Page 63 of Black Wave

We round the corner of the restaurant where we have our upcoming reservations. I approach the lady at the hostess station who seems busy looking at her computer screen. “Hi,” I tell the woman, trying to get her attention. She doesn’t look up. “We have reservations for two under Emma Taylor, please.”

The hostess notices me, smiles, and looks through her list. “Sorry, but we don’t have a reservation under Emma Taylor,” she replies, sounding sad but not actually being sad about saying it.

I put my finger to my chin, wondering if the reservation could be under another name. I look at Liv, shrugging. “Eduardo made the reservations, and I have no idea what he put the name under.”

Liv shrugs as well, offering up some suggestions. “Did he put them under another name or his name, maybe?”

I think about it. It seems logical. The hostess looks annoyed as we go back and forth with it, trying to figure it out.

“Are you sure he made it here?” she asks, and I nod a yes.

“I know it is. I asked him, and he said he did it. “Is it under Emma Ortiz Taylor or no Taylor at the end?”

She looks again. I see a frown cross her lips as she looks back at me and my ring finger. The one that currently houses my engagement ring. Liv still hasn’t seen it. I hide it a little because I want to tell Liv about it over lunch.

Liv goes on. “Do you think he put it under his name, Emma? Under Eduardo Ruiz?”

This makes the girl cough as we both look over at her. “Are you married to Eduardo Ruiz? The one who owns the gym uptown and the nightclub?”

I look at her without answering. My eyes narrow, and I am about to speak when Liv interjects.

“Is it under Emma Ruiz?”

The lady looks at the reservation and then at us, nodding. “Ladies, let me show you to your table.” She turns abruptly without looking back to see if we are following.

Liv mouths, “What the fuck.”

I just shrug, shaking my head and trying to catch up to the hostess. Liv isn’t usually one to make a scene, and I don’t want to have this conversation about it here. I can guarantee that Eduardo and I will have this conversation when I get home.

Why would he do that, and why here?

Did it have something to do with the hostess out there?

So many questions, and I better get the answers. I feel the jealousy and redness creeping up my neck as my cheeks begin to flush.

We sit at the table where she places down two menus, telling us to enjoy our lunch, and leaves without another glance our way. We sit, and a waiter comes up to us right away. It gives me the opportunity to cool off. My anger subsides for that moment.

“Good afternoon, ladies. Have you been here before?” We both nod, and he smiles. “Okay then, can I get you something to drink?” He looks at us patiently.

I already know I want a French martini, and the one here comes with champagne. I need it now. “I’ll have the Channel No. 6 martini, please,” I say before Liv gets in a word.

She just shakes her head, laughing silently.

“Of course, and for you, miss?” He looks Liv’s way, and she just shrugs.

“Sparkling water with a lemon twist, please.”

“Great, I’ll be right back with those. In the meantime, here are some lunch specials for today and a special dessert made by the pastry chef.” He hands us the daily menu on a sheet of paper and walks away.

Liv immediately dives in with the inquisition. “Okay, what was up with that hostess? Why would she ask that?”

I shake my head, also feeling perplexed. “It beats me, but it is clear that she slept with Eduardo or wanted to. Maybe they were…dating?” I look up at Liv, grabbing my necklace without thinking, tugging at it. I take a swig of my nasty table water, waiting for the fluorinated taste to hit, but it doesn’t. “Thank god. I thought it was going to taste like pool water.”

Liv laughs. “We are at a nice restaurant, Emma. I doubt it tastes like pool water here. Now, tell me why you think that.” Liv must sense when I am trying to change the subject. She’s had years of this with me and is well practiced, so she is familiar with my tactics and plays along.

“I know, I forgot, but I always prepare myself for that first sip, you know?”

She laughs. The waiter comes over with our drinks, and we place our orders. The martini couldn’t have come sooner. I also order another martini with my food, since I know I will need more alcohol to deal with this amount of shit in my life.

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