Nicky and Royce knocked off work early. Nicky was in town looking at a new packing system for his coffee company. Royce was shopping for a seaplane. As always, Royce had a girl in every port and today’s port was San Diego. Tiff worked as a Big Four Public Accountant and installed IT systems in banks. Her roommate Amber owned an art gallery. While Tiff spent much of her childhood and college years in the Midwest, Amber left Southern California only once in her life except for annual vacations to Maui.
“Hey wild man, are we getting together tonight?” Tiff asked answering her cell phone.
“How does dinner at El Nidos in Rosarita Beach sound?” Royce asked.
“Oooh tropical garden, waterfalls, candlelit patio, since when did you get so romantic?”
“You know that you’ve cast your spell on me,” Royce said.
“So I have. Hey, is that sweet guy Nicky Blade still hanging around with you?”
“Yep, he’s standing right here.”
“How about I bring someone for him?” Tiff asked.
“Grab your passports girls, we’ll be there in an hour.”
The four drove the I5 to Tijuana and bought some insurance at a drive through. They cut through town to pick up the Transpeninsular Highway. From there they found Benito Juarez Boulevard and Playas de Rosarito.
“Good to see you again, Señor Royce,” Hector Maximano the owner of El Nido said shaking Royce’s hand. “And you Miss Tiffany are looking gorgeous as ever.”
“Flattery will only get you a bigger tip,” Tiff said.
“Hector, these are our friends Nicky and Amber,” Royce said.
“Please to meet you. Shall I bring you a menu?
“No we’re here for the lobster, rice and beans.” Royce said.
“And don’t forget a pitcher margaritas and a bucket of Dos XX,” Tiff said.
“Very good, this is the most romantic spot I have,” Hector said pulling out each chair for the ladies.
After a few margaritas the conversation strayed away from art and the banking bailouts to more personal talk. Nicky mentioned he lived in Cincinnati a short time.
“Hector calls these pitchers liquid gold,” Royce said as he topped off Amber’s drink.
“I was in Cincinnati once,” Amber said taking a sip.
“Really, where in Cincy?” Nicky asked.
“Well not Cincinnati but close to it.”
“Close like Indianapolis?”
“Where?” Amber asked.
“You know where they have the Indy 500 and the Indianapolis Colts, two time Super Bowl champs.”
“Oh yeah, no but close.”
“Close like Chicago?” Royce asked
“No, no, no, my family was on vacation in Butte, Montana,” Amber said shaking her head in disbelief.
“Wow, just drive 24 hours and your downtown Cincinnati,” Royce muttered to Nicky.
“Interesting,” Nicky said covering the smile on his face with his hand.
“Good thing she’s knock dead gorgeous to offset her lack of knowledge about US geography,” Royce whispered to Nicky.
“You know what I saw today as I walked past a tourist store?” Tiff asked the group. “One of those posters where you’re standing on a San Diego beach and the Statue of Liberty is at the other end of the country with nothing in-between.”
“I’ve never really understood that poster.” Amber said giggling and holding her empty glass up so Royce could see. “Nicky, are we spending the night here?”
I can worry about geography for both of us, Nicky thought.
