Elly in Bloom. Colleen Oakes
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Название: Elly in Bloom
Автор: Colleen Oakes
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Юмористическая фантастика
isbn: 9781940716084
isbn:
“… And that is when I just knew. It was right. So, I decided to open the shop, and it’s been pretty great ever since.”
Isaac shook his head. “Wow. That is amazing. Just to follow your passion like that. I mean, you just knew. I totally get it. I feel that assurance, every time I pick up my guitar, or start putting notes to page. It is that confidence, that aura of being. Everything jumbled,” he traced his fingers in a circle around Elly’s heart, “gets put back into place.”
Elly had no idea what he was talking about, because all she could think about was how close he was to her, how his fingers were inches from her chest. He was still talking.
“The universe clicks the puzzle into clarification. Moments like those make life easy.”
Elly didn’t bother telling him that “the moment,” while being great, had also led to many headaches and was anything but easy. Real estate agents screaming at each other, disputes with the bank, property laws, drained savings accounts, business licenses, wholesaler searches and many, many days of sweat and tears had followed her “moment.” The moment that she knew was also a moment that brought complication and responsibility. She remained lost in that thought until Isaac lightly touched her arm.
“You are a very interesting person, Elly Jordan,” he said, his eyes bearing down into hers with incredible force.
“Er, thanks,” said Elly. He stared at her as a car drove past them. Elly could see where this night would end up if she kept staring into his deep eyes…. She saw herself tackling him, mainly….
She stood up quickly, knocking her wine glass off her lap and onto the stone floor, where it shattered. “Oh crap!” she yelped. “I am so sorry. Ohhhh, your glass. I’ll totally buy you a new one. I know this great shop up the street. Or you could have one of mine. I have some blue ones like this.” She was mortified, grabbing the glass shards with her hands, muttering to herself.
“Elly,” he said softly. “It’s okay.”
“Thank you so much for inviting me,” she said. “I had a great time—minus the vomit. Not that it bothered me. I mean, it’s vomit, it bothers everyone, but it’s not like it’s not normal to throw up sometimes.” Elly, STOP TALKING, she mentally screamed at herself. “Thanks again!”
She dumped the glass into the nearest trash can and practically threw herself out the front door. She could hear people talking inside.
“Is that lady’s mom okay?”
Then she heard Isaac laughing. A line of sweat dripped down her forehead. She was out. Free. Elly ran down the back of the fire escape and circled around to the front of her store, leaning against her window display, breathing in what had just happened. This man—he liked her. Her, with her mom pants and bad hair. Her, with her ample breasts and generous bottom. Isaac. His name sent teenage flutters through her body. She leaned against the building. Joy overpowered her. “THANK YOU, JESUS!” she yelled and then she did a little dance. As soon as it escaped her mouth, she was seized by a sudden panic. With great trepidation, she looked toward his apartment. And there he was watching her on the balcony, a silent sexy shadow with a burning cigarette flame.
Chapter Six
The next morning, Elly sat at her desk, doodling with a green pen as she watched the girl she was interviewing take a swift nose dive into flames.
“I was a language student for a while, but I felt like that just wasn’t me. You know? I still do interpretive dance, which is kind of like a language in itself. So then I was into the traveling thing for a while. I toured Europe, stayed at hostels, met this totally amazing Spanish guy….”
Elly mentally checked out and started thinking about the chocolate mousse that she would be getting from Keith’s deli later that day. Unfortunately, she knew the minute she opened the door that this would not be her new hire. The girl came for her interview wearing purple leggings with a long band T-shirt over them. She was Elly’s third interview of the morning. The first woman was nice and polite, but barely spoke English; the second was a large, sweaty man who had misunderstood the ad—floral designers, he thought, had meant that he would be lifting things in a greenhouse. At least he had been interesting to talk to. This girl was making Elly want to bang her head against a wall. She forced herself to tune back in.
“… And I was like, ‘If you can’t respect my decision to not use deodorant—my lifestyle choice—then you don’t respect me.’ And Brazil isn’t just a dream. Paying for a flat isn’t as easy as it seems, but I have to have space for my dancing.”
“Thank you very much,” said Elly suddenly. “We’ll be in touch.”
She stood up and shook the girl’s hand. The girl looked bewildered. She walked her to the door, and breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally gone. Then she grabbed a stem of freesia and waved it around the girl’s now empty chair, filling the room with freesia scented mist.
Kim leaned around the corner, pale-pink anna roses in hand. Elly could tell she had been laughing.
“So,” she looked at Elly flinging the flower around, “how’s it going?”
“Oh, FINE. You know, I just interviewed a girl who asked if it would be okay if she brought her Kabbalah bracelet in to work to enhance the environment.”
Kim grinned. “Well, could she?”
Elly looked at her, annoyed. “Also, she smelled bad. Like patchouli.” She paused, thinking. “You know, you could just stay.”
Kim’s smile faded. “Don’t make me feel bad. You promised. It’s not my fault your ad was misleading.”
Elly launched herself into her chair and put her feet onto the desk. Owning your own business had its perks.
“Sorry. It’s just … I’m trying to replace YOU. You are perfect. You know everything. I would have died a million times without you here. I’m afraid the shop will fall down the minute you walk out the door.”
Kim walked over and kissed Elly’s forehead. “You are pathetic. You built this place, not me. Have some pride.”
Snarky Teenager stomped out of the back. “Um, Kim? This bucket has a leak in it. What should I do?”
Kim rolled her eyes at Elly and headed to the back. Elly didn’t know what Snarky Teenager would do without Kim. She worshipped the ground Kim walked on. She regarded Elly more like that bossy aunt she had to like because they were related.
Elly looked down at her day planner. Two more interviews today and a consultation with a mother of the bride. Fun times. Still, Elly felt buoyancy in her step today. She couldn’t stop replaying Isaac running his fingers along the edge of her chair on the balcony. His smile, his laugh, his dark curly hair. It was nothing, she told herself. He was just nice to you because you are his neighbor. There is nothing there. She told herself this, but she knew that he felt it too, this heat between them. Elly was wondering if she remembered how to kiss when the door clanged open for her СКАЧАТЬ