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“You realize I’ve been trying to get rid of the rumors. When everyone realizes we took the same days off, and if it gets back to anyone we were at the conference together—”
“I know, Carolina. I’ve been keeping my distance—”
“Yeah, I’ve noticed.”
He looked at me, and his brows drew into a frown. “I thought it’s what you wanted.”
“It was—is, but now—”
“It wasn’t intentional. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I can’t blame you for that.Ididn’t know I was coming until a few days ago.”
“Let’s make the best of it then, no?”
I nodded.
I could kill Mandy for putting us on the same flight to Boston, though I knew she hadn’t done it on purpose. Or had she? If she had talked to Hector’s assistant to coordinate flights, I was going to have to get a different research assistant.
And yet, as bad an idea as a trip together was, I found myself having to push down a small excitement that was building in my chest.
The first presentationstarted at seven in the morning, so most attendees arrived the night before the conference officially kicked off. Hector and I took a taxi together and were at the hotel by six in the evening.
Once in the elevator, after checking in, Hector asked me to dinner.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“Just as colleagues. You once wanted me to be your mentor. You are supposed to mingle at these things. It’s kind of the point.”
“I don’t know.”
“There will be no better time. Away from the hospital—in another city.”
He had a point. To a great extent, I had let the rumors rob me of the one thing I did want from Hector Medina: his brain. Everything went sideways, and the opportunity of a lifetime dangled in front of me like a carrot I knew I would never be able to reach. “All right,” I agreed with reluctance.
We agreed to freshen up after our flight, and I met him at the hotel’s restaurant an hour later.
I looked the menu over and was happy the prices weren’t too outrageous.
“Would you like to hear the specials tonight?” our waiter asked as he approached our table.
“No, thank you,” Hector said. He ordered a glass of red wine, and I didn’t miss his glare over the rim of his glasses when I ordered only water.
After ordering—he steak and greens, and I shrimp pasta—we settled into the evening, more relaxed than I would have imagined.
He smiled at me, encouraging me to lead the conversation. “Why didn’t you correct me whenever I assumed you grew up rich?” I asked.
“Ah. I was wondering when this would come up.”
“Your mother—”
“She didn’t say anything to me, by the way, about what you two spoke about. She wouldn’t do that. That said, I know my mother. I can guess what she had to say to you.”
“Hector, I wasn’t trying to pry into your personal life. I—”
“I know. No need to apologize.” He smiled, and there was nothing but truth in his eyes, so I relaxed a bit. “But to answer your question, I didn’t think it was important.”
“It’s not, but I’ve said things, insensitive things—”
