Wildflowers and Wide Receivers

31. Sophie

Chapter 31

Sophie

O ver the past couple of years, the annual children’s hospital gala has become one of my favorite events. I had no idea Jonah had tickets. Somehow, I had completely missed that it was coming up, and my jaw dropped when he told me where we were going. The money the gala raises for research and children in need is incredible. It’s one of these events that always fills my heart and makes me incredibly proud to be in the healthcare industry.

“Wow,” I whisper to Jonah as we walk into the hotel ballroom. “Someone did an exceptional job. It’s beautiful in here.” I gawk at the elegance and ambience.

“You’re beautiful,” he tells me, and I find him not looking at the decorations at all. “I know I told you this when I picked you up, but, Sophie, you are stunning tonight.”

His words make my insides shiver. It’s not even that he gave me a nice compliment, which he does frequently; it’s that I feel good, and I’m proud to be here with him tonight.

Looking down, I fluff out the chiffon. It’s a gold strapless, figure-shaping gown with gold foil roses inlaid as a pattern, and it has a chiffon layer that is loose and waterfalls down over the dress. I found it in an upscale vintage dress shop and couldn’t say no. I also know that Jonah loves me in gold and silver from the night we met, so this gold dress was perfect.

“Thank you,” I tell him, and as I reach over to squeeze his hand, a ball of fire goes whooshing by our heads. I laugh, and Jonah frowns at the guy, pulling me closer to him.

This year, the theme is “A Night at the Circus,” and they have outdone themselves. From red fabric sweeping from the ceiling to create a big-top experience, the gold, white, and black accents to all of the individual performers strategically placed around the ballroom. There are acrobats on silks, knife throwers, a tightrope walker, dancers, jugglers, musicians, a few animals, clowns, and fireblowers. The costumes are gorgeous, and I already know this will be a great night.

“Shall we go get a drink?” he asks.

“Absolutely, and then let’s go browse the silent auction before they call us to sit down for dinner.”

They advertised that the silent auction would have more than two hundred and fifty items. I love to bid on things even though I never win, but I’ll help raise the price, which ultimately results in more donated money.

As we start walking toward the bar, I look around the room and spot a few people I know. Several are here from my practice, including Isaac; there are colleagues I worked with at the hospital and of course the residents who were a year behind me. I love that so many people are here for this.

“Sir,” a server says, approaching Jonah. He’s holding a tray of fun drinks, which he says are a rose sangria. We grab two, and off we go.

“These taste so good,” I hum as I take another sip.

“It’s a little sweet for me,” he says.

“Of course you would say that. You do realize some of the most delicious things in the world are sweet,” I mock him for his strict diet. Yes, he eats pizza and lasagna, but in general, what he eats on a day-to-day basis is all healthy.

“Can’t argue with you there. I happen to think you are the sweetest.”

“Look at you, pulling out all the charisma tonight.”

He smirks as he looks down at me. His jaw is freshly shaved, making the line above the dark cut of his jacket appear even more pronounced. Seeing him in this tux is definitely doing something for me.

“Have you ever won anything at one of these?” I ask him as we approach the first table.

“Nope. I’ve never bid on anything,” he says, tucking the hand not holding his drink into his pants pocket. He looks so debonair. Some men look uncomfortable in a tuxedo, but not Jonah. He owns this look.

I glance at him. “Really?”

“Nope. I’m not someone who collects things, and anything that I might want like hockey tickets or a weekend at someone’s house in Aspen, I can just get whenever I want.”

“But you’re missing the point. Everyone in here can do those things, but these items are donated so all the money goes to charity.”

He shrugs. “I get that, but I donate money during the ‘open call’ portion of the night. Isn’t that the same thing?”

“I guess, but tonight, we’re going shopping.”

He chuckles.

All around the perimeter of the ballroom are the items. I know they also had them listed on a website where people not in attendance can bid. Security is also strategically placed around the room.

“Oh, Jonah, look at this one.” It’s an overnight birthday party in the Florida aquarium.

He’s quiet as he looks at it but then shakes his head. “Great idea, but who would we invite?”

I guess he’s not wrong. Maybe when she’s older and has made a few more friends.

“Okay, fair enough, but we’re definitely putting our name down for this basket of assorted wines.” I type the item code assigned into the app and place a bid.

“Do you ever win?” he asks, taking a sip of his drink and then grimacing.

“Not once.” I laugh. “But I’d like to think I’m doing my part in donating by upping the price on all these items.”

He walks a few paces over and sets down the glass.

