Nate (The Princesses of Silicon Valley - Book 4) (11 page)

At Leland hospital, as I wash my hands in the guy’s bathroom I hear her melodic voice, “Nate, you can’t continue to avoid me. At some point we need to talk.”

     I jump, then turn to see Mariana leaning against the door.

“You realize you’re in a guy’s bathroom,” I say.

“Pfff,” she says in that magical way of hers.

“Mariana, I’m done. You take off without a word and now you want to talk?”

“I was in a bad way. I needed some air.”

“Good for you. Now can you remove yourself from the door so I can go back to my patients?”

“Nate, just one lunch.”

I cross my arm, “Fine, you want to talk. Talk here.”

“I made a big mistake,” she says as she takes a step closer to me. “I’m sorry,” she says as she takes another step, “I miss you.” One more step, “Let’s try it again?”

In the meantime, I’ve taken several steps back. I’m now against the wall and she’s near. Too near. My body just hums from her proximity. “I would have loved to hear that sixteen months ago, but I’ve moved on.”

“Another women? Pfff, it can’t be what we had. Please, I want you,” she says in that sexy voice of hers.

“Mariana,” I shake my head, “No.”

She moves just a little closer, invading my space, running her fingers down my arm. “I know you, you’re lying. I can tell, you still want me.”

***

I wake up at three in the morning, Mariana’s voice ringing in my ears. Do I still want her? I lie in bed. It hits me. I now have a choice. Juliette’s great, but she’s not my wife. We’ve only been going out for four months. I can break up with her and get back with Mariana. But, is that what I want?

Now I really can’t sleep. Getting out of bed, I open my drawer and fish around. Yeah, there, in the back—I pull out the small jewelry box—Mariana’s engagement ring. I roll it around between my fingers. I should have sent it back to my parents, or given it to Jamie. Why did I keep it?

Juliette’s parents host a casual dinner at their home on Saturday night so that the immediate family can meet Leigh’s fiancé. Juliette keeps warning me about her sister, while I think the one I really need to avoid is Shirley, her grandmother.

Cassie and Juliette can get on a roll telling stories about all Leigh’s crazy childhood behaviors. Then again, they tell stories of all the nasty things they did to retaliate, it’s not like one was an angel and the other was a devil. Juliette tells me that she’s looking forward to meeting the man that would willingly live with Leigh.

After taking care of the horses on Saturday afternoon, we wash up at Juliette’s, then head over to her parents. Juliette keeps on telling me that by meeting Leigh at her parent’s home instead of a restaurant I’m missing the full Leigh effect. Juliette and I are dressed casually in jeans. We enter her parent’s house through the laundry room.

Leigh is unmistakably Juliette’s sister. She is taller and thinner, with high cheekbones and hollowed cheeks, though this most likely is due to her being so gaunt. Leigh has her father’s blue eyes and her mother’s straight dark hair, but they both have the same fine features and that beautiful, pale skin. Leigh just reeks of wealth and fashion. She holds herself like a ballerina. What is strikingly different is the energy they each exude. Whereas Juliette comes across sweet and demure, Leigh is haughty, arrogant, and condescending.

Juliette breezes in with a big smile and a hug, “Leigh, welcome home, congratulations.”

Leigh looks Juliette up and down, flicks her eyebrow up in distaste and says, “I see you’re still dressing like a college student.”

Juliette flippantly responds, “This isn’t
Downton Abby,
I’m not dressing up for dinner at home with Mom and Dad.”

Turning to an average height, average build, and balding guy in his forties, Juliette reaches her hand out, “Hi, I’m Leigh’s sister, Juliette.”

Mr. Middle age reluctantly shakes her hand.

Leigh gushes, “This is John.”

If Juliette is twenty-five and her sister is two years older, this guy has to be at least fifteen years older than Leigh. Juliette said the family knows practically nothing about him; her parents only met him once when they visited Leigh in New York. This will be a very educational dinner. Juliette introduces both Leigh and John to me as her mom serves everyone wine, while we wait for her dad to show up with her grandmother.

Juliette asks, “Did you go on a hike with Mom and Dad this morning?”

Leigh disdainfully raises her eyebrow. “John and I stayed at the Four Seasons in San Francisco last night. We met friends of John’s for lunch.”

Knowing Leigh is in fashion I ask, “John, what do you do?”

