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He catches my glare and doesn’t say anything, just wraps up our stuff then disappears into the back. I hold up the exit door for Ella-Ashley but as I do, I look down at her head and automatically imagine my palm on top of it, guiding her right.
Phew…our height difference is really doing a number on me…
Whipping around, she blurts, ”I appreciate the little pep-talk you gave me in there.” Her cheeks turn that dragonfruit pink again. ”It almost made me give you a hug,” she adds with an unnecessarily nervous laughter.
”Why didn’t you?” I frown and she gulps.
”I didn’t think you’d like one.”
”You can hug me if you want to,” I rasp, then add in a lower tone, ”I want you to.”
For a moment she hesitates, but then she wraps her arms around me and gives me the lightest squeeze possible. In what universe is this a hug? A butterfly would have put some more force into it. I don’t even get the chance to wrap my arms around her, before she lets go and bolts.
She speeds down the street in a blur of red and white without looking back. Once she disappears, I already can’t wait to see her again. And I know I said, I wasn’t going to that dinner party but I think I just changed my mind.
6.
Ella-Ashley
Dishwash bubbles tickle my underarms and the water’s too hot, but I don’t have time to do it over. I’m doing last minute washing of the silverware.
Why?
No real reason. Frau Falther just thought it’d be a good thing for me to do. As if I don’t have enough to worry about. Brushing my hair from my forehead, I think back on what happened this afternoon.
I was going to get that PassionPlay novel when I saw Hendryk at the bookshop. I spied on him for the longest time before finally walking up to him, and things were going great.
Until they weren’t.
He told me I could give him a hug if I wanted to and after that, I don’t remember anything. Blood rushed in my ears and I was barely aware that I was touching him, that I was finally close to him. I didn’t register the warmth of his body, the scent of him, the strength of him. Nothing.
It became too much for me, and I just couldn’t handle it.
I let out a small sigh, cringing at the sound of Frau Falther’s cackling guests out in the lobby. It’s after eight and they’re right on time, which means this is going to be a looong night.
I hurry up with the silverware, dry my hands and rush out to greet them because it’s my job to take their coats. They pay me little to no attention. I’m invisible to them and my eyes tear from the talcum powder they all seem to douse themselves in.
Sneezing, my nose starts to run but I distract myself by doing makeovers on them in my mind. If it was up to me, I’d style things differently, maybe add bigger scarves for a chunkier outfit. And I definitely wouldn’t go for linen. The lint is a nightmare.
Another ring sounds from the door and I throw a quick look around. There are eight guests here and the table’s set for eight, excluding the hostess. Who’s the ninth, mystery guest?
Even Frau Falther’s surprised and she carefully opens up the door, before letting out a shrill shriek and my blood freezes. A towering man with a chiseled face and smokey eyes is standing there, carrying a small bouquet.
My heart starts its free-fall.
Hendryk. Hendryk is the mystery guest.
Frozen, I watch him cheek-kiss an overly thrilled Frau Falther and he hands her the flowers before stepping inside. He doesn’t even look at me, busy greeting the other guests and I don’t want him to notice me.
Now, I really do wish I was invisible.
”I’m not crashing, am I?” Hendryk smiles at the others. ”I hope there’s room for one more.”
”The more the merrier!” Frau Falther yells briskly as if she’s on the other side of a football field, before ushering her guests into the dining room.
My pulse travels up my throat as Hendryk follows them, but then he takes a detour and stops right in front of me. Body language, decoded as demanding. He’s big enough to fill up the entire space and I feel like I’m in a doll house, my limbs hanging out the doors and windows to fit.
”What?” he rasps with raised brows as he looks down at me. ”No hug?”
