Instead there was more silence.
“I should go,” Mia said. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
Elena held a hand out.
“Wait,” she said.
Mia turned, her stoic expression gone now. “Yes?”
“How are you?”
“Good. College applications are stressing me out, but other than that, I’ve been good.” She looked ready to leave.
Elena didn’t want to waste the opportunity. “You should stop by Bee’s more. We’re having a sale next week on romance fiction.”
Romance was Mia’s kryptonite.
“I can’t,” Mia said. Her eyes went to the floor. “Happy Thanksgiving.” She was gone before Elena could wish her a Happy Thanksgiving in return.
Elena tried to go back to her essay, but she couldn’t focus. Seeing Mia was like uncovering a pot she’d left boiling for the last six months. The steam hit her all at once, and the lid was too hot to cover the pot back up. So she went upstairs, helped her dad set the table and checked on the turkey. Then when Will texted her, she went back downstairs to meet him in the shop.
He walked in, his blond hair windswept but somehow still gelled down. He held a container of the stuffing he’d promised to bring.
“Sorry I’m late,” he said. “My shift ran long and then Cecilia showed up afterward.”
That caught Elena’s attention. She quietly half-hugged Will as her mind went through options of how to ask about Cecilia without sounding like she cared too much.
“Really?” Elena said, pulling away from the hug.
Will took off his denim jacket. “It was more of a run in. She was there to pick up Marco, actually. Apparently his dad wanted him to train again today. Lucas couldn’t pick him up so Cecilia did. She saw me and we talked.”
“Marco’s still there?” Elena asked. She thought of the changing room incident and her cheeks warmed.
“Cecilia didn’t tell me much but it’s definitely some sort of punishment. She said he won’t give her the details, but for the time being he’s a Melo’s employee. And he has no driver. Oh, that reminds me, he’s working the Hollace dinner tomorrow. I thought I’d give you a warning, in case you wanted to drop out.”
“He’s coming tomorrow?” That meant she’d have to train him on the day of the event. He’d probably bring up the changing room incident or the fact he thought she was dating Will.
“Yeah,” Will said. “We can get someone else to go. You don’t have to-”
“I’ll go,” Elena said, not because she wanted to, but because she had no choice. One of their bigger clients, Mr. Thomas, had called to say that due to some personal issues, he wouldn’t be making his usual Christmas special order, which he usually came in to make at this time of year. It was the order Elena had been counting on as part of the shop’s holiday sales. She’d heard the message as her dad had played it back, right before he’d deleted it from the store phone, not noticing that she’d been listening from behind a shelf. Elena had barely slept last night.
“You sure?” Will asked. “After Monday’s training, you looked like you never wanted to see him again.”
“I was tired,” Elena said. She kept walking, hoping they would change the subject. Will said nothing else until they got into the apartment.
“Mr. Castro,” Will said as he walked in. “It smells like the world’s greatest turkey in here.”
Andres wrapped Will in a hug.
“Will,” he said. “Come here, I made your favorite, chicken empanadas.”
Elena smiled at the interaction. Her dad always spent more time making his empanadas for Thanksgiving, or any major holiday really, than he did on the turkey. It was a recipe he’d learned from Mia’s mom, a Peruvian empanada recipe. He said he liked it better than the recipe he’d learned from the time he’d lived in Puerto Rico with his family.
“I’m going to change,” Elena said.
Her Thanksgiving outfit was a dressier piece than what she wore most years. It was a calf-long dress, in a dark orange fabric with a light brown belt at the waist. She slipped it on and pulled on tights underneath. Then she redid her hair, organizing the short mess that it was as quickly as she could. She realized this might be her last Thanksgiving with Will.
Maybe next year he’d want to spend Thanksgiving at school, or go to a friend’s house for the break. Or, maybe he’d end up spending it with the Hollace family. Elena didn’t let herself think about it.
She’d enjoy today and then she’d figure out how she’d cope with next year.
___________
Vovô was smiling.
Marco sat across from his grandfather, wondering how he could act like everything between them was all right. Marco had called him to ask for help with Felipe’s uncalled for punishment. He’d thought his grandfather would side with him, make Felipe see the error of his ways, or at least get Marco access back to his bank accounts.
Vovô had done none of that, in fact he’d sided with Felipe. When Marco had called him, he’d told Marco that he could work the Hollace’s Thanksgiving event tomorrow. He said it was a good opportunity for Marco to learn about the business, and that he was sure Felipe would be willing to smooth the situation over when Marco apologized.
Marco watched his grandfather now, chatting with Lucas across the table, still smiling, like he hadn’t betrayed his favorite grandson.
“Marco?”
Marco looked up to find one of his dad’s business partners talking to him. He didn’t remember the man’s name, he only knew that he needed to be on his best behavior. Especially now that no one was on his side.
“Yes?” Marco asked, like he hadn’t completely missed whatever the man had been asking.
“What are your college plans for when you graduate? Are you going to study business like your brother?”
