Page 40 of D.I.E.T. (Did I Eat That?)

“I have to go. My food’s getting cold and Lu’s waiting to pick apart this conversation,” I replied honestly. I didn’t want to get into which was more important because I knew.

“Bye, sunshine.”

“Bye.”

As soon as I hung up, Lu leaned in. “Well?” she asked.

“He wants me to clear out my schedule for Saturday afternoon so he can take me somewhere.”

“Ooo-wee!” she squealed. “I knew it! I knew it!”

“Calm down, Lu. Nothing to get that excited about.”

“What are you talking about? Your hot boyfriend who’s gotten really busy lately is trying desperately to make time for you so you don’t feel left out. This is good, Geet. What’s your deal?”

I loaded my fork with salad and a scoop of potato, taking a really good bite, though not a perfect bite because I couldn’t fit the chicken on the fork too. After chewing and swallowing, I answered her. “It always starts off good. It started off good with numbnut-who-shall-not-be-named, but then it took a turn real fast.”

“Numbnut was a verbally abusive, cheating buttwad. Sinjin has a billion-dollar merger to make happen. It’s hardly the same thing.”

“You’re right. Look how much faster it’s fallen apart with Sinjin. The numbnut and I had a good six months before he decided I wasn’t good enough. For the next year and a half, it spiraled right down the toilet. Sinjin and I have only had sixweeks. I know how this is going to end, so why bother?”

“Because he’s not the numbnut. You can’t hold him to the same standards. If he screws up, it has to be on his own actions, not based on what the last one did. You’re in love with the guy. Let him show you he cares, Geet. I think you owe him and you owe yourself that much. He’s going to Chile with you. How uncomfortable will that trip be if you’re giving him crap for no reason?”

“I have—”

“No, you don’t. Now shut up and eat. I’ve got no-sugar-added raspberry frozen almond milk yogurt and berries for dessert andAquamancued up.”

I saluted my sister and shoved another bite into my mouth. Ice cream andAquaman? She knew me so well. I loved my sister.

The Revelation

Fourteen:

Dion, the traitor, was more than happy to let me rearrange my Saturday clients in order to leave early for this mystery date with Sinjin. I left a voicemail because I guessed my boyfriend had meetings? That seemed the most plausible reason for him not answering the phone.

Sure enough, Saturday afternoon, he rolled up to the front of the salon in his big truck. I saw the truck before I saw him get out. My breath caught when he walked inside, first patting Dion’s arm while passing him as he made a beeline straight for me. I might have sighed when he wrapped those strong arms around my shoulders and leaned his head in to plant a mother of a kiss on me. I hated that Sinjin had that effect on me, giving him the power to crush my heart.

“Hey, sunshine. Missed you,” he said.

“I missed you, too,” I admitted begrudgingly. And my stupid arms? They totally disobeyed my command to not hug Sinjin back, andhugged him back. What chance did I have at getting out of this unscathed if my own body parts refused to listen to me? But man, he felt great and I sank into his warmth. His arms tightened and he rested his chin on top of my head as I pressed my cheek to his chest, listening to his heart thrum.

“Dammit, Geet,” he whispered. I totally understood the sentiment. “Let’s go get our date on.”

I couldn’t help but laugh because that—a total Brigeeta comment. Apparently, I’d rubbed off on him.

Dion waved us off as we left. Like always, Sinjin opened the door of his truck for me, helping me inside. Once he situated himself in the driver’s seat, he pointed the truck in the direction he wanted us to go. Today he had the eighties station playing for me. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” came on and he sang every word. I couldn’t help wonder if the universe knew our situation because the words seemed infuriatingly prophetic.

He drove us north, outside of the city, up Lake Michigan.

“Everything’s ready for the trip,” he said. “All calls will be redirected to my second-in-command while we travel.”

“That’s great,” I answered, unsure of what else to say on the subject because what I wanted to say probably wouldn’t have been taken very well. It felt awkward not being able to ramble on about practically anything with the man sitting next to me. I’d gotten so used to it. He reached over to take my hand in his, resting it on my knee. The contact made it hard to keep my walls up.

It took us probably forty-five minutes, but with the picturesque scenery, I didn’t mind. It really surprised me where he brought us, turning the truck into the parking lot outside of a spa resort. The kind where you saw women and men lounging poolside with green kelp facemasks on and cucumber slices pressed to their eyes or walking around inside wearing fluffy white robes and fluffy white slippers, hair wrapped up in terrycloth turbans while someone led them to the next “experience.”

We were met by a concierge, an overly beautiful Asian man wearing head to toe white, who directed us to the check in desk. “Reservation under Barrow,” Sinjin said. “Sinjin Barrow.”

“Yes, Mr. Barrow. Welcome to Youthful Beauty Spa Resort. Please have a seat.” These places only hired the beautiful people for their public faces and the receptionist who gracefully motioned her hand to a bank of leather recliners was no exception. Young, blonde and high cheekbones, I was on the verge of developing a complex. “Essence will be with you shortly to begin your Youthful Beauty experience.”

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