Opening night, I surveyed every inch of VERT like a new mother examining her newborn. I had to admit, the deeper paint color anchored everything else. It turned out even better than I had hoped. Henry and Griffin’s bar menu sizzled and introduced nuance. I accepted that a beautiful restaurant wouldn’t be anything without offering clever and interesting dishes. Reggie and Elle had texted big well wishes and sent flowers to the restaurant. I was there when the arrangement arrived. I set it on the bar. I had handpicked my own arrangement for the hostess stand to complement the colors in the design. We had invited a number of special guests, including Annabel. I hoped she would bring her husband. I was dying to meet “Mr. Monroe,” as she referred to him. I couldn’t even remember his first name anymore.

I had gone home about three o’clock to shower and change. I was wearing my salmon dress to complement the new VERT. It was part of the Elliott collection. I heard Griffin also getting ready.

“Griffin? I need to see you before we head out,” I called. I had purchased two gifts for him to commemorate the night. I just couldn’t decide which to give him first. He came out with a towel wrapped around his waist. It took all of my willpower to stay put.

“I’m not impervious to you either,” I said, hoping he would stand there just a little while longer.

“Good. As you can see, I’m not wearing a checkbook.” I blushed. “Just remember to breathe, Bae.” He then threw the towel at me to reveal his full-frontal tattoo in addition to other parts of his anatomy. I tried to breathe while snatching glances at him. He returned to his bedroom to finish getting ready.

He strolled back out in dress slacks and an open-neck shirt and his favorite sport coat. My gifts were on the table. “Why didn’t you tell me you had presents?” He surveyed the two gifts. One was in a square box and the other a tie box. “You think I should wear a tie tonight?” he asked, picking it up first. “I would be a little overdressed for a bartender.”

“A mixologist,” I corrected. “And you can open the other one first if you want.” So he did. It was a coffee mug. The kind he liked. I had special ordered it in green with his initial “G” in white in the VERT font. I could tell he loved it. “I’ll use it tonight. This is so thoughtful.”

“Don’t worry. I ordered two dozen for you. There are a dozen mugs here and the rest at the restaurant.”