“Finance.”

This is going to be a long dinner if this guy’s answering in one word sentences. As I respond, “New York’s the place to be if you are in finance.”

Leigh starts gushing, “John’s just so modest; he runs this really big fund. All these big names on Wall Street always want to meet with him.”

Now I know why some average guy in his forties attracted a pretty women in her twenties, though I wouldn’t say the guy’s modest. It’s obvious that he’s decided that none of us are important, what with his one word answers and all.

The stilted air is broken by Juliette’s dad coming in with her grandmother. Her dad walks into the living room and Leigh gives him a great big hug. Leigh is a lot more affectionate with her dad then she is with her mom or Juliette. Her grandmother introduces herself to John telling him he should call her Shirley.

Her grandmother’s a crack up as long as her unfiltered conversation isn’t focused on you. “John, I hear you’re in finance in New York City. Were you one of those fellows that brought down the economy back in 2008?” she asks.

He pales. “It’s much more complicated than you’re making it out to be.”

“Oh, that’s just what you finance guys like to say to us seniors when you’re stealing all our money.” Turning to Leigh, Grandma adds, “You know, you really don’t want to marry him if he’s a crook.” Then she points to me. “Now, Nate’s a doctor. Nate, did I tell you about my friend Betty’s latest surgery?”

Juliette interrupts, “Grandma, no one wants to hear about your friend’s medical problems, and Nate doesn’t work on old people, only athletes.”

Of course, this doesn’t deter Shirley. Juliette’s dad interrupts, “Mom, stop interrogating Nate. We’re here to meet John and celebrate the engagement.”

Juliette jumps in, “Leigh, you need to show me your engagement ring.”

Getting the first smile from Leigh, she lifts her hand and shows off a huge rock; the stone must be five carats.

Juliet looks at it, her eyes get big, “How can you even lift your hand? That ring’s huge. Aren’t you afraid of losing it?”

Leigh coyly smiles in reply.

Juliette’s mom jumps in, “Leigh, have you decided where you’re going to have the wedding?”

“Well, not here. Of course it will be in Manhattan.”

Shirley pops back in, “One of my friends had money with Bernie Madoff. Her sister lives in Manhattan and told her he was safe and conservative. Nothing, she’s left with nothing. Now he was a great big financial crook.” Turning to John “You’re not like Bernie Madoff?”

Leigh gets angry, “Grandma, I bring my fiancé here to meet my family and you call him a crook. You owe John a big apology.”

“Well, John, are you a crook like Bernie Madoff?”

It’s obviously that John is not taking the crazy grandmother seriously; he seems more bored then anything, as he looks out the window.

Surprisingly, the dinner goes downhill from there as John remains annoyed that he’s here, Leigh goes from bored to annoyed, and Shirley moves back to asking me medical questions. And so on….

On the way home, Juliette says, “You can’t complain. I was trying to spare you from my family. You’re the one that wanted to meet everyone. Tomorrow will be even worse since all the friends and the rest of the family are showing up.”

***

Actually, Sunday’s better since the rest of the family and friends are normal and we don’t need to hang out with Leigh and John. But I avoid the living room, where Shirley’s planted herself, as she and the other seniors loudly discuss the price of prescription pills.

Jamie:
Dinner, just you and me.

Me:
What’s up?

Jamie:
I need to talk to my brother.

Good, maybe she’s breaking up with Tyler. We meet. I can tell she has something on her mind. I make sure she’s had a beer and some food before I broach the subject. “What’s up?”

“Mellissa called me.”

“Really? What’s with that?”

“She told me she saw on Facebook that Mariana is now working at Leland. What’s going on? Have you seen her?”

I push away from the table annoyed. “Nothing’s going on. I’m still with Juliette.”

“Still?”

Taking a deep breath, “Mariana wants me back.”

“What! Please tell me you’re not thinking of doing that.”

I shrug, “We were engaged. I love her.”

“Love her, not loved her? Shit, Nate. Does Juliette know?”

“Of course not.”

“Oh, that sneaky little bitch. Yeah, big coincidence, she shows up at the same hospital as you, just when you finally move on and are happy with a new girl.”

“How would she know?”

“Really? I saw the pictures you posted in Tahoe. Anyway, you have lots of mutual friends in Rochester.”

Shit, now I’m really glad I hardly ever post anything on Facebook. We sit in silence for a few minutes, “Is Mariana stalking me? Why?”

