When Love’s In Fashion

Chapter 5

“You look lovely in that tree. Come here often?”

Florica smiled, hearing the familiar voice. “Are you flirting with me, Mr. Marcel?” she asked.

“Only in a manner entirely platonic,” Sven replied.

“Of course.”

“Of course,” he said, inclining his head slightly. “Buy you a drink?”

“It’s an open bar.”

“Details,” he replied, waving a hand.

She turned her back on the bar and leaned against it. “So,” she said, “you look a little sulky.”

“Let’s just say that I’m not used to not getting my way.” He rolled his eyes.

“Ah. Rich people problems.”

“I know, right?” Sven said, adjusting the jacket slightly. “The girl didn’t immediately fall in with my plans, boo hoo.”

Florica gasped, and pulled her head back. “I haven’t known you to care before! I mean God knows, I’d know.”

Sven shrugged, “This one’s special,” he said. The bartender came then, and he got a vodka tonic for Florica and a Patrón on the rocks for himself.

“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day. So anyway, I’ve been getting looks about my outfit. What do you think?”

“Oh, honey,” Sven said, handing Florica her glass. “I loved that dress. Very fashion forward.”

“I thought so!”

“At least you take risks. You don’t show up to events like it’s prom night.”

“Absolutely not,” she said, and they clinked glasses.

“Tonight, you’re the most elegant vegetation I’ve ever seen. I love that you’re finally showing off that ink.”

“I think it looks nice,” she said, turning slightly.

“I think it looks fantastic. I, on the other hand, apparently resemble a peacock.”

“Ugh,” Florica replied, shaking her head. “Far from it, Sven.”

“Thank you.”

They were quiet for a moment, drinking, and then Florica said, “You know Cliff said I looked like a snake? A snake! He said if I added a hoodie I could be a cobra!”

“That’s just all kinds of wrong.”

“Tell me about it.” She leaned in. “How’s your table?”

“Pop stars. Well, Jessica isn’t so bad, especially when she’s talking about Kilimanjaro, but Taylor, I mean, she’s a baby. And I’m sorry, but JT’s tux doesn’t fit nearly as well as mine, and it’s shiny, so it shows.”

She snickered. “Meow, Sven.”

He grinned. “How’s yours?”

“No one worth talking to,” she said with a shrug.

Sven winced. “So have you been getting the same texts I’ve been getting?”

“Probably,” she said, pulling her phone out of her gold clutch. “About the street party Tianna’s throwing? I don’t know, should we go?”

“Well, Ralph’s gone, Calvin’s gone, and I know I’d rather be playing pool downtown with them than hanging around up here. But my er.. date? She’s gotta work the room so…”

“Date? Really Sven? That’s like bringing take away to a buffet. Come on ditch her and let’s go,” she said, downing the rest of her drink in one gulp.

“I love you Florica,” Sven said. “But honestly? I can’t just go.”

*****

“Go where?” Elmira’s voice behind him startled Sven.

“Huh? Oh nowhere. Florica and I were just discussing a street party.”

“Small world.” Elmira said giving Florica the up and down.

“Don’t tell me this is your date Sven?” Florica said with a laugh.

“Date? No Sven and I aren’t on a date. For that to happen we would have had to be in the vicinity of each other at some point during the night,” Elmira said. She was wearing a coat Sven hadn’t seen before. And she sounded pissed.

“Elmira,” Sven began but she stepped back out of range of his reaching hand and smiled bitterly.

“You know you should go with Florica to that street party or whatever. I told you I need to go rest and I think I’m getting a migraine already so just go okay? I’ll take the car back to my hotel.”

“But I brought you here. At least let me get you back to-“

“No need,” Elmira said stepping further away. “I already called the car. Have fun.”

She whirled around and walked away.

“Whoa. That girl always was high maintenance.” Florica said.

“How do you know her?” Sven asked still watching her go.

“We were in the same sorority. She’s a bit of a crazy bi*ch. You’re well shot of her. Come on let’s get out of here.”

Sven hesitated. He felt like he should follow Elmira; maybe apologize. But for what though? He’d just been sitting here, not doing anything and she’d come over all mad at him. What gave her the right? It wasn’t like they were officially dating or anything. And even if they were, he still hadn’t done a thing wrong.

“Yeah. Let’s go.” He said to Florica.

*****

There was a taxi dropping someone off right at the door when Elmira stepped out so she rushed over and got in, giving the address of her hotel. She didn’t even know why she was so mad at Sven. Maybe it had something to do with the way Florica was draped all over him like some sort of possessive vine. Or the fact that he hadn’t exactly been pushing her away. Not that Elmira felt she had the right to demand that he do that but…yeah. It pissed her off.

Before she knew it they had arrived at the hotel. She paid the driver then flounced off as if Sven was watching. He wasn’t though. He was at some party with that fame sl*t Florica.

Elmira punched the elevator button like it had done her some personal wrong, hoping that Sascha had taken her ho-ness off to her socialite’s hotel so Elmira could fume in peace. No such luck. They were making out in the lounge.

“Hi. Bye.” Elmira said as she blew past. She thought Sascha might have said something but she’d already slammed her door and locked it, divesting herself of clothes on her way to the bath. She needed a nice long soak and then at least eight hours of sleep. After that, she could deal with whatever.

*****

Elmira was almost asleep when Sven came into her room, which was a surprise, given that a) she’d actually locked the door and b) he was supposed to be at some street party. She heard him undressing, but she didn’t turn over to see. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to him, just that she didn’t know what was happening exactly and the minute she turned around, her peace of mind would probably be over. Maybe that made her a coward, but she didn’t care. She thought that Sascha must have let him in; and since it was totally his move, she was gonna lie here and feign sleep for as long as possible.

He sagged, gasping for air; this time when he put his hands on her shoulders, it was while he was in the process of collapsing onto her, guiding himself down so that he didn’t just flop down bonelessly.