Page 115 of Better Than Gelato
“What’s Jake up to?” Maggie asks.
“You’re eating, so I’ll spare you.”
“Appreciate that.” She swallows a big bite. “Do you ever tell him about your classes, or do you just play cheerleader to all his stuff?”
“I tell him about my stuff,” I say.
She shakes her head. “Your last three conversations have just been you saying ‘Wow, that’s really interesting,’ like a thousand times.”
“Why don’t you get your own life and stop hovering in mine?” I say.
I grab a snack and head to my room. Things with Jake are…fine. I mean, long distance is hard, right? Everyone knows that. And yes, Jake is a little different than he was in Italy. More stressed out. Doesn’t joke like he used to but that’s to be expected. Med school is hard. We just need some time together. Two more days, and I’m flying out to visit him. And then everything will feel better.
ChapterThirty-One
“Jake’s already seen you in these clothes,” Maggie says, taking a blouse from my suitcase. “Bring some California clothes. Blow that kid’s mind.” She grabs a black mini skirt from my closet and a bikini top from my drawer. “Voila.”
“Yeah, that’s going to go over real well with his East Coast med school friends. I need to look smart.”
“You are smart,” she says matter-of-factly.
“Small town smart. Jake and his people are brain-surgeons-curing-cancer smart. I don’t want to look like a dumb blonde from California. I want to fit in.”
“Why do you care about fitting in?” Maggie asks. “Are you planning on transferring to Columbia?”
I give a sigh. “No. I’m not transferring to Columbia.” Which isn’t to say I haven’t thought about it.
“Fine. No mini skirt. But at least some sexy underwear.” I give her a look. She knows me and Jake aren’t sleeping together. She starts rummaging through my underwear drawer anyway.
“What’s this?” she asks. She has a flash drive in her hand.
“That’s Jake’s movie. I wanted to show you but forgot where I put it.” I grab my computer and pull up the video.
“He made this for me for Christmas,” I say. I want to say more, but I don’t.
We watch Jake smile and wish me a Merry Christmas and tell me he’s made me a video of my favorite things in Milan. Neil Diamond’s “Forever in Blue Jeans” comes on as the video shows the white tents and tables of the market.
“This is the Saturday market at Sant’Ambrogio, where I bought all the beautiful clothes you borrow when you think I’m not looking.”
Then the song switches to “Cotton Eye Joe” and a video of Calypso.
“This is where we went dancing on Wednesdays. You saw it in some of the photos.”
The video plays, and I point out the steps at Duomo, Parco Sempione, and my bus stop.
And then the whole gang is wishing me Merry Christmas.
“What are they saying?” Maggie asks.
“Oh, they’re wishing me a Merry Christmas and saying they’re happy we’re friends. That sort of thing.” My voice comes out wobbly. The sight of Diego smiling and telling me I’m the coolest American he knows sends tears leaking out the corner of my eyes. Mags sees and squeezes me closer to her.
“Did Paolo just say ‘bestie’?” she asks.
“Yes,” I say, laughing. I’d forgotten about that. “Jake made him say “Merry Christmas bestie’ cause he knew it would make me happy.”
Then Jake is back on camera.
“Ciao bella. I had such a great time filming your favorite people and places in Milan. Now I want to show you my favorite thing about Milan.”