“I’ll get something else in a bit. Let’s do it,” he says, waving his hand out toward all of the items.

We bid on cooking lessons, a full lobster fishing kit for Tyler, a trip to Disney World where you stay overnight in Cinderella’s castle, a pair of Jet Skis, and a Gucci handbag. It was fun, and within minutes of each bid, the app dings that we’ve been outbid.

Eventually we stop in front of the Tarpons display, which is full of fun things and tickets, and I point at the poster and the football in front of us. “Look! It’s your signature,” I tease him by bumping my hip against his.

“It’s not just mine,” he fires back. And he’s right. A bunch of the team members have signed these items.

“Still, it’s cute.” I grin at him.

His hand slides down my back and settles just below my waist. He leans down and murmurs, “Cute is when you’re blushing while I talk about burying my face between your legs.”

I jerk back so our eyes can connect, and sure enough, I blush, and he gives me a wicked grin.

“You are going to be trouble tonight. I can tell already.”

“Do you blame me?” he asks as he moves to stand directly behind me, and his hands skate over my butt. “This dress has me wanting to do all kinds of things to you. Here. There. Everywhere,” he says, leaning over so his lips are next to my ear for only me to hear and swaying a little to the music that is playing.

I glance back to find his eyes hooded and one side of his mouth tipped up. “We are not sneaking off,” I tell him, shaking my head, but I do push back into him a little. His size and heat surround me, and he slides one hand around my hip to my stomach. I’m so happy to be here with him.

“Yet,” he teases. Then he looks over my shoulder down at his watch and frowns. “I hate to leave you, but I’m being summoned for team photos.”

He steps away, and I instantly want to step back in his arms.

“Go. Do your thing. I’ll stay here and do mine.” I’m certain I can bet on more things that I know someone else will want more.

My smile turns mischievous, and his eyes drop to my lips. Leaning down, he gives me a lingering kiss next to my mouth. He runs his hand over my arm and down to my elbow, where he gently squeezes it, and then he’s gone.

Of course I watch him walk away. With long legs wrapped in black, shiny black shoes, and formally styled men's hair that’s been parted and slicked over, he doesn’t give me butterflies, he gives me dragonflies.

“Dr. Black,” someone says from my left, and I peel my eyes off Jonah to turn and find Dr. McLeod walking my way. “I did wonder if I would run into you today,” she says, all smiles in her greeting.

Dr. McLeod was one of my favorite professors during my residency. Her accolades are long, and her CV even longer, and she’s currently the vice dean of research here at the College of Medicine. While she’s not a super warm and fuzzy person, she is dedicated and widely respected for her active research programs.

“Dr. McLeod, it’s so nice to see you. And I must admit I’m surprised to hear that you were thinking of me.” My back straightens, and I lightly clasp my hands in front of me. Dr. McLeod always stressed the importance of posture for surgeons, and well, old habits die hard.

“Nonsense. You were stellar during your residency, and I’ve been thinking about you a lot. I was actually planning to give you a call this week.”

There’s no way to hide the shock I feel over this, and my brows rise.

“Really? I must admit this feels a little surprising, but I would have loved to have received a call from you.”

“I’m happy to hear that.” She adjusts her clutch and tucks it up further under her arm. “I have an upcoming opportunity I’d love to run by you.”

“An opportunity for you or me?”

“You.” She smiles. “Also, I’m not going to lie. I do miss seeing you around.”

“I’m flattered.”

“You should be.” She smiles at me. It’s rare to see her smile, and she’s done it several times now during this conversation. “Email me tomorrow with your availability this week.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” That’s her warning. “But I’ll see you this week.”

She walks off, and as she does, I spot Jonah directly across the room. My heart skips a beat as I take him in. He has one hand back in his pocket, the other is holding a new drink, and he’s laughing as he talks to his teammate Tyler Quinn. Other teammates are around him, but he quickly glances my way, which lets me know he’s watching me too.

He raises his glass in my direction, and I give him a tiny wave. I feel stupid but giddy at the same time.

Jonah has somehow infiltrated my system. Just the sight of him alone makes my heart beat faster, and somehow, my nerves feel calmer. I’m not sure when this happened, but I’m starting to wonder if it was that night almost two and a half years ago. I’m realizing I haven’t been the same since I met him. He may not know this, but I do. I waited and waited, for months, even though I told myself I wasn’t, but looking back, I was. Waiting for what, I don’t know. I got stood up. He didn’t come back, but maybe it was the fairy tale that he would. Or perhaps I was just waiting to meet someone new who would light my soul on fire like he did.

It shouldn’t come as a revelation to me that no one else did.

