It was usual for Cecilia to have fits of irrationality, and as a rule, she would regret the things she did or said while in that state. Her last disaster had happened a week ago at The Lost Ship, right after finishing her shift.

That night, she pushed the bathroom door open with her right hand, startling the person about to enter. Without apologizing, she walked firmly to her table and, as soon as she spotted Gerardo, locked eyes with him. The intensity of her stare was such that her friend stopped eating and returned the look, puzzled, waiting for her to reach him.

Cecilia had the impression that Gerardo wasn’t even blinking, barely breathing. So, without giving herself more time to hesitate, she said in a deadly serious voice,
“I’m going with you.”

Gerardo didn’t answer right away, and Cecilia suspected he wasn’t expecting that — or perhaps he simply wasn’t used to such dramatic statements. But when she saw him smile, her speculations faded into the background. It wasn’t his usual, kind, restrained smile, but the grin of someone who’s just won a poker game and can finally stop pretending they don’t care.

“Is it really that good of news?” Cecilia asked as she sat down, and Gerardo pulled himself together.

“Yes,” he replied. “I thought you’d never agree.”

“I think it’s time to try something different.”

Again, Gerardo couldn’t hide his excitement; he smiled and nodded.

“It will be different. Especially because I want to introduce you to some friends.”

“To who?” she asked, more out of courtesy than real interest.

“One of them was my classmate, the other… it’s been a while since I’ve seen him.” Gerardo lowered his gaze and quickly changed the subject.

Except for that one time he mentioned his job, Gerardo rarely spoke about things that didn’t involve both of them, or that could lead to questions about his past. It was a courtesy, since he knew Cecilia wasn’t comfortable with that kind of talk.

Cecilia wasn’t one to go back on her word, but while packing for the trip with Gerardo, she started to think maybe breaking a promise wasn’t the end of the world. What had she been thinking? It was obvious her grandmother would have wanted her to forget Victor. But to achieve that, she probably would have handed her a bottle of wine instead of telling her to go out with Gerardo. The whole fight fire with fire philosophy was much more in line with her grandfather Jesús.

“Are you coming back?” asked Ismael from his bed, sitting up to make sure Cecilia didn’t overpack. No matter how smart he was, and even though he fully understood his mom wouldn’t abandon him, he was still a seven-year-old boy who had never been apart from her.

“Of course I am.”

“Can I go?” he asked with a pitiful look.

Cecilia thought for a moment.

“Aunt Tania’s coming tomorrow, don’t you want to see her?”

Ismael made a face. On the phone, his aunt had promised him a surprise that would make him scream with joy. He was never one to cause a fuss, so it had to be something really good.

“Okay.”

“Isma, my love…” Cecilia flopped down on the bed and motioned for her son to curl up next to her. “Do you want me to bring you a seashell from the beach?”

The boy kept his pouty expression but finally nodded and snuggled against her arm.

“Don’t take too long,” he murmured.

Unlike Laura, Manuel wasn’t happy about Cecilia going away with Gerardo, and he made it very clear as he asked her to be careful and swore he’d keep his phone by his side the whole time. He promised that, the moment she asked, he’d come get her, no matter where she was. Cecilia smiled gratefully and assured him she’d have her phone nearby too, that they could call anytime and she’d answer immediately.

The symposium Gerardo was attending was in another city, hundreds of kilometers away, so they’d have to take a plane to get there. Unfortunately, instead of getting excited—this being only the second time she’d traveled by air—as soon as she set foot on the runway, Cecilia thought of Victor. Villafuerte had been the first to give her the chance to board something like this. His jet.

“Is this first class?” she asked Gerardo once they reached their seats and she noticed how much more comfortable and spacious the seats were compared to the other section.

“Yes.”

“But this is too expensive…” Cecilia frowned.

“You’re my guest,” Gerardo said flatly, which earned him an unexpected shove from Cecilia, making him fall gracelessly into his seat.

Gerardo, the passing flight attendant, and the couple across the aisle all stared at her in surprise, but Cecilia ignored them. She stored her bag in the overhead compartment and, as she sat down, reminded Gerardo she didn’t like gifts.