Why did people have to ask questions like this? No matter how well prepared a high-schooler was, no one really knew the answer to the question. To Marco, it felt like adults liked to ask it to either tell a teenager how great their future career choice was or to tell them how slim their chances of finding a career were. It was always one of the two. Besides, he was still a junior.
Marco nodded. “I’m definitely leaning toward a business degree,” he lied. He was leaning toward a gap year.
“That’s a solid choice,” the man said. Then the conversation went on to the topic of real estate in the historic district.
The silence made Marco think of Cecilia.
He’d had to ask her to pick him up from work earlier that day. It’d been beyond embarrassing. And it was all because Lucas had to pick up their dad and Vovô from the airport. They’d flown back earlier than planned. The worst part was having to witness Elena’s boyfriend flirt with Cecilia. Apparently he’d met Cecilia on a college tour in New York.
He wondered if Elena knew her boyfriend, Will whatever, flirted with customers when she wasn’t there.
The conversation went on around Marco. He knew his father turned every so often to glare at him. Abby kept smiling, like nothing was wrong, like Marco didn’t smell like coffee or that he hadn’t been home in almost a week.
He took a bite of turkey and went back to planning his confession to Cecilia. He’d have to ask Lucas to borrow money against the money he’d supposedly earned by working at Melo’s. All together it would be enough for some flowers,. Marco had convinced himself Cecilia would want something simple but elegant.
He hoped that’s what she’d want.
Vovô looked up and gave Marco a smile. Traitor. Still, Marco couldn’t bring himself to get mad at his grandfather. He was sure his dad had exaggerated the situation to make Vovô switch sides.
“How’s the food?” Vovô asked.
“Delicious,” Marco said. Marco didn’t like turkey. He just couldn’t tell his grandfather that, since the whole meal had been catered by his favorite chef, using Silva family recipes. “Everything is delicious.”
That made Vovô smile, all the wrinkles o
n his tanned face coming to life. He smiled like Lucas, with the charisma of someone no one could dislike. Marco returned the smile and went back to eating. He’d get through this meal and the next family holiday he was forced to spend with his father and Abby. He didn’t plan on coming back to visit when he turned eighteen.
After that, he’d move to London to be with his mom. Lucas could visit him there if he wanted. Marco wondered if he and Cecilia could make it work long distance. Then again, she traveled more than anyone he knew. They’d make it work.
First, he had to convince her how much he liked her, and that the kiss they’d shared before she left shouldn’t be their last.
Chapter 8
Elena watched Marco chatting with the head of the wait staff. Will had arranged it so Elena didn’t have to train Marco for anything. He’d apparently come in earlier to get instructions, which by the looks of it wasn’t much earlier than her. Unless he was trying to hide the fact he was working the event, which was why he was wearing a black leather jacket over his uniform.
Elena slipped of her own jacket and hung it on the coat rack near the employee entrance. She made sure her hair was tied back into a stub of a ponytail. She’d never been able to deal with her hair long, especially after her mom had passed away. It always reminded her of how badly she styled it compared to her mom. She’d left it at chin length since seventh grade.
Marco looked lost. The staff moved around, setting up tables and silverware. Elena guessed he wasn’t here to help with that, but with serving, just like she was. Their job wouldn’t start until everything was set out and actually ready to serve. The owner of the catering company had a rule that only her personal employees touch the food and plate settings.
Elena didn’t mind. She was getting paid to stand around and watch. It also left her pockets of time to think about how her dad hadn’t brought up the new owner or the late rent. She’d tried to get him to talk, but he wouldn’t be drawn.
That was when Marco saw her and walked right over, like they were old friends.
“Hi.” Elena pointed to his jacket. “You can take that off if you want. The coat rack’s over there.”
Marco gave her a strange look. “Trying to undress me again?”
“Hilarious,” she said. “What are you doing here? I figured you be attending this event, not serving.”
“I figured the same thing,” Marco said. He shrugged. “My dad’s still trying to teach me whatever lesson he thinks this is teaching me. So I’m here, always the obedient son.”
“Did he cut you off?
“Temporarily.”
Marco’s eyes danced around the room.
“When do the guests start arriving?”
Elena thought of the few events she’d worked in the banquet halls of the country club. “The event starts in two hours, so I’m guessing whatever member of the Hollace family paid for the event will be here in an hour or so to check on everything, and then guests will start showing up in two hours. Most will come later, though.”
Will would be a guest at this event. Elena kept forgetting, not because it was something worth forgetting, but because she didn’t want to think about it.
“What do we do until then?”
“Stay out of the catering company’s way,” Elena said. “Trust me, its’s for the best.”
“Where do we go?”
“Uh, I usually hang out upstairs in the music room until they find me. Like I said, best to stay out of the way.”
Elena headed up the stairs to the music rooms above. They were used for private concerts, thirty people or less. Technically, they weren’t off limits, but Elena knew to be wary of any country club members. If something ended up broken or mishandled they’d blame her. Which was fair, but still, she trod carefully.
Elena turned to find Marco following her. He hadn’t taken off his jacket.
“So when I said I went to the music room, I meant just me. It wasn’t an invitation.”
“I have something to tell you,” Marco said.
