Chapter 2: Friend

By Ramiro I was

finally able to take a few days off.

I really do have a lot of work— I’m a doctor and the owner of three clinics. I love practicing medicine, which is why—even though I’m the CEO of all three clinics—my friend and partner, David, handles the administrative side and management meetings. He’s also a doctor, but unlike me, he doesn’t like our profession; that’s why, so as not to be left out of certain business matters, he studied business administration.

David is a minority partner, but a partner nonetheless, and I have complete confidence in his work.

I’ve been staying at my brother’s house for a few years now. He came here on vacation with some friends and met Karen, his wife; he fell head over heels in love with her. At first, he would come and go between our country and here, but then she got pregnant, and Facundo decided to settle here. He works in the import and export of pharmaceutical products and highly complex machinery—in other words, he’s also in the medical field, although he left his medical career behind to focus on the more commercial side of medicine.

He’s doing very well financially, but I can’t complain—my clinics have agreements with the top private healthcare companies, and that means many millions in my bank account.

I decide to head to the beach. My nephews are taking a nap—they’re still little, and their schedules aren’t very flexible, especially with Tomy, who’s barely a year old. Matías is three years old; I was about to take him with me to the beach—we’re not far, just three blocks away— but since I’m not very present in his life, I thought he might start crying or ask for his mother as soon as we set foot on the sand, so I decided to go alone.

Facundo is right about one thing: these beaches are wonderful; the water is warmer, and the sand is much lighter and cleaner.

I was about to settle in near the cliffs when I spotted a stunning woman sunbathing. She was alone, though I watched her for a few minutes, just in case she had company and had stepped away for a moment.

I looked at her and found myself captivated by her body—it’s rare for someone to make such an impression on me.

As a doctor, I see a lot of naked bodies, and they don’t usually catch my attention, but this woman drew me in in a different way.

She was slim, but she had perfect curves.

I decided to approach her.

I settled down next to her and casually struck up a conversation with her.

She was young—maybe 24 or 25—and later she told me she was 25.

Of course, I wasn’t far off; she was much more striking, and her face was a work of art.

When she sat up, she looked at me and smiled; her smile sent me to heaven.

I loved talking to her, and it seemed she was both working and studying. I wanted to ask her what she was studying, but I didn’t want to come across as pushy or make it seem like I was interrogating her.

She didn’t give me any clues that would let me figure out what she did for a living.

After a while, I invited her to dinner. She seemed to hesitate, but finally told me she had plans.

I’d gone out without my cell phone, and I really regretted it, because I would have liked to save her number. Of course, I could have memorized it, but I decided to ask her if she went to that beach often so I could see her the next day.

I had a very enjoyable afternoon, although I tried not to let my gaze wander over her body, because the vibe she gave off was too powerful—something emanated from her body or her soul, I don’t know—that was driving me crazy; I felt like that woman had cast a spell on me.

I was dying to taste her lips; I felt like it was a spark about to ignite me and burn me alive.

I was truly spellbound.

Finally, the afternoon came to an end, and I insisted that we meet the next day at that same spot and managed to get her to agree to have dinner with me the following night.

I didn’t want to come across as a lapdog—I’d only known her for a few hours—but that’s how I felt.

She’s definitely a woman like no other.

Rocío stood up, and I couldn’t help but look at her longingly; I’ve been trying to control myself ever since I saw her, and I don’t understand what’s happening to me.

We left the beach together, and when we reached an avenue a block away, she hurriedly said goodbye.

Apparently, she was going to dinner at a friend’s house; as she told me, even though they were very close, they didn’t see each other very often.

That makes sense—Rocío lives in another country.

When she’d taken a few steps away, I finally turned and watched her walk off. She was wearing a simple, fairly sheer sundress; underneath, she had on a black bikini that looked spectacular on her. Her gait was calm, and I went absolutely wild as my eyes lingered on her butt.

I’m a grown man, and yet I couldn’t completely control my erection, which stirred on its own inside my swim trunks.

When I arrived at my brother’s house, my nephews ran over to greet me.

I felt immense joy, and that made me think that maybe I was too lonely back home.

It’s true that I didn’t have a set schedule and that I spent a lot of time away from home—more than necessary—but that’s because I didn’t have much to do at home.

Seeing my brother’s home made me realize that I longed for a family, but I understand that that’s also hard to achieve.

I’m not an easy man, and no woman in particular drives me wild—even though today’s blonde had me going crazy.

Maybe I’ll never see her again, because if she didn’t show up the next day, I’d have no way of tracking her down, so I’d have to get her out of my head.

I’m not an impulsive man; I wouldn’t jump into the deep end for anyone, because even if I do see that woman again, it’s possible that after two or three dates, I’ll no longer find her interesting.

Maybe that’s why I’m still single—I’m very picky, and no woman quite wins me over.

I’m talking about something serious—a relationship or marriage.

Because, in reality, I have company many nights, but when I leave for work, I politely ask them to leave.

I make that clear from the start—I don’t want women who try to take over my life. I’m an excellent catch, and many are just after what’s in it for them.

I guess the day the right one comes along, I’ll realize it. There must be someone out there who’s just right for me.

—

“Hey, brother-in-law, you took a while.”—“That’s

true; I got caught up talking to a girl.”—

“That’s my brother!

” Facundo cheers.—“Don’t

get too excited—I’m planning to talk to my friend today!

” says Karen, my sister-in-law. “Your

friend?

” I ask, because I don’t know what she’s talking about. “I invited

my best friend over for dinner. I’ve wanted them to meet for years, but their schedules never lined up.

I can already tell this is going to be a boring dinner, but it’s her house, and she has every right to invite whoever she wants.” “Is she still

in town?

” My brother asks, and I assume he’s talking about his wife’s friend.—

Yes, I think she’s going to stay a couple more weeks; her father isn’t in very good health, and she’s pretty worried.—

You’re right; I saw him the other day, and he looked pretty run-down.—

Poor guy, I feel so bad for him,

Karen replies.

I’m waiting for them to ask me for medical advice, but they don’t.

Apparently, he’s a man whom both my sister-in-law and my brother care about deeply.

The housekeeper sets the table for four; by now, the kids have already had dinner, and the youngest is about to fall asleep any minute.

Matías is wide awake and asks his mother if it’ll be much longer before he gets to see his aunt.

He’s referring to Karen’s friend.

It’s strange that I don’t know her, because if she lives in town, we must have crossed paths at some point.

Karen has several friends, but the ones I’ve met so far are married, and the ones who aren’t never caught my attention.

I took a shower, and while I was in there, remembering the blonde from the beach, my penis got hard all on its own.

I’d never before gotten so turned on just by thinking about a woman—practically a stranger.

It was even likely I’d never see her again.

I tried to get over it and stop thinking about that body that had set my imagination ablaze.

I got dressed in a hurry, because it was actually pretty late, and my sister-in-law’s guest would be arriving any minute.

It seems disrespectful to me to be taking a shower when guests arrive.