Page 1 of Fake Bride's First Love
1
Ginger
The long, emerald dress with a crystal halter-neck strap was too pricey. I should have known better than to visit the most expensive retail store in all of Miami Beach. Everyone knew they only sold high-end, designer clothing. I told myself that I deserved it after all of my hard work. Plus, it was for a special occasion: a party celebrating both my promotion at Lavender Dreams Spa and my earning my MBA.
The second I put it back onto the rack, Guadalupe picked it up and insisted on purchasing it. Not only did she buy that dress, but she also got one for my best friend, Eva.
It was impossible not to give into Guadalupe’s natural, maternal ways. Since she and Yuslan had never been able to have children of their own, they often treated us like their daughters. I had no problem with it, either. While I was fairly close to my family, there was something about the way Guadalupe treated her employees that made work more enjoyable. And the fact that she often fed us her amazing Cuban cooking was a bonus.
And that afternoon, both Eva and I were excited to have her cook us lunch. It was a nice change from our standard sushi or pizza takeout. Plus, we had taken the day off of work, so it would just be the three of us instead of chatting in the crowded break room down at the spa. Not that we didn’t love our coworkers, but the three of us felt more like a family. If only Margo could have been with us that day too.
Guadalupe let out an audible sigh from behind me as I looked at myself in her full-length mirror. “For the millionth time, Ginger, that will look perfect on you Friday night. That’s why I purchased both of your outfits because neither of you could decide on one! Now put it back on the hanger—you’re not eating my ajiaco in that thing.”
I slid out of the dress and tossed it onto the oversized chair in her dining room.
Eva emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later in her rose-gold dress, which was almost identical to mine except it was covered in sequins.
“Are you sure you don’t want this dress, Ginger? We’re the same size, and I saw you eyeing it in the store.”
I ran my hands up and down the material, remembering how much it stood out on the rack.
“No, Eva. This complements the peachy undertones in your skin, and I think emerald goes better with my auburn hair. You’re sweet to ask me, though.”
Eva and I had met in college, and her natural, sweet disposition was what had drawn me to her. She was one of the few people who could calm me down using only a few words. She continued to study herself in the mirror, putting her hand on her stomach as Guadalupe reemerged from the kitchen.
“Please don't tell me that you’re rethinking your dress, too, Eva! I love you girls, but you drive me crazy sometimes.”
The two of us giggled as Guadalupe stood there with her hands on her hips. She owned the spa we worked at but had treated us like her daughters from the day we were hired.
Eva made her way back into Guadalupe’s bathroom while I took a seat at the dining room table and started sampling all the makeup.
“The fall line of colors is amazing, Guadalupe. I’m sure the clients will love these at the spa!” I heard her clacking away in the kitchen as she prepared her chicken and potato soup.
“Most of those were picked out by Margo.”
“But she’s still on maternity leave.”
As I swiped a shade of lipstick called Pumpkin Spice onto the back of my hand, Guadalupe came out with two bowls of ajiaco.
“You know how Margo is, Ginger. She’s always down at the spa with Joanna.”
After placing our lunch down onto her dining room table, she clasped her hands together as she thought about my one-year-old niece. Margo was living with my big brother, Chase, and lived only a few minutes away. She was also my other best friend.
Eva sat down in front of her bowl of ajiaco, eyeing both the soup and the selection of makeup samples with pleasure.
“That color is perfect with your skin tone, Ginger.”
I nodded while pushing the makeup off to the side, then digging into Guadalupe’s soup. “I think I’ll wear it to the party. Guadalupe, this soup is delicious!”
Eva nodded as she dug into her soup too. “I still can’t believe you booked the Miami Paramount for the party, Guadalupe. I’m sure nothing from the catering company will be anywhere near as delicious as your cooking.”
Guadalupe blushed while sitting down next to Eva at the table with a bowl of soup for herself. “It’s the least I could do now that Ginger will be the new accountant at the spa.”
“Are you kidding me, Guadalupe? It’s my dream job! I get to work with numbers from the beautiful oasis that the spa provides.”
Eva giggled while devouring her soup. “Just think about all of the award show after-parties that have been there too.”
My body instantly tensed up at the words “award show,” but I tried keeping it to myself.
