and then he said I didn’t have a personality outside of, like, my persona online, and that I was a child, and he didn’t think we should see each other anymore.”
“Oh no! He broke up with you?” Lizzie tried to muster sympathy, but this was a somewhat common occurrence for Lidia.
“No… I don’t know… maybe.” Lidia sounded small. “And then Gia and Amanda are on that trip I posted about, and stupid me stayed behind to spend time with Deni, and he’s just being a jerk.”
“I’m sorry, Lidia. That sounds rough.”
“Yeah, so, like, what are you doing tonight? Want to gorge on Galletas María and watch novelas?”
Most days, Lizzie would’ve loved that. But today, she was looking forward to going out and getting to know George a little better. “Actually, I got some really good news, so I was thinking I’d go out.”
“Oh, thank God! Where? What time?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Lizzie was caught off guard. She wasn’t sure she wanted her sister to join them, but Lidia’s face was suddenly bright and eager. Lizzie felt that she may not be able to say no. “I was going to meet up with this guy I kind of just met.”
“Oh, I love that for you! We should go to the Tiki Bar! It’s getting loads of hype! And I have these new strappy gold sandals I’m dying to wear!”
Well, so much for having George to herself for the night. “Okay,” Lizzie gave in. “I’ll shoot him a text.”
Lidia literally squealed in excitement. “Yay! Oh, I can’t wait! My pages have been starved for good outing content!” And just like that, she bounded off to get ready.
Lizzie sent George a message.
How about the Tiki Bar at 8? I’m bringing my little sis.
Little sis? The more the merrier. See you there.
Lizzie went off to get ready herself, trying to figure out what she could wear so she wouldn’t look like a schlub next to her sister.
When Lizzie heard the name “Tiki Bar,” she imagined some kitschy spot with palm fronds stuck to the roof and sand on the floor.
What she saw when they pulled up were searchlights—as if this were a movie premiere—and crowds of people in line waiting to get in, even though it was just past 8, which is early for a Miami Friday night out.
“This is the Tiki Bar?” Lizzie asked Lidia, who was once more checking her flawless reflection in the visor mirror.
“Yeah, some basketball player opened it like a month ago, I think. Anyone who’s anyone has been posting about it.
” Lidia got out of the car and adjusted her dress.
She was in a nude shift dress with a shiny, metallic netted overlay that looked painted on.
Combined with the golden strappy sandals and shiny, long honey hair, she looked perfectly at ease in a place like this—with this much attention.
Lidia, although younger than Lizzie, was taller and thinner, with long legs and light eyes.
Most people had a hard time accepting that they were sisters.
Lizzie was a carbon copy of her dad and Abuela.
Lidia? All her mom—although even their mom had never had the confidence or courage to wear the things or do the things Lidia would.
In contrast to her sister, Lizzie had worn high-waisted white linen shorts, an emerald silk blouse, and tan wedges. She thought she’d dressed well—not just in consideration of her curves, but for a night out—but now she felt out of place. “Am I dressed okay for this?” she asked Lidia.
Lidia looked at her with sympathy in her eyes. “Oh yeah, for sure! You look great—like you’re not trying too hard, you know? Like you just came from the office.” Then worried that wasn’t quite the compliment she meant it to be, she quickly added, “A really cute office!”
Lizzie didn’t feel any better hearing that—she had tried hard—but decided there wasn’t much she could do now anyway, so they walked to the entrance. Lizzie really didn’t need to worry, she realized. Walking next to her sister, no one was looking at Lizzie.
The line ran down the side of the building, and Lizzie was about to turn to get to the end, but Lidia grabbed her arm and led her to the bouncer out front.
The music was blaring, and Lidia leaned in to speak—so Lizzie couldn’t hear what was said—but she saw the kiss on the cheek, then both laughing, a big smile from Lidia, and like magic, the bouncer lifted the rope to let them in. Lidia magic, Lizzie thought.
“Do you see your guy?” Lidia asked. Thankfully, the music wasn’t blaring as much inside as it had been out front, so Lizzie could hear her.
“Well, he’s not my guy… I mean, he’s nice and all, but I only just met him, so like…”
“Oh my God, Liz, I just mean is the guy we’re meeting here? You don’t have to, like, be a spaz,” Lidia said, rolling her eyes.
“Oh,” Lizzie said, blushing slightly, and scanned the room. Leaning effortlessly against a high-top table on the patio, she saw George, sipping a drink out of a highball and looking at his phone. “There,” Lizzie said, pointing.
George looked up as they approached and smiled warmly. He didn’t hide his eyes, scanning them as they made introductions and did the perfunctory cheek kisses. “You’re only, like, 20 minutes late—that’s basically early in Miami,” George said.
“Lizzie is crazy about being on time; she’s always rushing people,” Lidia chimed in, teasing. Lizzie shrugged—it was true. She hated being late, even though she hardly seemed able to avoid it with Miami traffic.
“I was worried you may not have been able to get in,” Lizzie said to George. George gave her a look that made her feel naive for even thinking it.
“I have my ways,” was all he said. “I need to get you, ladies, a drink. What are you having?”
“Gin and tonic for me,” Lizzie said.
“I want a Royal, but with St-Germain and…” Lidia stopped. “How about I go with you? It’s a lot to explain. Plus, I want to take some pics by the bar.”
