Translation of Love - By Alice Montalvo-Tribue Page 0,62
comfortable around. He’s the only man who I haven’t had to try so hard with. With him, I can be me and in that I find freedom.
With the exception of food and bathroom breaks, we did spend the majority of the day in bed. Victor called Alex and invited him to come down for the Memorial Day festivities. He asked Alex to go to his house and pick up an extra change of clothes and swim trunks, since he hadn’t planned on staying an additional night. I called Dad to let him know we’d have extra company tomorrow, news that I thought he’d be pissed about but he actually seemed happy with. Maybe he really does like Victor? Since I live closest to the beach, we decided that my house would be the logical meeting place in the morning. Jordan, hearing this news, decided that she would spend the night on the daybed in my spare bedroom. I make her bring her extra air mattress so that we could set it out in the living room for Alex.
By the time Alex arrives, Victor and I have already dragged ourselves out of bed. Now Victor is giving Alex the tour of my house while I wait for Jordan who has just pulled up with more bags than necessary for one night. I open the door for her before she gets a chance to knock.
“What, are you moving in?” I question with a grin on my face.
She smirks at me. “Ha ha, smartass. I have the air mattress you requested and I brought dinner and beer.”
“Oh, wow, thanks. You didn’t have to do that.” I take her overnight bag from her. “Let’s leave this over by the stairs and take the food into the kitchen.” I drop her bag and help her carry the food.
“So where’s Victor?” she questions as she starts putting beers in the refrigerator.
I hop up on the countertop. “He just went upstairs. He is giving his brother, Alex, the tour.”
She pauses to look at me. “There’re two of them?”
“Oh my God, yes, girl. There’re two of them,” I say, nodding my head.
“I can’t wait to see this. So how’s it going with him?”
I try, but can’t fight the smile that’s forming on my lips. “It’s going really good.”
“Oh my God, Elle, you’re beaming!” she squeals. “You’re in love.”
I roll my eyes at her. “What? No, I’m not.” I’m definitely not ready to admit that.
She giggles at me. “You are, but okay, I won’t push.”
“What’s the deal with you and Mark? Did you make your decision?” Putting her in the hotspot is the easiest way to change the subject.
“Oh, I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t move in with him.”
“So it’s over?”
“It’s over.”
I feel terrible for Jordan. I only hope that one day she’ll be willing to take the advice that she gave me and actually try to open her heart to someone. I just want my friend to be happy.
“Hey, Jordan.” We both turn toward the dining room just as Victor and Alex are walking in.
“Well, hello handsome!” she says to Victor as she eyes Alex. Her blatant ogling makes me chuckle. She gives Victor a peck on the cheek. “Hi, I’m Jordan,” she says, moving on to Alex and giving him a hug.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Victor’s brother, Alex,” he says, as he looks her over from top to bottom.
“Jordan brought us some dinner,” I say to no one in particular. “Do you guys wanna eat now?”
Victor pushes my legs open with his torso and wraps his arms around my waist. “I’m starving,” he says with a grin.
I bring my mouth down to his ear. “You’ve eaten plenty,” I whisper.
“Dirty girl.”
“You two! Stop with your whispering over there and bring the subs into the dining room,” Jordan yells.
Victor helps me off the counter. I grab the bag with the subs and take them into the dining room. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun in a group setting. Conversation between the four of us flows freely. We joke and laugh with each other as if we’ve known each other for years. With Brian, things were so different. He wasn’t social with my friends. Every time I’d bring him around, it was evident that he didn’t fit in. He kept to himself and barely spoke to anyone. My friends tried to include him in conversations and make him feel comfortable but it was clear that he was having no part of it. Often