#83: The News About Rafael ('That Guy')

Alice was enjoying making herself dinner,

when there was a knock at the door.

"Sorry to come over so late," Peter said, opening the door, "but I saw the light on, and I know Dude's working tonight, so I figured you were up."

"Yeah, I slept for a few hours late afternoon, but woke up starving.  I guess that's what they mean by 'eating for two.'  Want some food?" Alice asked him.

"Sure," he said.  He sat down at the table, and Alice brought them over a couple of plates.

"So, how are you feeling?" Peter asked.

"I'm good," Alice assured him.  "The endless throwing up is pretty much over, and I'm getting a lot of sleep.  And Dude's being really supportive."

"I ran into 'That Guy' today," Peter told her.  "At the gym.  He told me he bought a house here in Willow Creek."

"Jeebus," Alice exhaled, disgusted.  "Why the hell does he have to live HERE???  He's got all the money in the world--he could live anywhere."

"He asked to look at my paintings," Peter said.  "It seems he needs a lot of art for his new house.  I'll say no if you want," Peter offered.

"Well, I don't want you to have to give up money," Alice said.  "And Rafael's sure got a lot of it to spend, so you might as well get some of it."

"Yeah, you KNOW it's pretty expensive to support Lou in the manner she enjoys!" Peter laughed.

_______________

Lou got home from working late.  "So, how was your day?" she asked Peter.

He sighed.  "Well, here's the 'Reader's Digest Condensed Version'--I ran into Rafael at the gym; he told me he bought some immense house here in Willow Creek; he wants to see my work and said he needs to buy a dozen or so paintings."

She paused.  "I would ask if you're kidding, but I think I know you well enough at this point to know that you're not," she said.

"Oh, and, by the way," he added, in mock casualness, "Derek told me this morning that Rafael is now dating Zoe Patel--because Derek and Kelly (and Alice and Dude) ran into them at the Solar Flare Lounge on Thursday."

"WTF???" Lou asked.

*******************************

Custom content credits--thanks to:

SIms4Krampus for Alice's dress

SaudadeSims for the kitchen curtains

Bettyboopjade for Lou's sweater and blouse

fairywitch for Lou's shoes

(Peter's outfit in post #82)

#82: The Camping Honeymoon, Part 3

"Okay," Bill said, as they stood in front of the entrance to the secret lot.  "Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

"Wow!" Bill exclaimed, once he and Regina had fought their way through the brambles and emerged on the other side of the cave.  "This is definitely not scary AT ALL!!!"

They found a garden encircled by rocks a short distance away.

"Too bad nothing's ready to harvest yet," Regina observed.

_______________

"Okay, this looks like it's my stop!" Bill announced, as they came upon a glorious waterfall.

"I'm going to look around a bit," Regina told him.

But Regina found only Jewel Beetles,

so went back to fish with Bill, and caught enough fish to satisfy the first stage of her new "Outdoor Enthusiast" aspiration.

After an hour, she went out to look for more bugs.

 She got lucky and found the Walking Stick insects,

 then kept going east with her head down, scanning the ground for more bugs.

She was therefore surprised when she suddenly came upon a small house.

 No one seemed to be home, so she circled the house, admiring the gardens.

Once darkness fell, she got lucky and found the elusive Will O' The Wisp.

_______________

Back at their campsite, Bill asked her, "So, this was a pretty good day for you, right?"

"It was PERFECT," Regina answered.  "Just like every day of this vacation."

"We don't have to go back home tomorrow, you know," he suggested.  "We COULD extend our honeymoon."

"I know," she sighed as she sat down to eat.  "And I LOVE it here.  But I want to go home--we can always come back.  Maybe with all our friends, as you suggested the other day."

"And, honestly," she continued, "I'd like to get back to Alice, to support her before she gives birth.  Because a pregnant woman needs her friends around."  She regarded Bill carefully.

"Whatever you want, babe," he said, enthusiastically digging into his plate of roasted fish.  "Anything's fine with me."

"Besides," she said slyly, "I just MIGHT be pregnant.  And, even if I'm not, I'm frankly tired of throwing up in the bushes here...."

***************************

Custom content credits: Bill's vest and henley in post #78

#81: Rafael and Zoe, That Evening

"Rafael, what is this delicious drink?" Nina asked.

"It is called 'Love Potion #4'," he answered, very pleased with himself.

"Well, it's working!" she said.

_______________

After his enjoyable afternoon interlude with Nina Caliente, Rafael headed to the gym for a workout.

(He had changed into his athletic attire at home, as opposed to changing in the very public locker room, because Rafael was an internationally known Latin soap opera star, and he didn't want any "unfortunate" photos going viral over the internet.)

He was disappointed that there were no women in the gym,

so took a machine next to a guy on a treadmill.

"You are Peter, correct?" Rafael asked after a few minutes.  (Though he hadn't actually "met" Peter, the latter had been at Bill and Regina's house when Rafael first showed up there to talk to Alice.)

Peter looked over his shoulder briefly.  "That's right," he said.

"And you are a painter, correct?"  Rafael asked.  (Rafael had had the same private investigator he'd used to find Alice investigate all of her friends.)

"Also right," Peter answered.

"Well, I have recently bought a very large home in this town, and I need a great deal of art.  May I see some of your work?"

"Okaaaay," Peter responded, though he wondered if that might cause problems with any of his friends.

_______________

Zoe returned to Rafael's in the early evening, after the luxurious day at the spa that he had arranged for her.

"Corazon!" he exclaimed.  "You look marvelous!  Clearly this day at the spa has been good for you."

"And you should ALWAYS wear your hair off your face!" Rafael insisted.  "Your bone structure is so exquisite that it should never be hidden!"

"Oh, Rafael!" she cried.  "You say the sweetest things!"

_______________

The two moved to Rafael's bar.  "This is scrumptious!" Zoe said.

"It's called 'Cupid Juice'!" Rafael informed her. 

"Corazon," he said as he looked deeply into her eyes, "I would like you to stay here tonight.  In your own room, which I will give you.  And then, tomorrow, I would like to send you shopping, to buy any clothes and jewelry you wish."
_______________

Rafael led Zoe upstairs to the second floor.

 "And you have your own bathroom.  Please get a good night's sleep, and I will see you in the morning."

*************************

Custom content credits--thanks to:


Babele for Peter's T-shirt

kmercer1 for Peter's shorts

NataliS for Zoe's nails