In the grand tradition of cheering up my heart-shattered friend Maria, no one was better at it, than Louie. Louie flew back into town, the day after our horse mishap, and every night, after eight, he would take Maria out. And far from over the aftermath of dismantling her once settled life, Maria happily accepted his invitation. Wearing an Arrow-brand shirt from Kohl's and Hugo Boss cologne, Louie made quite an entrance with Maria on his arm. They cruised around town, eating at all the four-star restaurants and dancing at clubs where the dancers wore two-stars.
Hanging out with Louie was exactly what Maria needed to help get her mind off Ray. After being down and out, Louie was the well-timed, little shot of insulin that Maria needed. Which of course, didnt bother me at all, except for one thing.
Two years ago, Maria and Louie used to work together at the same car dealership. No sparks flew between the two co-workers, but Louie did take an immediate intrest in Maria. So, he did what any red-blooded American guy would do. He asked her out. And being the single and sweet girl who just couldnt say no, Maria went out on a date with him. Unfortunately, Louie's wish of making Maria his girlfriend didnt come true, and being the true gentleman that he was, he took a step back and remained a close and peronal confidant. But with Ray out of the picture and Louie stepping in, I wondered if maybe old feelings had resurfaced.
Sunday afternoon, Maria asked me to come along with her to dinner. Louie had made a killer sale at the dealership and was in the mood to celebrate. But not knowing all his friends, Maria asked me to tag along for company and conversation. Of course, she ended up being twenty minutes late to the Diamond Agave, which meant I had to have, what I like to call, the awkward-acquaintance chit-chat. That talk you have with the friend of a friend in hopes that the only reason you have to hang out with them, is for the sake of a good party or a good alibi.
LOUIE: David...you're good friends with Maria, right?
ME: Uh, yeah, I guess. Why?
LOUIE: Does she like me?
ME: Dude...I dont know. I never really asked her.
The truth was, that was a lie. I had asked Maria about Louie before, and she told me, that when she saw thought about her future, she never saw someone like Louie sharing it with her. The person she saw sharing her future was someone who looked like Ray. To Maria, Ray was Marlon Brando, the early years, while Louie was Marlon Brando, the Cannoli years.
LOUIE: Because I'm thinking of asking her to come with me to Rocky Point.
Rocky Point, a hop, skip and a jump away from Tucson to a city where the 25-cent pina coladas made you hop, skip, and jump into hook-up haven. And if that's where Louie was headed, I knew his whole "friendship" with Maria was headed into some dangerous territory. Maria had originally asked for time off, to travel with Ray to the Grand Canyon, but when her relationship fell apart, she thought her plans did as well. But there was Louie, flyin' in and tryin' to save the day. But while eating my wok charred salmon, I knew Maria didnt want to be saved.
MARIA: David, I think I have to stop hanging out with Louie.
ME: Why?
MARIA: I think he's getting the wrong impression. He keeps buying me stuff.
ME: Yeah, presents totally ruin my day too.
MARIA: Shut up. No, I mean, I feel bad that he's treating me out to all this nice stuff and not expecting anything back. Isnt that weird?
ME: Well...honestly, yeah. Just a little. And I think it's cuz he likes you.
MARIA: Yeah, but we've talked about this before. I told him I'm not looking for anything right now. He's nice and all, but I dont want to be his girlfriend.
Which makes me wonder...should I invite Maria to Disneyland, which would allow me not to go insane while hanging with my family and allow her to let Louie down easily? Or should I let Maria handle it all on her own, knowing that when it comes to matters of love, it's all fair?
Hanging out with Louie was exactly what Maria needed to help get her mind off Ray. After being down and out, Louie was the well-timed, little shot of insulin that Maria needed. Which of course, didnt bother me at all, except for one thing.
Two years ago, Maria and Louie used to work together at the same car dealership. No sparks flew between the two co-workers, but Louie did take an immediate intrest in Maria. So, he did what any red-blooded American guy would do. He asked her out. And being the single and sweet girl who just couldnt say no, Maria went out on a date with him. Unfortunately, Louie's wish of making Maria his girlfriend didnt come true, and being the true gentleman that he was, he took a step back and remained a close and peronal confidant. But with Ray out of the picture and Louie stepping in, I wondered if maybe old feelings had resurfaced.
Sunday afternoon, Maria asked me to come along with her to dinner. Louie had made a killer sale at the dealership and was in the mood to celebrate. But not knowing all his friends, Maria asked me to tag along for company and conversation. Of course, she ended up being twenty minutes late to the Diamond Agave, which meant I had to have, what I like to call, the awkward-acquaintance chit-chat. That talk you have with the friend of a friend in hopes that the only reason you have to hang out with them, is for the sake of a good party or a good alibi.
LOUIE: David...you're good friends with Maria, right?
ME: Uh, yeah, I guess. Why?
LOUIE: Does she like me?
ME: Dude...I dont know. I never really asked her.
The truth was, that was a lie. I had asked Maria about Louie before, and she told me, that when she saw thought about her future, she never saw someone like Louie sharing it with her. The person she saw sharing her future was someone who looked like Ray. To Maria, Ray was Marlon Brando, the early years, while Louie was Marlon Brando, the Cannoli years.
LOUIE: Because I'm thinking of asking her to come with me to Rocky Point.
Rocky Point, a hop, skip and a jump away from Tucson to a city where the 25-cent pina coladas made you hop, skip, and jump into hook-up haven. And if that's where Louie was headed, I knew his whole "friendship" with Maria was headed into some dangerous territory. Maria had originally asked for time off, to travel with Ray to the Grand Canyon, but when her relationship fell apart, she thought her plans did as well. But there was Louie, flyin' in and tryin' to save the day. But while eating my wok charred salmon, I knew Maria didnt want to be saved.
MARIA: David, I think I have to stop hanging out with Louie.
ME: Why?
MARIA: I think he's getting the wrong impression. He keeps buying me stuff.
ME: Yeah, presents totally ruin my day too.
MARIA: Shut up. No, I mean, I feel bad that he's treating me out to all this nice stuff and not expecting anything back. Isnt that weird?
ME: Well...honestly, yeah. Just a little. And I think it's cuz he likes you.
MARIA: Yeah, but we've talked about this before. I told him I'm not looking for anything right now. He's nice and all, but I dont want to be his girlfriend.
Which makes me wonder...should I invite Maria to Disneyland, which would allow me not to go insane while hanging with my family and allow her to let Louie down easily? Or should I let Maria handle it all on her own, knowing that when it comes to matters of love, it's all fair?
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