Chapter Four
Willow
‘Fergie - Glamourous’ is blasting through our speaker in the bathroom as Alina and I get ready to head out for dinner for my birthday after our girls day today, and because she has access to her dads credit card, she’s taking me out to the new fancy restaurant that everyone in town can’t stop raving about.
“I hope this place is as good as everyone says it is.” She says as she takes the towel off her head and starts patting dry her hair with it.
“I’m sure it’ll be lovely. What’s better than good food and a gorgeous date to go with it?” I say smirking at her before pouting my lips in a mock kiss towards her.
“Mhm, I just want it to be perfect for you since last year didn’t go as planned.” She slings an arm around my waist to pull me into a side hug.
I didn’t want her to bring it up and my stomach sinks at the thought of my twenty first birthday. Finding out my boyfriend at the time had been cheating on me for the entire last year of our relationship wasn’t exactly the best way to celebrate.
We had been together since we were sixteen. I thought he was going to propose to me for my birthday, but instead I found his phone unlocked while he was in the shower. It was open on a message where he’d sent some girl nudes and she had replied with her own.
When I went further through his phone there was talk of nights they had spent together, dinners and dates he had taken her on and thank you texts from her for gifts he’d given her.
So, I naturally did what anyone would do and spent the night drinking as much as I could and crying in my apartment while Alina sat by my side like the perfect best friend she is, drinking and crying with me.
That was the moment I gave up on thinking I’d get the happily ever after I always read about in books.
Until Fred came along, all I had was Alina.
I had went through years of being bullied badly in school, like really bad, and as much as my parents did all they could to stop it, they couldn’t physically stay with me during school time.
I already had low self worth because of the bullies, so when Fred started showing interest in me and giving me attention, I clung to him.
Between the lasting effect the bullying had on me, then finding out the only boy I ever loved was cheating on me, it was a lot to take mentally which led me straight into a therapists office.
“Let’s just be happy we have had the most fun ever this year because I haven’t had that asshole to complain about our partying.” I say as I lean into her hug and put my arm around her shoulder.
“God he really was such a fucking buzzkill. I mean what did he think would happen when we got our first taste of alcohol at seventeen? That we would sit at home and fucking knit. Fred was a prep boy loser Wills. I always said it.” She uncurls from me and picks up her phone to change the music.
I don’t say anything back to her as I check my makeup in the mirror because she’s right.
After a year together he started treating me like I was a crazy wild girl for just wanting to have fun with my friends. He was always so serious because his dad was training him to join his stockbroker business after he went to College. When I think about it we were kinda doomed from the beginning.
We were so different, but he was my first love and first boyfriend. He’s actually the only guy I’ve ever been with. He was gorgeous in that preppy way and at the start he treated me like a Queen, so it didn’t hurt any less that he had been cheating on me even if he did become an asshole.
Since him, I’ve sworn off all guys. I haven’t slept with anyone else since him or even been on any dates.
I’m happy having fun with my friends and having a casual chat or two with guys if they approach me when we’re out, but it never goes further than that, even though Alina is always talking about ‘the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else’.
That’s her, and I love her for it, but it isn’t me.
I’m a hopeless lover girl when it comes to relationships and I can’t help it.
‘Slow Motion - JUVENILE & Soulja Slim’ starts playing and I close my eyes while I shake my head and laugh at Alina’s song choice. I open my eyes and turn to look at her.
“Come on Wills.” She says as she starts slowly winding her hips, doing body rolls and clapping her hands to the beat. She reaches out for me and plants her hands on my hips to move me along with her while singing along through our laughing.
On my twentieth birthday night out we talked our way into a club with no ID, got ridiculously drunk and ended up dancing round a stripper pole together as this song played.
Afterwards we were approached by the club owner and told that we would ‘make a great pair together’.
He then asked if we wanted jobs and in her drunken state instead of telling him we weren’t interested, Alina told him we were only twenty and he shouldn’t be perving on us.
Of course we got thrown out quickly after that.
Ever since that night, when this song comes on we both can’t help but laugh and dance along at the memory.
Alina lets go of me and starts walking out the bathroom door.
“Okay girl, I’m going to dry my hair. I’ll be back in ten to finish getting ready with you and then we’ll have the best birthday meal ever tonight!” She says excitedly as I turn back to the mirror and pick up my curling tongs to start on my hair.
I have a funny feeling in my stomach, like butterflies, as if I just know that this night is going to be amazing. Alina and her energy will do that to anyone and I can’t wait for the night to begin.
————————————————————
“Alina, I know you have your dad’s credit card but what the actual fuck.” I’m in shock as I look down at the menu of the Italian restaurant she’s brought me to.
The dim lighting from the sconces on the wall along with candles on the tables creates a sultry vibe.
Dark hardwood flooring, deep red walls and smooth Italian jazz music playing softly from the live band in the corner mingles with the chatter of everyone around us and it gives a classy, elegant feel to our surroundings.
If that didn’t already give away that this place is out of price range for two girls in their early twenties who work four days a week in an indie bookstore, then the actual prices on the menu would.
