Destination Wedding

Dominic has not had a bad Corona all week; it is amazing how much better the beer gets when you order it in its country of origin.

"Props to the owners for not changing the name after COVID. Fucking ballsy," Dominic says to the bartender as he gulps down his 57th “cerveza” of the week. "I mean this is incredible. First, of all, we all know Mexico has the best beer, and now to drink it, likely miles from where it is made! What an honor this is. I mean, it's all just incredible."

"What brings you into town, amigo?" asks the bartender.
"Friend's wedding. We all grew up together in Boston. So naturally he felt the need to have a wedding in Mexico."
"That's amazing amigo, weddings are so fun!"
"Eh, they're alright."

"You don't like weddings?"
"I love weddings. I almost love weddings too much. I'm the guy crying at weddings, usually, really embarrassing actually. Something about people willing to declare their love for the in front of the whole world...there is something so special about it." Dominic starts tearing up. "What I don't like is destination weddings. Like, fuck you for making me get on a plane for your fucking wedding!"

"Don't you like it here, amigo?"
"Oh, this place is the best! The beach, the ladies, the Coronas! Can't fucking get enough."

"So... what's there not to like?"
"Well mi Espanol es muy mal. And then there's her...."
"Oh, so there is a senorita for mi amigo. Muy bien!"

"Not muy bien at all. Me and the kid that's getting married grew up together, and this chick, let's call her Bella, she had these tits I mean you know like melons. By the time I graduated high school, I was so in love with her that it fucking hurt. The problem was she was so fucking hot, muy caliente, she could get whoever she wanted. And her little slutty self wanted all the guys not named me. But we were all friends, best friends even. We hung out all the time. So one day I decided that I was just going to tell her how I felt. You know all that fucking rom-com bull shit? I just went up to her, and told her that we should be together."

"And what did she say?"

"Turns out life is not a pelicula. Packed my bags and drove to LA the next day. Haven't talked to her since."

"Hombre, tu estan un romantic!"
"Me estan stupido! Muy stupido. Un idotia estan mi!

"Honestly, tu espanol es muy bien!"

"Gracias mi amigo, it gets better the more Coronas I drink. But the thing is, I haven't seen this chick since I was 18 years old.... until Saturday.”

"Ohhhhh, what are you going to do?"

"Drink more Coronas and hope it all works out."

"Can I have a Corona?" asks Dominic to the bartender at the wedding.
"Only Modelo amigo. "

"What."

"Modelo only."
"300 calories a fucking bottle," he mumbles under his breath. "What else you got?"

"Well, the specials tonight are the margarita and a Paloma."
"Ugh, margaritas give me heartburn. You have to understand me, senor, I've been drinking Corona all week. I don't think my body will accept anything else."

"Oh come on amigo, you are in Mexico! Drink some tequila. Tequila makes you feeeeeeel."
"I feeeeel too much already. But fine, Paloma me."
"I Paloma you and give you a ticket."

"I'm going to Paloma this Paloma right into my Paloma, you feel me, cowboy?"
"Que?"
"Don't worry about it."

Dominic grabs his Paloma and turns around to go enjoy cocktail hour. His heart nearly drops to the floor as Bella is right in his face.

"Dom! I saw you crying during the ceremony! So caytue!" says Bella as she squeezes his cheek.

"It takes a real man to cry like that."

"I couldn't agree more! You always were such a softie."

"Ohhhhhh. So, how are we?"
"Good! We are doing really well! How long has it been?!"

"15 years."
"15?! Wow has it been that long? So are you seeing anyone?"

The next morning Dom wakes up in haze. There is a smile on his face as Bella is still asleep. He wakes her up to go another round.

They both have flights to catch. They start getting dressed.

"Will you call me?" asks Bella.

"Call you for what?"
"Dom! Don't you think we should give it a shot now? I mean you were obsessed with me back in high school."

"No thanks."
"What!?"

"I mean no offense. You’re still smokin', and the sex was.... well ya know. I mean other than the Corona here, it was definitely one of the highlights of my trip..."
"DOM!"
"Okay fine, it will be the highlight of my trip. Hey, it might just be the highlight of my fucking life. But – and you have to hear me out here – you broke my heart in high school. Now, I don't blame you; at the time, I was not someone worth dating. But you breaking my heart set off a chain of events that has resulted in me being someone worth dating now."

"So why don't you date me now?"
"Because now everyone wants to date me! Back then, you didn't love me, but now I love myself. And when you love yourself, turns out most women love you."

Bella covers up her face.

"Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Bella reveals her face, she is smiling, laughing even.

"We're the fucking same!"

"What?"

"We're the fucking same! Life is so fucking ironic."

"Go on..."

She takes a breath.

"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"15 years ago, do you think I did the right thing?"

Dom has never thought of such a question. He is frozen.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think I did the right thing in turning you down?"

"Yes."

"Really?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I wasn't this version of myself. I was insecure and I had no game. You were right to turn me down."
"Do you really believe that?"
"Yes."

"Then why were you in love with me?"
"Everyone was in love with you."

"Everyone didn't profess their love. Why did you feel the need to put yourself out there? You wouldn't have done that unless you thought you had a shot, you had to think you had a shot, right?"

"Fine!"

"Fine, what?"

"You should have said yes! We were best fucking friends! You knew me better than anyone. You knew my dreams, you knew my potential, and you should have accepted my love, not walk away from it."

"Exactly, I made a mistake...and you are making the exact same one, 15 years later."

"Huh?"
"When I was hot shit, I turned down your true and honest love, and when you are hot shit you are turning down mine. Take it from someone who's been there, everyone might want to fuck you, but true love doesn't come around that often. That shit is rare."

With that Bella starts gathering her things, gets up, and starts to leave. Dom doesn't have any words left.

"You know where to find me if you change your mind," she says.

"What if I never do?"

"Then you never do."

She leaves.

Dominic proceeds to pack his things and check out of his hotel. He decides to kill some time at the hotel bar before his flight.

"Un Corona por favor."
"Ah hola amigo, how was the wedding?"

"Oh amigo, what can I say, I think I fell in amor all over again."