Page 79 of Lorenzo

“Hahaha. Very funny.”

“What’s the occasion?”

I consider the possibilities. Angie’s right. Busy Made Men like Lorenzo don’t take their wives to lunch for just any old reason.

“I’m not sure,” I tell her, stalling for time.

My deepest hope is that he found my birthday is later this week, and wants to kick it off with an early lunch celebration.

But how would he know my birthday is coming?

Quite possibly, he was thinking about what we shared last night. And wanted to cement our relationship with a lunch.

But I can’t tell Angie that. If I did, I’d have too many questions to answer.

“Who knows why Lorenzo invited me? Maybe to show me off. He sent me a dress he had Antoine select at Saks.”

What’s the occasion?”

“Show it to me!”

I look at the large pink box with the black ribbon sitting on the bed. I’ve wondered what was inside all morning.

“What are you waiting for? Open it, already!”

“I can’t. Lorenzo told me I couldn’t look at it until I was at the club.”

“Then how are you supposed to put it on?”

“Antoine will be arriving any moment now to assist.”

“Please, Em. You’ve got my curiosity going. Open the damn box!”

“I told you, I can’t.”

“You said that you can’t look. Nothing about me taking a peek.”

I indulge Angie but look away as I snap a picture of the dress inside, then replace the box top.

“Now tell me what’s inside,” I demand.

“Like you said. ‘A dress,’” she says with a giggle.

Now she has me nervous.

“Not for me to tell. It’s a surprise, right? Call me when lunch is over,” she says, disconnecting.

Antoine arrives a few minutes later to help with the dress.

“You didn’t peek, did you?”

“No. Of course not.”

And I didn’t, though I was burning with curiosity. Especially after Angie’s reaction.

“Well, let’s get you wrapped.”

“Wrapped?” What does that mean?”