“Wills, it’s fine. Honestly this is nothing compared to the places he takes me when we have our annual daddy-daughter dinner.” She says rolling her eyes as she usually does when talking about her biological dad.
He and her mum weren’t officially together when her mum found out she was pregnant with Alina.
Long story short, he said he would provide financially for Alina and meet her ‘when business allowed him to’, so they meet once a year when he takes her out for a lavish dinner to catch up on her life.
You wouldn’t think it because Alina works hard to provide for herself, but her dad is some big Oil tycoon and she very rarely uses his credit card.
I admire her for it because even though I would do the same, not many people would say no to millions of dollars being so readily available to them at the swipe of a card.
“Speaking of your sperm donor. Your next dinner is coming up soon, have you heard from him yet?” I ask as I set my menu down. She sighs as she drops hers too.
“He text me a few days ago. I didn’t want to say anything because I don’t know if I’ll meet him this time.
He said he’s in New York for business and wants to have dinner here for once instead of flying me to him.
I just don’t want to be spotted having dinner with him where we live.
Like what if the girls saw me with him?”
I’m the only one of our friends who knows Alina’s step dad isn’t her biological father, so I get why she’s cautious about not wanting to be seen having dinner with her actual dad then having to explain him to anyone.
“Then don’t do it. Just tell him you’re busy in the book shop and you can’t meet him this time.” I look down at my menu again trying to decide what I’d like.
“I know. I just feel bad though. I know he’s an ass who throws his money around but at least he threw that money at mom so she didn’t struggle while pregnant with me until she met Paul.” I look up from my menu at her and reach my hand across the table to hold hers and give it a squeeze.
She’s a wild girl on the outside but deep down she has a soft heart and hates letting people down. Even if that person is a mostly absent asshole dad. I’ve never met him, but I hate him and I’d love to slap him across the face for getting her so down.
“It’ll be okay Ali. Let’s focus on spending daddy’s money on this overpriced food that probably doesn’t even taste as impressive as it all sounds.” I say as I huff a laugh trying to make her smile.
“I’d recommend the Risotto al Tartufo Nero as a starter.” Someone says with a slight Italian accent from behind me.
I turn around to a guy who’s leaning closer over my shoulder than he sounded.
He looks all business with his slicked back hair, clean shaven face and the black pinstripe suit he’s wearing.
I narrow my eyes at him as he becomes faintly familiar looking, but I don’t know how the hell I would even know a guy like him.
“Hello again cara mia.” He says as he makes his way round our table to Alina. He takes her hand and kisses the back of it while winking at her.
“Hey Nero.” She replies, half rolling her eyes as she looks from him to me.
“I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you across the restaurant. I had to come make sure you ladies are having a good evening.” He says looking between us both while grinning like a cheshire cat.
Something about him is off but I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s just the fact I can’t place him but I definitely recognise him.
“We’re good thanks. Just waiting for our server to come back to order drinks.” Alina says with her head in the drinks menu.
“Well it’s your lucky night, whatever you’d both like, it’s on me.” Nero replies in a cool tone while placing a hand on Alina’s shoulder.
“That’s kind of you, but we’re really okay. We can pay for ourselves.” I smile at him and he takes his hand off Alina to put it in the pocket of his suit trousers.
“I insist, it is my uncles restaurant after all and you both look far too lovely to be paying for your own dinner tonight.” He pulls out a wad of cash and throws it on the table.
“Who needs daddy’s money when you can have mine, hmm, cara mia?” He looks back to Alina with a hint of danger in his eyes.
“You two have a good night. Don’t forget the Primi I recommended. I can assure you it does taste as impressive as it sounds.” He says with a wink as he turns to walk towards the back of the restaurant.
Fantastic. I wonder just how much of our conversation he heard.
When he walks through the double doors out of sight, I turn to my best friend in disbelief.
“Alina, I love you so much. But how the fuck do get into these situations? Who is he?” I ask genuinely concerned.
“He’s the guy I was dancing with at the club the other night before getting bored of him and telling him to disappear.” She groans, reaching to lift the money he left on the table to put in her purse.
“That’s it!” I basically shout and I slam my hand down on the table which causes some people dining at the surrounding tables to turn and look at us, as well as Alina now looking at me like I have five heads.
I glance at the other couples and parties at their tables and smile shyly before turning back to Alina.
“I knew I recognised him from somewhere.” I say a little more subtly.
“I’m surprised you remember him considering as soon as I got back to you at the bar is when the shots decided to hit you.” She laughs.
“Well if we end up going out tonight I’m limiting myself to two drinks.
I swear.” I say as I hold three fingers up on my right hand in a girl scouts promise.
Alina looks at me blankly for a few seconds before bursting out laughing as if she knows tonight will end up just as messy as it did two nights ago.
I laugh along with her as a waiter comes a minute later to take our drink and food orders.
We chat our usual talk about books, work and funny memories until thirty minutes later our food is in front of us, and I hate to admit, but it does taste as good as it all sounds.