"So, where are we headed?" She claps her hands together and smiles at me. She was walking beside me wearing one of my old hoodies and shorts, she looked cute.
"Patience, my love. We'll get there soon enough."
"Is it the beach house?" She grabs hold of my hand and I intertwine my fingers with hers.
"No."
"Umm, the old cabin?"
"Nope. You're getting colder."
"Damn, okay. Can I get a hint?"
"Mhm, that'll cost you." I look at her face from the corner of my eye. Her brows were drawn together and her lips puckered.
"Cost me what exactly?"
I pull her in for a hug and look down into her eyes. "You remember that one night we had together? You were so pissed with me that you threw me on the bed and-" She slaps her hand over my mouth and peers down at her feet.
"You win. I won't ask again."
"Aw boo, and here I was hoping that you would."
She laughs and hits my arm. "Maybe if like your surprise I'll recreate the memory."
Just as I go to reply, a tinted limo pulls up and she hurries inside. I laugh to myself and follow after her.
"Philly?! What are you doing here?!" Kaz practically leaps through the divider to hug the man.
"Hehe, it's good to see you again. Ice over here told me he wanted to make today special for you so he called me."
"It's been so long since I've seen you though! What's been happening with you?!"
"Hermosa, as wonderful as this view of your backside is, we really have to get going."
She whispers something to Philly then sits down next to me.
"He called you Ice...?"
"Story for a different time love." I put my arm around her shoulder and pull her close to me. "Today, we focus on you."
She looks up at me and kisses my chin. "You're too good to me Ricardo."
"Not good enough mami. You deserve the world."
The car slows to a stop and the car door swings open.
"We have arrived folks, so get ya pretty asses out of here."
She detaches herself from me and I find myself already missing her embrace.
"Thank you Philly, and remember what I said earlier okay?"
"Will do." He stops me and places a hand on my shoulder. "Looks like you took my advice from back then."
"What can I say, it was good advice."
He nods. "Well how about a little more? Whatever you're cooking up, drop it."
"What are you-"
"You found your way back into her heart. She forgave your shit, all of it." He shakes his head and pops a cigarette in his mouth. "Don't let that forgiveness be in vain." He walks to the front of the car and pulls away.
"Ricky? Are you coming?"
Kaz waves at me and I head towards her. Philly is a wise man and I always heeded his words. But he doesn't understand, no one ever truly does.
"Sì hermosa, I'm coming."
***
"I would ask what that conversation was about but I'm more curious to why you brought me to an empty mall?"
"Not just any mall mami, the Brookfield Place. It's not Firenze but it'll have to do."
"Firenze..." I repeat the word. I know that I've heard of before. "Is that in Italy?" I gasp and shove his arm. "Have you been there without me?!"
"Relax baby, we can visit soon. And to answer your question from before, the place is not completely empty. I know big crowds make you anxious so I pulled a few strings and managed to get the place to ourselves."
A warm feeling bubbles in my chest. I never even told him that crowded places make me nervous. When did he notice it?
"You are quite perspective."
"Am I? I figured everyone knew that."
He grabs my hand and we begin walking through the empty mall. The sound of our footsteps clicking echo throughout the place. I was walking relatively slow, I wanted to take my time to look around.
"Alright mami, first stop is up to you. See anything that catches your eye?"
"Besides you, I did see a cute top in that
Louis Vuitton store."
He laughs and grabs his wallet from the inside of his pocket.
"Here." He hands me a small black card. "Buy whatever you like then call me when you're done. I'll come get you."
"You're not coming with me? This place is massive what if I lose you?"
"You won't lose me hermosa. I won't be far." He kisses the top of my head then heads off in the opposite direction.
"Alright Kaz, you're a big girl. Nothing scary about picking out your own clothes... Or talking to the people who work here... Oh god, I'm screwed!"
I walk into the store and I'm immediately greeted by a very well-dressed woman. She looked to be a bit older than me and judging by her neat and expensive looking outfit she was here to help.
"Mrs. Hernandez I presume?" She smiles and holds out her hand. "
"Uh yeah, you can just call me Kaz." I shake my hand and notice her eyeing me up and down.
"Hm, well looking at you now I know that you probably have kids, hence the messy bun and sneakers, you most likely wear whatever's comfortable, exercise is important to you and you aren't too fond of dressing up."
I stand there with my mouth open. How the hell did she pick up on all that in less than thirty seconds?
"Well? Am I right?"
"Yeah... Did Ricky tell you all that?"
"Oh no ma'am. But I guess he forgot to mention that I'll be your personal stylist for today?"
I sigh. Of course that dummy forgot to tell me. "He indeed did."
"Of course he did. I'm Gigi. I've been dressing Mr. Hernandez since he was in diapers."
"Diapers? But- Never mind." I was going to say she didn't look that old. Happy I cut myself off in time.
"I know what you're thinking, 'This beautiful woman has been dressing him for how long?! But she doesn't look a day over thirty!' I know darling, I look amazing."
I smile. I like her already.
"Well enough with the small talk. I'm here to make you marvelous!" She takes hold of my wrist and pulls me behind her. She was walking fast and I was practically running to keep up. She releases me when we reach a large platform surrounded by huge mirrors.
"First I'll need your measurements so off with the jacket."
"Um... Right."
I hesitantly undress and she grabs a tape mesure. This feels oddly familiar. Déjà maybe?
"Good lord." I turn to face her. "I apologize but your body... Are you sure you have kids? Because this- this is not a mom body."
I feel my face heat. "Yes, I have twins actually."
"Twins?! I would have never guessed. You really should consider modeling. With a body like that and a face like yours, you and Mr. Hernandez would be at the top of the game."
"Modeling? Not really fond of having so many eyes on me." I respond as she starts to mesure me.
"Bust is 34 D, waist is 32, hips 36. You have the ideal image of a hourglass figure. Marvelous."
"Ideal image...?"
Was she being honest or was she just flattering me? No, she doesn't seem like the type to lie. Honestly, it was nice hearing her compliments considering how hard I've been on myself about my body.
"Alright, this way." I follow after her and she leads me back to the main part of the shop. "Now the hard part begins. We are going to find you a look. A style that matches not only your body type but your overall as a person!"
"That sounds very... time consuming."
"You're with a professional sweetie, I'll have you out of here and back to your husband in no time."