“I’m sorry,” she said, a little embarrassed, then added, “I gave you money for economy tickets. You’ll have to tell me how much I owe you now.”

It took Gerardo several seconds to regain his composure and settle into his seat.

“About that… the hospital where I work is paying for the trip, including expenses for my guest. I was going to tell you, but Laura wouldn’t stop talking. The hotel’s covered too.” There was a hint of annoyance in his voice, like someone who hates making a scene in front of other people.

Cecilia raised an eyebrow. Her friend never got upset with her, but then, she was rarely that rough with him. Maybe this trip would help them get to know each other better. Who knows, maybe Gerardo would drop his romantic intentions… or maybe she’d finally find something attractive in him.

During the flight, Cecilia stuffed herself with peanuts and soda. She caught up on two episodes of a series she’d wanted to watch for ages but hadn’t had time for. She also watched an infomercial about a vacuum cleaner that could drain an inflatable pool.

The comforts of first class, of course, didn’t compare to the unforgettable trip she took with Victor. This seat had nothing in common with that waterbed covered only in satin sheets, where she’d slept after a dizzying, exhausting night of sex. But still, she was hopeful. She felt content. For the first time in a long while, she thought maybe she could forget. Maybe she could finally relax. She just needed to distract herself.

The flight lasted four hours, and by the time they landed it was three in the afternoon. The opening dinner of the symposium was at eight, so they’d have enough time to get through customs and for Cecilia to check in with her family.

When they arrived at the hotel, Cecilia was surprised to see a building that took up nearly an entire block, built from granite stone with fountains at the entrance. Clearly, “five-star” didn’t do it justice.

She knew her friend worked at a prestigious hospital, but his lifestyle didn’t suggest he could afford a place like this, no matter how badly he wanted to impress her. So she accepted, without protest, that the hospital was covering all expenses.

The bellhop led them to a spacious room, almost at the top of the building. The first thing Cecilia noticed was that there was only one bed. King size, sure—but still, a single bed. The room also had a living area, a minibar, a kitchen with a dining table, a terrace, and a bathroom with a shower and a jacuzzi. She wondered if Gerardo would be offended if she chose to sleep on one of the couches. She didn’t think her friend was the kind of man who’d force her into anything, but the truth was, besides Ismael, she didn’t like sharing a bed with anyone.

“Cecilia,” Gerardo called, getting her attention. When she turned, she saw him holding a box in his hands.
“I bought you this.”

“Gerardo…”

“The other day you said you didn’t have anything to wear, and… it’s for the dinner… here.” Since Cecilia didn’t reach for it, Gerardo practically threw the box at her.

“And I know you don’t like gifts, so pretend this is the plane ticket.”

Cecilia was tempted to refuse again, but in the end, she gave in and accepted the box. Her friend looked slightly flushed, and she was starting to feel like a tyrant for rejecting him so many times. It wasn’t Gerardo’s fault what Victor had done to her.

“Thank you,” she murmured, and when she opened the box, she was surprised. It was a beautiful dress — clearly worth more than the round-trip ticket.

When it was time to leave for the opening ceremony, Cecilia looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and, for the first time in years, liked what she saw. The burgundy dress draped over her chest and back, hugging her hips, covering her legs to mid-thigh. The neckline was loose, hinting at her cleavage, and the back had a cut that revealed her lower spine as she moved. She didn’t feel vulgar, though it definitely showed more than she was used to.

She didn’t do anything special with her hair, just straightened it, and gave her eyes a light outline, but in her opinion, she looked good. The only jewelry she wore was the necklace her grandmother Jade had given her years ago.

She stepped out of the bathroom, and when Gerardo saw her, he made no effort to hide how drawn he felt. He stared, captivated, and let her know with his words as they walked to the reception. Cecilia returned the compliment—Gerardo looked good too, wearing a suit, his hair slightly tousled, and a tie the exact shade of her dress. Together, they made quite the pair. Just like a real couple.