George looked at Lizzie, not sure if she’d be okay holding the table. “Go,” Lizzie confirmed. “I’ll hold the table.” With that and a smile from Lidia, George took her arm, and off they went to the bar.
Left on her own, Lizzie could feel the draw of her phone, but she didn’t want to risk getting sucked into a work email. So instead, she opted to scan the room and do a little people-watching; one of her favorite pastimes.
The crowd seemed like a mix of young professionals and some middle-aged types trying to hold on to their youth. There were groups of women taking shots and acting like they didn’t care about men, while simultaneously dressed and acting in a way to attract the attention of men.
Then, off to the side, she saw what must be a VIP area.
Cordoned off with comfortable seats and tables, it was slightly elevated over the rest of the club—a physical representation of the superiority an overpriced bottle could get you.
She suddenly noticed a man in the area staring at her.
A pair of slacks and a fitted button-up shirt over a muscular physique. And his face…
Wait… She knew that face. She was staring back at William Pemberley.
She looked away quickly, embarrassed. She wasn’t sure why, but she really wished he hadn’t seen her here, standing alone, just staring at him like some obsessed stalker.
Maybe her sister and George would get back, and he would see that she wasn’t alone.
She looked over at the bar to see if they were wrapping up.
They were standing behind a few people in a group, obviously waiting to order, talking and laughing together, looking to be in no rush to hurry back.
Lizzie dared a glance back in his direction; to her panic, he was heading toward her. She tried to come up with a game plan: should she play it cool? Act aloof? Mean? Friendly? Why did she care? In the end, by the time he arrived at her table, she was in analysis paralysis.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he greeted her. “I didn’t think this would be your scene.”
“It’s not,” Lizzie said honestly. “My sister suggested it.”
“Oh, so she’s around here?”
“Yeah, she’s at the bar with George…” The name caught in her throat. She had forgotten that he, of course, knew George—and that she’d met him outside of his business and that they had bonded over their dislike of this man.
But it was too late. He had glanced over to the bar and recognized him. His jaw clenched. “George Wick?”
Lizzie just nodded. “I didn’t realize you two were acquainted. Have you been friends long?” Will added.
“Not very long, no. We’ve only gone out a handful of times.” Two was a handful, right?
“That man makes friends so easily, it’s astonishing…” Will said this under his breath, so Lizzie wasn’t sure if she had heard him correctly.
“What’s that?” she said, but before he could answer, Lidia bounced back to the table.
“Hey!” she said, bubbly and bright, looking up at Will. “George is waiting for the drinks. I thought I’d come keep you company.”
Lidia was looking at Lizzie and Will, asking for an introduction with her eyes.
Lizzie thought she’d felt embarrassed when Will saw her all alone.
For some reason, she felt even more hesitant to introduce her glamorous sister.
But there was no way around it. “Will, this is my sister, Lidia. Lidia, this is Will Pemberley—my new client.”
Will gave Lidia a curt nod, but that was all before he turned back to Lizzie. “It’s odd to see you at a place like this,” he said.
“So you said,” Lizzie said, wondering what exactly was so odd about seeing her out having a good time. Did he think she just existed to consult?
“I think she’s allowed to have a social life just like the rest of us,” Lidia said in a way that made Lizzie unsure if she was flirting with Will or defending her.
“No, of course,” Will said, shaking his head. “I meant that she was too…” But before he could finish, Carolina came over to interrupt.
“Will! We were wondering where you’d gone.” Carolina’s voice dripped with sweetness and Pinot Grigio. “Come on, Alisa is asking for you.” She gently tugged on his arm.
Will took a step back towards his group and then said, “You ladies, please be safe.”
“Don’t worry, Will—they can take care of themselves.
They’re big girls.” Carolina looked at Lizzie when she said ‘big’, appearing to emphasize the word.
Lizzie tugged on her shorts, suddenly self-conscious.
He walked away, and Lizzie felt that she could bore holes into his back with her stare.
Carolina’s insults were barely veiled, and his ignorance of them felt like complicity to Lizzie.
She didn’t ask him to come over and insult her, and yet that’s what he did, whether directly or not.
George came back, drinks in hand, looking over in the direction of Will and Carolina.
“Was that Will Pemberley?” George asked.
“Yeah,” said Lidia. “And some ice queen in Pinot heels. Ugh, Liz, you have to work with those people?”
Lizzie looked at her drink, no longer feeling much like celebrating. “Yeah, it’s fine. I can put up with a lot for what they’re paying me.”
“That’s the right attitude!” George said. “And perk up—don’t let him ruin your night.”
“You’re right!” Lizzie said. But the excitement had been stripped away. She felt self-conscious and out of place until she eventually decided to head back home after only one drink.
Damn that William Pemberley, she thought the whole way.
* * *
From the Desk of William Pemberley
Brickell Apartment- 11:58 PM
I hated seeing her there with him.
I hated having her see me there. I didn’t want her to think that was me. Let all the others think it’s me, but not her.
Carolina clearly doesn’t like her. She was right about George. Could she be right about Lizzie?
I’m haunted thinking that she could be with him.
And what am I doing? She works for me for Christ’s sake! I shouldn’t be thinking of her at all except in a strictly professional capacity. Maybe I should avoid her? Maybe I could go on a vacation?
Or maybe I should spend more time around her? I’m sure sooner or later I’d find the flaw, something that tarnishes my view of her.
I’m sure after next week, I won’t think of her again.