Something About That Third Twin

It was a Thursday. The hot sun had receded to just a minor sparkle awaiting the moon’s arrival. The heat wave recently had been particularly cruel this year. New Year, new shit I guess.

I just got back from work. I’ve been working for Murdock and Reis’s Real Estate Agency for three years now. I proudly consider myself a cog that makes the company’s wheel turn every day. I was living in as much comfort as I could ever ask for. I loved my job. There was absolutely nothing to grumble about even though Kingston at HR was always flirting. I always put him in his place. Now the whole office knew me as “Toughie”. Whatever that means.

I was supposed to be typing a story I’ve been secretly working on with my laptop but instead, I was standing at my wardrobe looking at the fine assortment of clothes I had. I don’t joke with my clothes. Apart from my shoes and spa treatment, my clothes are supreme. The reason I was going through my rack for the precise outfit was because of Trent. Trent had asked me out on a date. On a Thursday night. I had refused. Why not Friday? Who was crazy enough to risk going out on a Thursday? He had pleaded. The restaurant he wanted us to go to didn’t open on Fridays. Still, I refused. Now he was begging. I’d have to be the devil’s mistress to turn him down after hearing his voice over the phone.

A black dress at the corner caught my big emerald eyes. My eyes glowed seeing the dress calling out to me. I bought it weeks ago and just left it to incubate there. Now I knew why I had bought it in the first place. The details of the cut made it obvious the designer was a crazy maestro. A smile crept through my face wickedly. I was going to knock heads with this dress.

My phone on the dresser started vibrating violently. I forgot to switch it from silence. I always put the noisy monster on silent every morning before I get to work. Maybe it’s my mom trying to check on me. I make a dive at the phone. “Trent”. Not even an emoji.

“How’s the most adorable creature ever created?” His voice sounded boyish. An attribute that didn’t match his age.

“Save that for when you see me,” I replied with brief spurts of giggles.

“You should have been here like 24 minutes, 34 seconds ago. And counting.” Trent didn’t sound disappointed. He probably expected the delay.

A quick look at the time on my phone told me he was right. I laughed sheepishly. How the hell had the time gone so far. 

“I’ll be there before you can blink and yawn twice. Make that thrice.” 

His rich laughter echoed into my earlobes. “You’re down one yawn.”

I jumped and replied, “You cheat.”

Ending the call, I take another long look at the black dress. It spoke confidence in a way most women wouldn’t be able to pull off. But I wasn’t most women. I wasn’t the type to let any man feel superior while I cower like a helpless little child. Let’s do this!

***

I had no idea where the new restaurant Trent kept ranting about was located. I think he had called it ‘Here’s Looking At You’. Who the hell names a restaurant like that? It sounded a little creepy. Where’s here, why was it looking at you, and you in this context would soon be Trent and her.

Taking a Lift seemed like the only thing to do.

3901 W 6th St.

The drive to the restaurant was dull. The middle-aged driver was pretty good at his job seeing as he had noticed my dull mood and had tried to engage me in several discussions. The one about the new Marvel movie ‘The Eternals’. We had talked about our different views and argued mostly. He was a die-hard Marvel fan. He had no idea the classy woman in his backseat was on the other team. DC forever punksss!

Finally, we arrived sparing us the bloodshed. The restaurant was in Korea town. I liked the cozy feeling of wealth that engulfed me as I walked in. The Lift driver had complimented my looks and the black dress. He had even tried to get my number. Smooth. But I turned him down easy.

I hadn’t seen Trent since high school but something told me he’d be easy to spot. Inside the restaurant showed me it was one of the types of places I wouldn’t be able to afford even with my super amazing job. As I scanned the faces of the patrons, several eyes moved hungrily along my curves fully accentuated by my black dress. That was when I saw him sitting awkwardly at a far table.

I waved making my way to him. He didn’t see the wave but he saw a gorgeous woman moving towards him and gasped, jaws dropping.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked with a smile making my voice sound coarse and oddly sensual.

He stood with a start obviously in shock thrown back by the voice. He looked cute. Cute is the word I’d use. His blue eyes were like mists under glasses. He had a smile that exposed a dangerous set of dimples as he ruffled his sand-colored hair awkwardly.

“I’m sorry. I- uhmm. I. Wait, you almost got me?” His full height cast a shadow that happily swallowed me whole even though I was tall on my own.

I gave him a laugh and helped myself to the chair. He just stood staring. His mouth curved repeated like he wanted to say something but no word escaped.

“You look so good. Like damn. I’m lost for words.”

My cheeks burned red as I replied with a thank you and a smile I save for rare occasions.

“Can we order up? I’m starving.” I said hurriedly trying to mask the sound of animalistic hunger breaking out from my belly.

This was one of those places that didn’t get shut down because of the pandemic. I picked up the richly designed menu and decide to go with the steak tartare mixed with red chili and Tamari. The steak was exceptional. I wasn’t sure I had enough room for more. Trent decided to have the same thing. Men.

Next, I asked for crispy, crackly duck confit that’s meant to be eaten with hands and then I moved on to the massive veal imperial rolls with tomato sauce. Everything tasted like pieces and fragments of Heaven hitting my tongue relentlessly.

He talked about how he had inherited some money and had started his own dream company. He went on to tell me how he had been able to grow. We both exchanged war stores from College. 

Trent signaled and a waiter walks majestically with his bottle of red wine.

Third Twin Graciano.

I had never heard of a win called the Third Twin. What happened to the first and second Twin? It tasted more expensive than it looked. Trent was going all-in on this date. He made me laugh so much as he recounted stupid crazy events from high school. He still remembered how my name had been “Shoeless” for a while. That story was crazy. Then there was the time we had almost burnt down the teacher’s lounge. 

Trent went on to ask how I had become the confident woman sitting across from him. I just smiled and told him to ask during our next date. He smiled. There was going to be another date. Hell ya!