See you in St. Tropez

“Well…. we talked about having dinner, just three of us, right?”

“Elly, don’t be weird. Do I have to get lost when guys call me asking where I am at? Or ignore them when they come to say hi?”

“I’m not talking about your guys…. tell me, what are THEY doing here?” Elly quietly hissed.

“Well…they’re with D.”

“Right. When I heard David’s gonna be here too, I almost threw up.”

“Siri, I am proud of you didn’t,” Vlad burst into loud laughter.

“Honestly, that David of yours is the source of all problems. I’ve never even seen someone that fat. Even if I looked hard enough I wouldn’t probably find anyone like that.”

“Why look then? He’s one of the kind and you’ve found him already. Everyone knows D. He can solve any issue, right bro?” Vlad spoke loudly now addressing a chubby guy with a silly smile who had just approached the table behind Elly. Don’t be fooled, his silly smile was paired with sharp, intense, and calculating gaze.

“Sure, bro… you just let me know and I’ll fix it,” the chubby guy was spitting saliva as he spoke with his usual lisp. “Elly, Eva! Hi girls, looking good tonight.”

“Hi dear,” I tried my best to smile.

I didn’t despise David the way Elly did. In fact, I was quite indifferent to his or his friends presence. I was quite entertained watching them interact.

“Yo D! Here’s the thing. Elly was just saying you lost weight. And some muscles going for you. She’s been thinking of you all the time and wondered why you didn’t notice that. She’d love a date night.” Vlad was laughing once again having winked at bewildered David who was now smiling in a silly way, but now looking directly at Elly.

“Vlad! Are you forgetting to take your meds? You shouldn’t skip.” Trying her best to make indifferent look, Elly replied and took her electronic cigarette out of the red silk purse. “Oh, now I AM gonna be sick for real,” she whispered to me.

“He’s looking at you now… “I whispered back. “I think he didn’t get it… that Vlad was actually joking.”

“Fuck. I don’t even wanna smoke now.”

“A good opportunity to quit. Let’s call it David Effect.” I could barely contain the laughter that was filling me up.

“Still looking?”

“Who? David… or the handsome billionaire?”

“Oh, right. I forgot all about him because of these freaks.”

“Well… the billionaire isn’t. He’s looking, but at our laughing guys now.”

“Here we go. I’m so done. They’ve ruined it.”

“What have they ruined? There was nothing to ruin in the first place.” I laughed.

“But there could have been! They’re killing the game.”

“What can I say: c’est la vie.” I shrugged my shoulders. “But if this will make you feel better, David is still looking at you like a big crazy-in-love cat.”

“Shut up, will you?”

“No way!” a wave of laughter was growing in me.

“I’m begging you!” Elly herself was on the verge of laugher.

She was sitting with her side to David and looked stunning her dress that reached all the way to the floor. The long slit revealed her incredible sexy legs. Of course, she had stroke a pose initially to attract the attention of the handsome billionaire, but the pose seemed to backfire having drawn David.

“He’s eating you with his eyes…” I tried to be careful and not to look at David directly. “He’s drooling now.”

“So disgusting,” Elly closed her eyes. “He’s horrid. You know his managed to talk his parents into buying his ex – that bag of bones – a used Bentley”.

“I know who you mean… be quiet please.”

“Well… I know, to each their own, but still… but how could anyone sleep with him for a used Bentley? No one could fall that low. She must have a zero self-love or respect. You know, one thing…. when you hook up with a friend, drunk. Then we’d be talking about poor taste. And everyone has different tastes anyway…”

“So smart of you, I’m writing it down…” I giggled.

“So, she conned this tub of lard, and dumped him. Left him crying into the pillow, drinking and feeling worthless…

“So…?

“So, what?”

“What are you trying to say? If memory serves me correctly, I have seen it and heard all about it. It was actually me who told you all that.”

“Are you sure?” asked Elly jokingly. “Relax, I’m just messing with you.”

By then the restaurant was packed. On Friday evenings every table featured a company of very rich and influential men – much like the one Elly seemed to be obsessed about that evening. Most of them were accompanied by younger girls, however it was the kind of work that they engaged in that added a few extra years to their looks. Our table was good. It may have been not the best one, but considering the hierarchy of people who were present, we occupied a decent level.

“Hey Google, Chunky wants your number. Your dress slit overloaded what’s left of his brain… take my advice…”

“NO!”

“…go on a date with him, you have a chance he’ll stick around. He may even give you a beat up ‘Rolls’ He’s into non-conventional personalities, such as…”

“Are you serious? Did you just compare me with that bag of bones of his?”

It was then that Vlad realized he may have gone too far. He was raised by a good father and knew the difference between decent lady and a whore. He knew better not to mix one with another.

“Sorry, boo. My bad. I’m really really very sorry. Don’t get mad, Elly babe.”

“Vlad… how could I be mad with someone who’s clearly mentally challenged?”

“You’re such a bitch, though. Poor, poor David,” Vlad rolled his eyes.

“I think we’ll be on our way.”

“What?” Vlad couldn’t hide his surprise. “What’s up? Eva, you too?”

“Of course me too. You want me to stay here alone. You know all the things they’ll come up with to talk about tomorrow.”