I had really underestimated Gigi. When she said that she'd find me an entirely new look I expected her to take hours but here I was, just a little over half an hour later with more shopping bags than I can hold. I secretly think that she had been shopping for me before I even got here.
"Come darling, we make one last stop before you meet back up with your lover."
We walk into a lavish dress shop and I set my multiple bags down.
"Wow, this place is huge."
"Yes yes, now come along. I have two dresses already picked out but I a want to see them on my
model before I decide which I like best."
I step through a large door that leads into a private dressing area and take a moment to look at the dresses she mentioned. One was wine colored, it had jewels at the tail that lead upwards. Under the light it shined like starts. The second one was shorter. It was emerald greed and had a slit up the right side and was paired with gold jewelry.
"Well, is one speaking to you? Shouting 'wear me, wear me!'?" Gigi squints her eyes at me.
"I- They're both so beautiful... I can't make up my mind."
"Then get them both. Wear one this evening and the other another day." She walks in a slow circle around me with her and on her chin. "But the question is, which one for tonight?"
"I like the red one."
"Ah yes, a custom made deep red Valentino. Not too fitted but plenty of cleavage and back. The tail is covered in real rubies that scatter further apart as they get higher." She sighs at wipes a tear from her eye. "I had to go by pictures to guess you're size but if it needs readjusting I can handle it."
"Woah, it must've been expensive." I undress as Gigi unzips the back of the gown.
"The dress it's self was only around $47k but to have the rubies hand sewn on, plus the golden Christian Louboutin's..." She thinks for a moment. "I'd round it all up to over $75,000."
"Shit, that's a lot for all this." I hold my hands up and she slides the dress over my head. She was my right on the money with this one. It fits perfectly.
"Nonsense, Mr. Hernandez would buy you the world if he could. This is nothing but a little shopping spree to him."
She continues to zip me up and lace up the heels. Once she's finished, she takes my hair down and begins braiding two strands so that they hug my face then ties it back into a neat low-bun.
"Oh dear, I've done it again!" Gigi cries once more and holds her hand over her heart. "You look absolutely marvelous!"
I look at myself in the large mirror and gasp. I look nothing like I did when I first got here. I looked like royalty, some kind of princess straight from the movies.
"I've texted Mr. Hernandez a few minutes ago, he should be here anytime now. Also, don't freight about all your bags, I'll have them packed up for you."
"Thank you Gigi. For everything."
She smiles at me. "Don't mention it. Now off you go." She shoos me back towards the main entrance and I dart around looking for Ricky.
"Lord have mercy..."
I turn around and see him dressed in a dark gray tux accompanied by a red pocket square. He had on a silver Rolex that was covered in diamonds and a pair of small earrings in. He looked like he walked straight off a runway.
"You look... You look like a goddess." He nears closer and grabs hold of my hand.
"That would make you a god."
"Hm, Gigi really outdid herself." He continues to scan my body. "I'll have to pay her more."
"Ricky, you're making me nervous."
He squeezes my hand and gently cups my face. "I was thinking the same thing." He takes my hand and places it over his heart, it was pounding against his chest. "Not even ten seconds with you and my heart's racing. You're absolutely stunning."
"Shut up you sweet talker." I kiss his lips. "You taste sweet too..."
"Tsk," He sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth. "You are not making it easy for me to contain myself, hermosa."
I blush at his words.
"I know you're probably tired from all the shopping but there's one more place I want to take you."
He intertwines his fingers with mine and leads me out of the empty mall back to the waiting car.
"My my, you are a sight for sore eyes!" Philly winks at me and opens the car door. "Eh I guess you look okay too."
"Hehe, thank you Philly." Ricky ushers me into the car without replying back to Philly. Odd behavior from him, he always has a snappy remark.
The car ride wasn't too long. I spent the entire time in his arms listening to him talk about anything and everything. It was soothing, his scent, his touch, all of it. It made me feel safe.
"Oye, we're here."
We had arrived at a restaurant and unlike the mall it was buzzing with people. Well paparazzi. I don't know why they were here or even how they knew that we were coming.
"Fuck, I'm sorry Kaz." Ricky pulls me behind him and into the building, cursing at anyone who was taking pictures of us. "Those bastards always seem to find me."
He tells a worker to lock the entrance and that he expects for the crowd to be gone by the time we've finished.
"Hey, don't be so hard on yourself." I straighten his tie and smile at him. "I'm having a wonderful time with you. Don't let them ruin it okay?"
He holds my face in his hand. "You're wonderful... Vamos, I have a special table reserved for us."
We wander deeper into the restaurant towards an elevator and up to a rooftop bar. A single table lit up by candles and covered in rose petals. Everything felt so familiar yet entirely new at the same time. It was strange but so wonderful.
"Oh wow..." He pulls out the seat for me then sit across from me. "Ricky... This is amazing."
He reaches across the table and grabs both of my hands. His hazel eyes were intense and a faint tint of red decorated his face.
"Hermosa, I'm not sure how to start this off but I want you to know that saying 'I love you' isn't enough." He pauses and rubs his thumb over the back of my hand. "Everyday that I wake up with you next to me I thank god that I still have you. I know that I'm a trouble maker and I dont always think things through but you stay. I've lost you once before because I was being selfish, and in that time I completely lost hold of myself."
Tears brim my eyes and I sniffle. My hands were shaking in his but he only held them tighter.
"We've been through so much mami, so much and we still have each other... I couldn't ask for a better woman to sped the rest of my life with. You gave me hope, love-" He takes a shaky breath and smiles at me. "You gave me a reason to live. I love you Kazmaria and I'll tell you everyday of my life."
I quickly wipe the tears from my face and squeeze his hand.
"You do so much for me too. You saved me from a false reality and showed me what it is to love someone with my entire heart. You gave me a family, a real one and I thank you for it. Ricardo, I love you more than you'll ever know."