DONOVAN
Iflirted with Audra at the flower shop yesterday. Genuinely flirted with her, nudged her even. And the zing that traveled up my arm when we shook hands surprised the hell out of me. I couldn’t recall the last time I had an interaction like that with a woman … certainly not since being in Savannah Springs. I kept my head down and a distance from everyone. Even when I called on either of my two no-strings-attached partners, there was never genuine flirting, just fucking. It was always good and mutually beneficial, but we didn’t even always do thelet’s have dinner, make small talk, pretend we care, and then go back to get the job done. When I called my hook-up last month, she showed up with nothing under her coat. We had a fuck-filled night that more than satiated both of us, and then she took off on her own accord with a smile before it was time to go to sleep. Granted, the time before that, we met at the most sought-after restaurant in the city before doing the hotel thing, but there was no romance in it. It was just another business arrangement. I thought it was a pretty solid game plan for someone like me,because I didn’t have it in me to be interested in anyone anymore.
But yesterday, when I left that florist, I knew I had a silly smile on my face. I wish I had her number so I could tell her I googled tablescape, and that I was interested to see what she came up with. I found my mind drifting to thoughts of her, and wondered what it was about Audra King that threw me for such a loop. The first time I heard her laugh, I had been in my office, and it caught my attention right away. She was laughing with such abandon that it moved me to get out of my chair. When I came out and saw her sitting on Maeve’s desk, I lost my breath—she was stunning. So stunning that I mumbled a hello and retreated back into my office. It was so noticeably awkward of me that Maeve pointed out I had acted like an ogre. Each subsequent trip of hers to the office, I found I didn’t know what to do with myself. As she spread her happiness, I usually just hid and smiled as I heard her and Maeve titter just outside my door. Someone’s presence had never affected me like that. Normally, people complained that I didn’t show any emotion. Hell, I bet up until our last two interactions, Audra didn’t think I showed any emotion at all either.
Shaking my head, I smiled again. Flirting with her felt good. Great, actually. That part of my life, the flirty, fun, carefree guy, went dormant many years ago. Although I wouldn’t say this little flower shop interaction magically woke that part up, it felt like a brief flicker of excitement in a part of me I didn’t acknowledge anymore. Sure, plenty of women tried to hit on me and engage in flirty banter, including some of the most beautiful women out there, but they were met with my civil, but stonewalling, self. I had no interest in returning those advances. But this local woman in a flower shop in workout clothes and a ponytail got me? Chuckling to myself, I even saidhello to a couple of people I passed. That crooked grin of disbelief stayed on my face the entire trip back to my office.
Pulling out the reports I needed to get done that afternoon, I tried to focus as I sat at my desk, but ended up interrupting Maeve less than five minutes later. “Maeve!” I shouted from my office.
“I am, like, fifteen feet from you at most. No need to shout. What is going on?”
“Have you heard of the word tablescape?”
“You interrupted me to ask me something you can Google?” She snipped. I rolled my eyes at her. “But yeah, Audra has gotten into that recently, so funnily enough, yes, I know a lot about tablescaping. More than I would prefer to. Social media is poisoning us all,” she said as she dramatically held her hand to her head. But I would happily eat up these little crumbs about Audra King.
“That’s all.”
“That’s all? You’re an oddball, Wright. Truly,” Maeve chuckled as I did too, “but if you ever dismiss me by saying ‘that’s all’ again in that tone, I’m going to screw something up on purpose and leave you to figure it out.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I smiled and got back to work.
By the time I got home that night, I was beat, but not too tired to do a little internet creeping on Miss King. After what seemed like infinite photos of her bright, smiling face, I concluded that Audra seemed really good at being happy.
4
AUDRA
Ididn’t know how flustered I would be when my family dinner plans changed so unexpectedly. It’s not like that happened often, so I knew that things really had to be bad. But with my dad having the flu, and my brother picking up an afternoon shift for a coworker, only one brother and my dad’s wife could make it. So, we decided to postpone dinner.
Audra
Guys, I’m bummed. My family canceled on me. I have like 10 pounds of fajita meat and all the fixings. Anyone want to come over?
Jules
If anything would get me to come to Savannah Springs tonight, it’s meat.
Cora
Iwish I could
Maeve
Tuck and I have plans, too. Bring some to the office tomorrow if you’re on Main. We’ll happily take some, and I’m sure Donovan would too. You make the best fajitas in the world.
Little did she know that was already my master plan.
Audra
Ugh. There’s no way these potted plants will survive for weeks either. Anyone want potted plants, too?
Cora
You can do it, Audra! All you need is water!
Jules
You’re rolling your eyes at me? You just told her plants need water.
