‘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 asimpressive 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 againcara 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.
