CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Jelly
The next couple of months flew by. I did my best to not be around Paolo at work. Every now and then, I had to be. There were times we worked the same surgery. There were times we were in the cafeteria at the same time. There were times a co-worker had a birthday party.
Then we had to be in the same orbit. It was easier if it was purely professional. It was easy for me to compartmentalize and perform a surgery or discuss a patient without letting any thoughts of what we’d been to each other sneak in. But the other times? That was harder.
It was always awkward when we were in a social situation. It seemed our eyes found each other like they were magnets constantly during those times. I’d usually hurry to leave as soon as I possibly could without being rude or making a scene of some kind.
Sometimes he tried to leave as soon as I did and walk out with me. I didn’t let that happen. Even if things turned weird. One time I’d already told everyone goodbye, realized he was trying to leave with me, and yelled out, “Did I say ‘bye? What I really meant was let’s cut that cake, am I right?”
Everyone had stopped and gaped at me. But Cleo seemed to sense my need and had my back. “Yeah, girl! Get the cake cutter and let’s get this party started.”
“You know it!” I danced over to her and did the robot while I cut the cake and started passing pieces out.
Was it mortifying? Hell, yes. I’ll never get the looks on my co-workers’ faces out of my mind. But at least I hadn’t had to walk down the hall alone with Paolo.
He got the picture pretty quickly. It wasn’t long before he backed off. If we were in the same place socially, he gave me my space and I gave him his. We almost never had to acknowledge each other’s existence. And that was how I wanted it to be.
Finally, it was the weekend of graduation.
I was going to walk in the ceremony. Carmen, Nadine, and Nia had talked me into it.
Daisy and Jack were even flying to town for it, which was super nice considering they’d come just a couple of weeks ago to see me get awards at the hospital gala.
I’d had to get tickets for all the Cinnamon House girls, and I readied myself for comments about how hot my friends all were.
Well, that and why the mayor and his wife, plus half the Salazar family, were in attendance.
I figured we’d go out to eat somewhere afterwards, or that Carmen would let us use Sugar for a party area until it opened for the evening.
But that’s not what happened.
Daisy, Jack, Reynolds, Nadine, Nia, and I rode in Reynolds’ fancy town car with Byron driving. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“We thought we’d stop off back at your place,” Nia said easily. “Nobody’s really seen it yet except me, Carmen, and Nadine.”
“Oh, cool.” I mentally went through my house in my head trying to remember if I’d left everything pristine when I’d hurried to graduation this morning. I thought I had.
When we pulled up, I noticed there were cars parked all up and down the street. “Jeez. One of my neighbors must be having a party or something.”
Bryon pulled in the driveway, and we all poured out.
“Come on in,” I said, feeling awkward. I’d unzipped my graduation gown and taken my hat off. It was too damn hot to leave them on. Plus, I didn’t want to leave red marks on my forehead any longer than necessary.
When I opened the door, people jumped out from everywhere yelling “Surprise!” at me.
I screamed and practically fell back out the front door. I grabbed my pounding heart as Nadine pushed me forwards. “It’s your graduation party, girly! Get in there.”
My house was packed. Every single person I knew in West Bay was either inside my house or out back in the yard. A big, air-conditioned tent had been set up out there, and a fancy caterer had prepared a ton of food. People were starting to go through the buffet line.
There were decorations everywhere, there was a DJ and a portable dance floor. Two different portable bar stations were set up, and there was a punch table inside the tent as well. Because who doesn’t love punch?
It was amazing. I’d never in my life had a party. Not one birthday party. And now I was having a wedding reception-worthy party for my graduation from my PA program. I got a little teary-eyed.
Nadine threw her arms around me. “You deserve it, so much. If he hadn’t done it, Carmen and I were going to. And if we hadn’t done it, Nia and the Cinnamon House girls were going to do it. Daisy mentioned it as well. So many people wanted to celebrate you, Jell. I just want you to know that.”
I covered my mouth with my shaking hand. I couldn’t believe it. “That’s so nice. This is all so nice!”
And it was. When the sun went down, solar Edison lights blinked on all over the yard, and chandeliers lit up the tent. We danced, ate, drank, and laughed long into the night. I couldn’t remember another time when I’d ever had more fun.
There was a part of me that was just a little sad that Paolo couldn’t be there, but I had to remind myself that he wasn’t ever who I’d thought he was. He didn’t deserve to be here. Not really.
