Chapter 7

The first months of their relationship were complicated. One night, Georgina wanted to go to one of those fancy restaurants where you can have dinner and dance.

“Please, I’ve never gone to a place like this with a boyfriend,” she begged.

Daniel didn’t like fancy places or dancing, but he caved.

He was doing what he usually did in lieu of dancing, which was to bounce up and down on the balls of his feet, looking uncomfortable. Georgina was slinking in a circle around him, sinuous as a snake, trailing her fingers across his chest.

When they finally made a pause he excused himself to go to the men’s room.

When he came back, a guy was chatting his girlfriend up. Georgina’s response was always the same: “I’m flattered, but I have a boyfriend.”

Daniel came to the table, gave Georgina a quick kiss, and sat at her side. The guy’s eyes darted back and forth between Georgina and Daniel.

Then, he laughed his ass off.

“THIS is your boyfriend! Oh, come on! You brought your little nerd brother to keep the wolves at bay.”

He took a bill, placed it in Daniel’s hand, and said, “Here, go and buy yourself some comic books while your sister and I talk a bit more.”

“Ehm, I’m actually her boyfriend. So, no thank you,” Daniel placed the bill back in the guy’s hand. “Please, leave us alone.”

“You can’t be her boyfriend! She’s smoking hot and you are ... you,” The guy exclaimed in disbelief pointing at Daniel.

Daniel just shrugged. The guy’s words only echoed his own insecurities.

“I hear what you say, but I am really her boyfriend.”

Georgina glared at the guy and decided to cut the conversation short.

“You’re like those fancy cars that may look good on the outside, but it’s what’s under the hood that really matters.

“So, you might look better than my boyfriend with your steroid muscles, your fake tan, and your fancy clothes, but personality-wise there is no competition. What my boyfriend lacks in looks, he makes up for in other departments. He loves me for who I am and I love him for who he is.

“You just want to get inside my panties to add another notch to your belt. My boyfriend got inside my heart.”

The guy smirked at her works. “It would be quite a notch.”

“I doubt it. Been there, done that. Felt empty and used at the end. Not interested anymore. Leave us alone.”

The guy threw a card on the table and left saying, “Call me when you get tired of playing house with this pathetic imitation of a man.”

An uneasy silence fell between them.

As Daniel watched the guy walk away, he felt Georgina’s hand on his arm. “You all right?”