Love in the ER

CHAPTER 20

The morning sun streamed through the wide windows of the Salameda estate, casting a warm glow over the elegant breakfast table. Oliver sat with his family—his mother, Lucía, and his younger sister, Sofía—enjoying a peaceful morning after the previous night's dinner with Paris. Everything had gone perfectly, and his family had adored Paris, much to his relief.

"Paris is such a gem," Lucía said, smiling over her cup of tea. "You've found yourself a wonderful woman, Oliver. I'm so happy you brought her over."

Oliver smiled, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "Yeah, I'm really lucky to have her."

Sofía leaned in, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "I think she likes me more than you, though."

Oliver chuckled, shaking his head. "Not a chance."

The light banter filled the room, making the morning feel perfect. But as Oliver reached for his phone to check a message, it buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number. He glanced at it, hesitating for a moment, but decided to answer.

"Hello?" Oliver said, standing from the table to step out of the dining room for privacy.

A brief silence followed before a voice from his past filled the line.

"Oliver?"

Oliver froze. The voice was unmistakable—Denise, his ex-girlfriend from New York.

"Denise?" Oliver asked, a mix of surprise and confusion clouding his voice. "What... why are you calling me?"

"Yeah, it's me," Denise said, her voice carrying a soft, almost nostalgic tone. "Supriseeee...I'm in town, Oliver. I just landed the other day. I've been thinking about you and... I really want to see you."

Oliver's breath caught in his throat, his mind immediately racing. Denise? Here, in Mexico? He hadn't spoken to her in months—not since they had parted ways when he moved back from New York. They had ended things amicably, but he had never expected to hear from her again, much less like this.

"Denise, I... I didn't know you were coming," Oliver replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

"I know, that is why its called a surprise," Denise continued, her voice softening. "I've been thinking about you, and I miss you, Oliver. I want to see you, catch up... just talk."

Oliver blinked, leaning against the hallway wall. Miss him? Her words felt strange, out of place. They had ended things on good terms, but it was clear they had both moved on. He was with Paris now—happy with Paris.

"Denise, I don't know if that's a good idea," Oliver said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've moved on, and I'm in a relationship now. I'm happy where I am."

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a small, wistful sigh.

"I figured you'd say that," Denise said, her voice quieter now. "But I miss what we had, and I'd still love to see you... by the way, i have something very important to tell you Oliver."

The line went dead, and Oliver stood there, staring at his phone, his heart racing. What was that? Denise had never spoken like this before—never implied that she missed him like this after they broke up. Why now?

As Oliver walked back to the table, he felt a heaviness settle over him. His mind was still reeling from the call, and his emotions were a tangled mess. He had moved on, hadn't he? He was with Paris now, and he was genuinely happy with her. But Denise's sudden reappearance in his life had stirred something—a mix of confusion, guilt, and frustration. And what was it she wanted to tell him?

He sat down at the breakfast table, trying to shake off the feeling. Lucía and Sofía were still deep in conversation, oblivious to the internal storm brewing inside him.

"Everything okay?" Lucía asked, glancing at him as he sat down.

Oliver nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yeah, it's fine. Just an unexpected call."

Sofía smirked, leaning forward. "Who was it? Not work, I hope."

Oliver shook his head, not wanting to reveal too much. "No, nothing important."

But inside, his thoughts raced. What did Denise's sudden arrival mean? And how was he going to explain this to Paris? He hadn't even told Paris much about Denise, not in detail. They had both moved on with their lives, but now it felt like a ghost from his past had come back to haunt him.

He needed to talk to Paris. Soon.