Jamie rolls her eyes, then says, “You need to tell Juliette.”

“Juliette doesn’t need to know.”

“And when Mariana introduces herself to Juliette and tells her about the two of you working together. How do you think sweet Juliette will take that?”

“Shit, you think Mariana would blow up my relationship?”

“Then you’ll be free to go back to her.”

“Shit!”

“You wouldn’t consider going back to her, right?”

I shake my head. “Shit, what do I want?”

“Nate, just think about it. What if Juliette’s old love was blowing up her phone and she didn’t tell you he was back in town. What would you think?”

“How do you know she’s blowing up my phone?”

“Really? That psycho. You know if you go back to her, she’ll do it again. You’ll think everything is wonderful and without notice, she’ll leave. I bet she just did that with her last boyfriend. People have a very consistent MO.”

As I drive home, I debate what to tell Juliette. Jamie’s right. If I found out her old boyfriend was in town, she saw him, and didn’t tell me, I would just assume…I would assume exactly what I’m thinking. The old Clash song plays in my brain.
“Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble, if I stay it will be double….”

I’ve run into Cassie’s boyfriend, Luke, at Juliette’s place at least fifteen times and the guy still doesn’t ever give me more than a disinterested nod. I’m not looking for a new best friend, but he’s such a dismissive ass it’s actually weird.

     Not surprisingly, Luke shows up at work to deal with an injury. As I come in with the attending, I introduce myself by saying, “I’m Dr. Lombard, though we already know each other.”

Luke gives me a blank stare, “Were you here last year for my surgery?”

“No, our girlfriends are roommates.”

He just says, “Oh, yeah, I thought I had seen you before.”

I’m now wondering if he has neurological problems or Prosopagnosia. I’ll have to talk to the attending about testing for this. Then again it could just be his personality. He’s even a dismissive ass to Cassie. But, it’s none of my business as long as he doesn’t cross the line. I’ve seen some of his interviews, they shine a camera on the guy and he all of a sudden shows a personality. Though I have to admit he has a very photogenic face and maintains the kind of profile companies just love.

I never wind up talking with the attending. Three days later, I’m sitting on the couch checking my messages as I wait for Juliette.

Luke comes in, sits down and says, “Hey, Nate, I’ve been doing the standard RICE treatment for my muscle contusions.” Grabbing a hold of his thigh, he adds, “The ACL feels like it’s holding but I’m not sure if the leg injury is past contusions and actually has some tears.”

I guess my first take was correct; he’s an arrogant prick who didn’t think I was important enough to remember. Even so, I talk him through what he’s feeling and see how restricted his movement is. This turns into a regular gig. I’m now starting to wonder if he and Cassie are showing up at her place more often just so he can talk about his injuries and post season training schedule with me.

After my dinner with Jamie, I’m now plagued with doubt. Should I tell Juliette? When did I become this much of a wuss? Why can’t I just tell Mariana to fuck off? Why is she still in my head?

At Leland I find myself running into Mariana way too often. She’s all friendly and sexy. Juliette is great, but Mariana…she just gets my blood rolling. But Juliette, we have so much fun together. We like doing the same things; she’s easy, and friendly, considerate, and practical. Juliette is like a stroll on the beach, while Mariana is the biggest, baddest rollercoaster. My brain wants the stroll on the beach while my dick wants the rollercoaster.

Back at Leland, as I prep for surgery alone in a semi-dark room reviewing my patient’s images I hear the door open, I smell her, as I turn around she closes the door. Mariana looks at me with that steamy smile that registers right to my dick. I try acting officious. “I’m busy. Not a good time,” I say as I look back at the images.

“Nate…coração.”

My chest constricts as my dick twitches from the sound of that voice. She moves close and puts her hand on my shoulder.

I roll away from her and shake my head, “Mariana, it was over when you left a note on a script pad in our kitchen.”

She moves closer, damn, how do I continually let her box me in? She puts both hands on my shoulders, leans over, plants a warm, sensual kiss me on the lips. At first my entire body stills. Then my entire nervous system buzzes as my lips respond. I get into it for about twenty seconds, finally my brain kicks in.

I grab her wrists and move her away from me, “Mariana…shit.” I get up and leave. As I walk down the hall, chills run down my spine. I want her so damn bad.