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He gives me a fake surrender gesture and turns around, “It’s gonna be your business when all of your staff quits.”
“I heard that.” I say over my shoulder.
“Good! Ric’s pissed too! Everyone is pissed!”
Myself included.
She can’t avoid me forever, though. I pull out my phone.
Mark: Did you get the notification for the dinner tomorrow?
Eleanna: Yes
Yes? That’s it?I find myself waiting for the typing ellipsis to show up, staring like a tween who’s never texted before. The chat bubble never shows.
Mark: Ric will be ready for us at 6 but tomorrow, could you meet me earlier? 2pm
Mark: I want to show you something.
I hold my breath for a reply. Actually hold my breath. What the hell is going on with me?
Eleanna: Ok
Ok. Ok?Fuck my life.
•••••
“Hey,” She says with a tentative smile. She is a little too thin, a bit too shy, like we’re strangers, but damn she’s as radiant as ever.
“Hey.” I say. I’m nervous. It’s fucking weird.Screw it, I’m hugging her.I grab her to me like she’s my actual oxygen. She freezes for a second before wrapping her arms around me. The relief that the gesture brings me, shit, maybe she is my oxygen.
She pulls away, looking at the building. “What is this place?”
“A dilapidated, rat-infested trash heap. Want to go in?” I smile. She does too, wide and real.Scratch that about the oxygen thing. She’s the sun.“Come on, I’ll protect you.”
She takes my hand, looking scared. “Okay?”
“Unless the rats are like really big, and then, we’ll just make a run for it.” She laughs out loud at that.Fuck me.
“I bet you could shoot a big rat between the eyes,” She says as we step in and let our eyes adjust to the dim space.
My chest freaks out at her praise. “Hell yes, I could.” I glance around, and then at her. Here goes nothing…
“You have to use imagination, but after what you did at my house, I know you can do it here.”
She looks around, “Do…what?”
“Make it, uh, homey, I guess.”
She looks at me, eyes wide. “You want me to live here?”
“No!”Shit, man! Seriously!“No, for your bakery. This can be your bakery.” Her face changes. Good change or bad change, I can’t tell. “I bought the whole strip. My broker said this area is on its way up, and if we control the tenants, we can be sure the whole block succeeds.”
Her mouth falls open.
“You bought this? For me?” She whispers. I step closer to her. She’s crying.
I move to wipe her face, but she beats me to it. “Ellie? Are these good tears or bad tears?”