“What?”
“Show me where you’re going to hide out, and I’ll tell you.”
She sighed. But she couldn’t deny she was curious. Also, having Marco Silva to annoy her was better than having her thoughts overwhelm her. Elena showed Marco the way upstairs, to the smallest, most unused music room. It contained only a grand piano and six seats. Nothing in here looked too breakable. She took a seat on one of the upholstered chairs.
Marco hesitated but then took the chair next to her.
“So what you do in here?” he asked. “Play the piano?”
Elena laughed. “No, no way. I can’t play to save my life. I read,” she said. Then she pulled a book out from her bag. She noticed Marco glancing at the title.
“Pride and Prejudice?” he said. “That’s not a cliché at all.”
Elena tucked the book under her arm. She noticed then the late bill was still slipped inside. Marco noticed too, but he didn’t ask about it. He just reached for it, like he had every right to.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Elena asked, pulling it out of his hand, but by the look on his face she knew he’d read it, at least what it said at the top. “That’s private.”
“Late on your rent?”
“That’s none of your business.” Elena tucked the slip into her bag and regretted ever bringing Marco here. Her cheeks were hot. She opened her book.
“It’s not a big deal,” Marco said. “Every business has a cycle. You just adapt, make the changes needed to make you more competitive and then you pay your back rent and keep growing.”
Elena wasn’t sure if he was mocking her. He made it sound like it was the simplest thing to do.
“It’s not that easy,” Elena finally said. She shut her book, thinking about Mr. Thomas’s call. What if they really didn’t make the rent this month? They needed a subject change, now. “What did you want to tell me? Unless you lied about that so I’d show you my hiding spot.”
“Oh,” Marco said. “Right. I saw your boyfriend flirting with someone else yesterday. Thought I’d be a good co-worker and let you know.”
It took Elena a moment to process the word boyfriend in reference to herself. Marco meant Will. And that girl he saw him flirting with had probably been Cecilia.
“Will’s not my boyfriend,” Elena said. “I don’t why you’d think that.” She folded her arms.
“You’re not dating?”
“No,” Elena said. “I should have clarified earlier. We’re just friends. He’s dating-”
“You like him, though?” Marco said, leaning in closer now. “You look at him like a girlfriend would.”
Elena bit her tongue before she could answer. The pain was quick but deep. She tasted blood. No one had ever mentioned her liking Will. She’d spent years perfecting the way she hid her feelings for him.
“We’re friends. He’s my best friend.”
They’d been best friends since he’d come to sit with Elena on a swing set after her mom had died. It’d been his first day at school and her first day back since the funeral. After a week of sitting through lunches while Elena cried, somehow, they’d ended up being friends.
Marco looked like he was having way too much fun with his. “Well, then you’re in love with your best friend. And he has no clue.” He shook his head. “I thought he was trying to two-time you.”
Elena closed her eyes, because she couldn’t think of what else to do. How could Marco talk about her love for Will so easily, like it was a joke? She opened them to find Marco giving her a curious look.
“Why don’t you tell him?” he asked, the humor gone.
Elena swallowed. “Because I know he doesn’t feel that way about me,” she finally said. She couldn’t believe she’d just admitted it. Marco would never let her live this down. What if he told Will? “You can’t tell him. It would ruin everything.”
“I don’t care enough to tell Will that. I think it’s a waste not to tell someone how you feel about the
m. In the end, it’s not like your feelings are going to go away. Might as well risk everything getting ruined than spend the rest of your time having to watch the person you like date someone else.”
It was Elena who gave the curious look this time. She watched Marco. “Is that what you’re planning to do?”
He nodded. “If everything goes well today, then yes. I’m going to tell my crush how I feel.”
Elena wondered who he liked. “Is that why you’re here?”
“No,” Marco said. “Well, kind of. But I’m also here because, like you said, for the time being, I’m cut off.”
“What did you do?”
Marco shrugged. “Told someone their truth.” He pointed to her book. “Go back to reading.” He stood. “I have stuff to get ready.” He walked to the door, turning once more. “He might like you, Will I mean. You never know.”
Elena shook her head. “I know he doesn’t. He’s dating someone else.”
“Maybe because he doesn’t know you like him.”
She held up her book. “I’m gonna take your advice and go back to reading.”
Marco shrugged again and then walked out. Elena opened her book up, to Mr. Darcy’s first proposal. She couldn’t bring herself to focus, her mind only weighed on the realization that Marco probably didn’t even remember how’d they met, or why she disliked him. To him, she was probably just the girl who helped him find history books.
Elena sighed, putting her book aside. Whoever he was confessing his feelings to today, she genuinely hoped it went well. Because he was right, one-sided love really sucked.
_________
Marco avoided eye contact with family. They were seated at the same table as Cecilia’s parents. Her dad was deep in a conversation with Felipe.
Marco kept to the back tables, bringing out drinks and dinner plates. The night had actually gone by smoother than he thought. However, he still hadn’t seen Cecilia anywhere. There was an empty spot at the table with her family, which meant she was coming, he just wasn’t sure when that was.
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