Page 70 of Sweeter than Honey

“I’ll probably be a Satanic High Priestess,” she says, a devious twinkle in her dark brown eyes. “but it’s good to have a back up!”

I chuckle nervously. “Um, ok.”

Hallie gives her girlfriend a kiss on the cheek, then turns back to me. “Good luck on your date, Lily!”

Lilith puts her head on Hallie’s shoulder. They’re both so sweet. I’m happy that they’ve found each other. I hope that one day, Renata and I…

I push away the thought. I shouldn’t be worrying too much about the future. Everything is so new, I should just focus on the present.

“Good night, everyone!” I say, waving at the front desk staff.

Sid gives me a salute as they open the door for me. There’s a matte black stretch limo waiting outside. A tingle of excitement goes up my spine. I’ve never experienced something like this before. I didn’t have much growing up, and I certainly don’t have much now. But tonight, I feel like a real-life princess.

The driver opens the car door for me (do rich people never open their own doors?) and I slip into the back seat. To my disappointment, there’s no Renata waiting in the car for me. Perhaps she was worried that someone would see us together.

This issucha nice car. The seats are made of soft, supple leather, and when it starts moving, I can barely feel it accelerate. Excited, I look out the window at the city going by. Downtown Silverlake City is always busy on a Saturday night. People are all dressed up, in high heels and clunky boots, shimmering dresses and matte leather, feather boas and tailored suits…I watch it all go by, buzzing with anticipation.

We head into an upscale district. I came here once to buy a really expensive moisturizer that I couldn’t get anywhere else. It didnotimprove my rosacea, although it did cost me about a week’s salary. But don’t worry, I got a bunch of fancy perfume samples while I was there.

We pull up to a restaurant that doesn’t even have a sign outside. I’ve never been here before, or even heard of it. The driver gets out and opens the door for me.

“When you go in, tell the host your name, and they’ll seat you,” says the driver with a wink.

“All right,” I reply, a little nervous.

I enter the restaurant. It’s dimly lit, with the hum of pleasant conversation and tinkling glasses. It appears to be full, but I can’t see Renata anywhere. I go up to the host’s podium.

“Um, I’m Lily Harper,” I say, a little awkwardly. “I’m meeting someone here.”

“Yes, of course,” the host says with a nod. “Right this way, Ms. Harper.”

He leads me through the restaurant. The delicious smell of beef, shrimp, and dishes I can’t even name wafts through the air. I’m glad I wore this dress. Everyone here seem to be dressed very well. I scan the tables, but still don’t see Renata anywhere. Then he takes me to the very back of the restaurant, to a private room.

It’s intimate, but not small. There’s a fountain in the corner, and a piano with a suited pianist who smiles at me as I enter.

And Renata, seated at a table for two. She wears a dark jacket and dress pants over a top of sheer, crimson lace. The lace hugs her chest tightly, leaving just enough to the imagination. Her lips are a matching deep red, and her jaw-length black hair is slicked back from her temples.

She stands when she sees me. “You look breathtaking tonight, Lily.”

“So do you,” I reply, shyly.

The host pulls out my chair, and we sit. There’s a full place setting for me, and a single red rose in the center of the table.

“Your server will be along shortly,” the host says. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

“That’s all for now,” Renata replies. He nods, and exits. There’s a tinkle of pianokeys. The pianist starts to play a piano cover. I recognize the song immediately. A cheesy pop ballad by the rock star who’s jacuzzi we tested.

“Ooh, I love this song!” I say.

“You mentioned you saw her in concert once, so I asked the pianist for a special request,” Renata answers, as though it’s the most natural thing in the world to arrange a live piano cover for your date.

“You remember an awful lot.”

“I remember important things.”

There’s a swelling of emotion in my chest. Then a server comes by with a cloth over one arm and a bottle of sparkling water in another.

“Wonderful to see you again, Ms. Espina.” She nods to Renata, then turns to me, filling my glass with water. “Good evening, my name is Jacqueline, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening.”