Just him.

Breaking me from my thoughts, Isaac steps into my line of sight. “Your glass is empty, so I got this for you,” he says, holding out a glass of champagne. He too is wearing a tux, but in typical Isaac fashion, he has on a black vest, and his tie is black-and-red polka dots. It’s endearing to me, but that’s the extent of my affection for him.

“Thank you,” I tell him and take a sip. In many ways, this glass feels like he is holding out an olive branch too. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. I guess we haven’t really talked that much lately.” He lets out a sigh. “I try to come every year. There’s a group of us who gets a table.” He turns and looks toward the far side of the room, where he must spot his friends. “You look beautiful tonight.”

“Thank you, and I guess I haven’t really tried to speak to you much either,” I tell him, owning my part of how we ended.

“It wasn’t you. It was all me,” he says, running his hand over the back of his neck. “You never gave me any inclination that we were going to be more than what we were. I guess my pride took a hit because I was hoping we would. I’m sorry about that night in the restaurant. I think about it often, and I was out of line.”

“No, you were fine. I definitely needed to hear what you were saying. You weren’t wrong. I had stalled, and I needed that kick in the behind to pull myself back together.”

“I hope we’re still able to be friends. I know it was a little awkward at first. It was never my intention to make you uncomfortable at work.”

“So you did see and hear how the staff were treating me.”

He looks away sheepishly, and there’s my answer.

“Were you hoping that I would leave the practice?”

“No. But I’ll admit, I was licking my wounds a bit. It was Laurie who ripped me a new one. Her exact words were, ‘Get your professional shit together.’” He chuckles. “She wasn’t wrong.”

I am definitely taking Laurie out as a thank-you. I had no idea she’d done this, and although I know we’ve become friends outside of work, this now makes it so much more.

“I do love her,” I tell him.

“Apparently, she loves you too. Friends?” He holds his hand out.

“Friends,” I tell him, slipping mine against his for the shake. “Don’t think that I didn’t notice you have a date tonight, too,” I tell him as our hands drop.

He turns and looks toward where his date stands. She’s speaking with a few people I don’t know and smiling from ear to ear. She appears to be in her thirties. She’s wearing a red dress, which I assume is to match him, and she’s really pretty. I’m happy for him.

“Yeah. Interestingly, I met her the day after things ended with you. It did take me a bit to get out of my own way, but once I did, things have been good.”

“I’m glad to hear this.”

And that’s when I feel heat at my back and know who it is without even having to turn and look. Isaac’s eyes slide up over my shoulder and land on Jonah. They widen just like they did back in the office, and the moment Jonah lays his hand on me, I see it register with Isaac.

I turn and give Jonah a small smile.

“Jonah, this is Dr. Isaac Bradley. He’s a colleague of mine. Isaac, this is my friend Jonah Dallmann.”

I know Jonah recognizes the name, but he doesn’t give anything away. Instead, he reaches his hand forward in greeting.

“It’s nice to meet someone from Sophie’s work. She’s talked about a lot of you.”

Isaac’s gaze dances quickly between the two of us.

Isaac cringes a little and then laughs. “I’m really hoping that’s a good thing. Big fan of yours, by the way.”

“Thank you. I mean that,” Jonah kindly tells him.

“How do you two know each other?” Isaac curiously asks.

I glance up at Jonah, but he lets me answer. “We first met about two and a half years ago through mutual friends.”

His eyes flare with understanding as they come back to mine. “Wow, you never mentioned. I’m sorry to do this here, but you have to go for it when the moment arises. Jonah, how do you feel about meet and greets? Our group works closely with several lower-income high schools as the team physicians. We like to bring out professionals to inspire them to want more. Would you be open to that?”

“Of course. Just tell me when and where. I’ll bring a few others too,” he tells Isaac. I love that he shows no jealousy or possessiveness regarding me. He has no reason to be jealous. I am all about him and only him.

“That would mean a lot. Thank you.” Isaac looks at me and grins. “I guess I’ll have my people reach out to your people.”

Jonah chuckles. “Perfect.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two. I hope you both have a wonderful evening,” he says, and it’s so sincere I know that things at work will be just fine. Glancing back and forth between us one more time, he takes a step away, looks at me, and says, “Roses.”

I nod.

He presses his lips together in a closed-mouth smile and then shakes his head.

“I do see it,” he says.

“See what?” Jonah asks, but Isaac only answers me.

“How you look at him versus how you looked at me.”

“And how do I look at him?”

His smile grows. “This time, I’m going to let you figure it out on your own.”