Later, as everyone was winding down, a huge, beautiful cake was wheeled in. Someone cut it, and I saw that it was my favorite kind of cake—strawberry. I frowned a little. Not many people knew that. Nadine barely knew that. I looked around, half afraid Paolo was going to jump out of the bushes.
Then people started bringing me cards and presents to open.
Most people had given me gift cards or cash, but a few had bought me actual presents.
Nadine, Daisy, and Nia had gone together on a huge basket of all my favorite lotions, makeup, body washes, nail polish—just everything girly and fun.
Carmen and the other Cinnamon House girls had also given me a basket, but this was full of different bottles of wine, gourmet cheeses, imported chocolates, and all kinds of fancy foods.
Each of the Salazar brothers had gotten me a present, too, which I thought was really nice. Enzo and Nico went in together and bought me a year’s worth of spa appointments at my favorite spa. Javy had gifted me several weekends at a luxury bed and breakfast he’d started in the past year or so.
And then there was Leo and Joaquin’s gift. They had given me a huge box of La Perla lingerie in every color and style imaginable. I didn’t even want to think about how much it cost.
“Thanks, y’all,” I said, my face bright red. “Not really sure how this qualifies as a graduation gift, but it’s all gorgeous.
Leo grinned. “You’re so welcome. We only ask one thing.” He looked at his brother. Joaquin got a slow, sexy smile on his face. “You have to think of us whenever you wear any of it. And, of course, if you want to try it out on anyone, we’d like to volunteer our services.” He winked at me.
Leo laughed at the scandalized looks on everyone’s faces. Carmen just rolled her eyes. “Oh my God, get over yourselves.”
Cleo and a bunch of people from work, who were now looking at the Salazar twins as if they were sexual deviants, had gotten me a group gift of hoodies, blankets, socks, and Christmas ornaments that were from West Bay University.
“Thanks everyone,” I said, standing up. I thought all of the gifts had been given out.
“Wait,” Nia yelled. “There are a couple more over here.” She hurried over with the last two gifts. One was a huge box and the other was a small Tiffany’s bag. I opened the box first, wondering who in the world had given me something from Tiffany’s.
The box contained more sets of FIGS scrubs and Dansko clogs than I could count. Those weren’t exactly cheap, either, so I looked around for someone to thank for the generous gift. But no one was claiming it. I looked carefully for a note, but none was included.
“Does anyone know who these are from?” I asked.
No one said anything, but there was a strange heaviness to the atmosphere as if everyone was holding their breath. I realized they all knew who had given them to me, but no one was speaking up.
“It’s the same person who threw you this party,” Carmen said. I suddenly remembered Nadine’s wording earlier when she’d said if ‘he’ hadn’t given me the party there were others who’d wanted to. And I started to catch a clue.
“And the same person who gave you this,” Nadine said, passing me the Tiffany’s bag.
I looked around for him.
“He wasn’t sure you’d want him here, and he wanted this day to be nothing but perfect for you. So, he was waiting to come out until now,” Nia said.
Everyone turned then, and I saw him standing under a strand of Edison lights on my back deck. He looked good. He always looked good. He was wearing a polo and khakis and leaning on the railing of the deck.
“You threw this party for me?” I asked Paolo.
He nodded.
I nodded, and rolled my lips inward, trying not to cry. “Th… thank you.” I managed to get out.
“I had to fight a whole bunch of people to get to be the one to do it,” he said. “Carmen almost wrestled me to the ground until she found out I’d already booked the tent, the caterer, and half of everything else.”
I smiled.
“Everyone,” Carmen said, “let’s start packing all of this up for her.” Immediately everyone jumped to do as she asked because, well, she was Carmen.
It left me sitting in a chair, a huge box of scrubs beside me, a Tiffany’s bag in my lap, and Paolo watching me. He slowly walked down the back steps towards me. He pulled up a chair and sat in front of me. “Have you had a good day?” His gray eyes were locked on mine.
I nodded. “The best.”
He smiled. “I’m so glad. You deserved the very best. You look so beautiful. I miss you so much, Jell.”
I looked away, biting my lip. I missed him, too, obviously. But did I admit that? Should I admit that?
Screw it. I turned back to him. “I miss you, too.”
His eyes filled with hope. “You do?”
I nodded, and he smiled. We stared at each other for a long moment before he finally nodded to the package on my lap. “Aren’t you going to open it?”
“Okay.”