Page 58 of Yours, For Good

"Are we sure about that?" Sally asked. "Because I was hoping to set you up with Jim."

This time, my laughter was genuine. "I don't know about that, Sally, I'm sorry. I'm not looking to settle down either. I can't get distracted right now."

Even if Javier had been the first to make me question my plans; even if my heart continued to whisper what ifs to me in the night, reason had to prevail.

It didn't matter if he made the lines between friendship and romance blur— questioning if there was a line at all would not help me keep him.

Javier brought me flowers the next day for my graduation.

We met outside the event venue, and he gave me my second bouquet ever; lilies of some sort, ranging from the palest rose to the deepest burgundy, filled my hands.

"Thank you!" I smiled at him.

He wore a dark gray suit, deliciously cut around his frame; despite the semi-formal event, he kept it casual with no tie and a few open buttons. He looked so elegant-casual chic, he could have stepped right out of a magazine. In my a-line, ankle-length, bottle green satin skirt and tight velvet crop top in the same color, we both cleaned up well.

Not that we didn't look amazing in casual clothes, but that night we were smoking hot. It felt good to stand out that way, among the more traditionally-dressed people around us.

"Congratulations on finishing the main part of the program," he said. "I was researching flowers for my friend Jake, and I couldn't help myself. I wanted to bring you some, too."

We entered the building, another early twentieth century mansion that had been repurposed when the affluent family that built it had let it go. It was decorated with less classic splendor than the Pendleton's home, but still elegant and rich-looking.

"Flowers for your friend Jake?" I asked. "What do you mean?"

"You may not remember, but I mentioned his promotion?" He waited for my response, and continued after I nodded. "Gabe, Max, and I plan to fill his office with flowers when he takes the new position."

"Aw! That's sweet!"

I held my own flowers close, resisting the urge to dig my nose among the petals. We left our coats at the check in desk, found Sally and her family, and the Pendletons joined us soon after. Since Sally and I were staying with Julia, she had a staff member from her household pick up our flowers and take them to our bedrooms.

That's when my eyes started mindlessly searching for someone else in the room. Cocktail hour progressed, and I eagerly searched for a yellow rose in a lapel. Just in case.

Mr. B. hadn't written in response to my invitation at all. No word from him to say one way or another… which should have been answer enough. We had to confirm with the organizers who our guests were and their allergy needs and such; not hearing from Mr. B. or even his assistant Griggs meant I had to tell the admin that I only had one guest.

And yet, a small fantasy played in my mind, that he would show up and give me a kind smile. His face, heavy with wrinkles and the passing of time, would exude understanding and patience. He would say, "My sweet girl, of course I would come." Then he would use his power for good and get the organizers to add a chair and a meal to the table.

By the time cocktail glasses were taken away and people moved to the dining room, I'd killed the dream and forced it six feet under. The tombstone read, he may care, but not enough to find his way to the event. It soured the taste of red wine on my tongue, as the first round of dishes made it to our table.

To think my benefactor cared but would not meet me— not even talk to me— stabbed my joy like nothing else. I shouldn't have hoped for his presence.

Maybe it was time I considered what it might be like to accept he would never be a true person in my life.

The tenth round was another small plate, this one covered by a glass dome filled with smoke. Servers surrounded our table and lifted the crystal topper as one, allowing the fog-like gas to rise and prime our palates with the smell of distant forests. The dissipating mist gave way to a single leaf on the plate with bubbles that reminded me of reddish-purple tapioca balls.

I didn't know whether to be confused or impressed, but no one else said a thing, so I didn't either. All I did was wait to see how other people took their leaves and balls— there was a joke hidden there somewhere— to safely do the same.

An earthy taste coated my mouth; beets seemed to be one of the main ingredients in the bubbles. The leaf gave it a hint of chopped grass. All of it together made me feel like I had taken a bite of the rainforest. I frowned, unsure I enjoyed the experience.

"Bored yet?" Javier asked quietly to my side.

I smirked. "As you are my guest and conversation partner, you should hope my answer to be no."

"I'm thinking of how you once teased me for getting bored at these things."

"I will admit it's a quiet affair."

The rest of the Pendletons and the McBrides spoke barely above murmur level. From what I could see, the other tables were subdued as well.

"The whole thing is a bit unsettling." I sipped from my wine again. "I would have guessed even rich people could be noisy after a few drinks."