Free Inner Circle by Evelyn Lozada Page B

with a side of asparagus, lightly seasoned, with a large iced-green tea, yet Nadia insisted on having the waitress recite the selection of specials anyway.
    Eve laughed out loud as the waitress took her mother’s usual order as well as her Ahi Tuna salad request.
    “Why are you laughing?” Nadia asked as she placed her napkin on her lap.
    “You do this every time, Ma. You make the waitress go through all of that, only to order the same thing. Why do you even bother?” Eve joked.
    “You never know when I may hear something that prompts me to change.”
    “The day you change is probably the day the world comes to an end.” Eve took a long swig from her plum martini.
    “I’ll have you know, the last time I came here, I ordered the swordfish,” Nadia stated proudly.
    “Let me guess. Before they filled the order, you had the server cancel it and bring you the salmon, right?” Eve stated matter-of-factly.
    “Stop acting like you know me,” Nadia laughed out loud. “The fact remains, I ordered something new. Baby steps, mija . . .”
    “I hear you, Ma.” Eve joined in her mother’s laughter. “How’s the store doing?”
    “Well, you should stop by and pick out some things for yourself instead of having me send you boxes of new clothes every month.”
    “What are you complaining about? You know me and the other wives are some of your best customers. You’re racking up five to ten grand a month on me alone. Not to mention the eBay store you’ve got set up on all things I wear once then return to you.”
    “You’re not the only savvy businesswoman, you know.”
    “I’m not knocking your hustle, Ma,” Eve laughed out loud. “I want you to do well. Actually, I’m really proud of you.” Eve placed her hand on top of her mother’s.
    “I’m doing all right. Can’t complain. At least not about work anyway.” Nadia took a sip of her iced-green tea.
    “Well, you look great, Ma. You seeing anyone?” Eve cringed as soon as the question departed from her mouth. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
    Nadia pursed her lips and dusted her neatly cut honey-colored bangs with her fingers. “It’s okay. Yes, actually, I am seeing someone. Three months now.”
    There was an awkward silence between them. Eve waited for an invitation to further explore the conversation, especially since Nadia had made painfully clear during her last visit to not ask about her love life since any and all comments regarding Eve and Chase’s relationship was off-limits.
    “You seem happy, is all. I’m glad you found someone.”
    “No, I’m glad the right man found me, ” Nadia corrected.
    Eve took a deep breath trying hard to fight the urge to say what was really on her mind. She tasted a small trickle of blood in her mouth as she chewed the inside of her cheek so hard that it broke the skin.
    “What is that supposed to mean? So now, Chase is not a good guy?” Eve snapped.
    “Who said anything about Chase?” Nadia snapped back. “You asked me about me.”
    “And yet you always manage to throw jabs at my marriage. What the hell kind of comment is that, Ma? No, a good man found you . . .”
    Nadia chuckled. “Every time, mija . Every time you find offense with my words. I don’t need to throw jabs at you. You’ve already made your choice. I couldn’t stop you then, and I’m not trying to influence you now.”
    “It’s always my fault, huh, Ma?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ev. I haven’t said anything about you. If you’re feeling a certain way, than that’s on you. But don’t go ruining my happy moment because you apparently have issues.”
    “Chase and I are fine. We just celebrated five fabulous years of marriage together,” Eve boasted.
    “Great,” Nadia said dryly.
    “Unbelievable!” Eve shouted, causing stares from a few curious onlookers.
    Nadia looked around and smiled politely at the handful of guests looking their way. “What is your problem?” she managed to say between clenched