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“I’d be happy to see her step into that role,” I said. I knew Zeke was only mentioning this so I’d have the okay from him. He was still wary of discussing Lola around me.
“Where is she?” I said.
“Uh, in the cellar,” said Andy. “Stock check on all them old Beaujolais we got down there.”
“You want me to get her?” said Zeke.
“No,” I said, “I’ll say hi.”
I stepped down into the cellar. It was a warm day in New York, in the low seventies, and inside the cellar, it felt cool. I wandered among the racks of wine, my feet sounding quietly on the flagstones.
Then, I saw Lola. She was working in the back office of the wine cellar, a small, cramped room with a standing desk and computer, with a stock sheet on the desk. I watched her bending intently over the sheet, strands of hair falling from her otherwise neat ponytail.
I came to the doorway and stood there, leaning against the frame.
“Good afternoon,” I said.
Lola looked up quickly, in shock. “Oh,” she said, standing up. “Hi. How are you?”
“I’m good thanks,” I said, then added flirtatiously, “all the better for last night.”
Lola looked away. She was blushing, her cheeks turning a gentle shade of pink at the sight of me. I smiled, but she didn’t meet my eyes.
“Are you okay?” I said.
“Yep,” replied Lola.
I grew impatient, and stepped into the office.
“Need any help with anything?” I said.
“Nope,” said Lola brusquely.
There was silence between us, and I felt the atmosphere thicken with tension.
“You know,” I said, “I’m always here.”
Lola didn’t reply.
“Zeke and Andy have a lot of nice things to say about you,” I said. “They tell me you’re really good.”
“That’s nice,” replied Lola curtly, and carried on studying the document. I was beginning to grow frustrated, and eventually, I just came out with it.
“Last night was nice.”
Lola looked up at me curiously.
“Nice?” she said, incredulously.
“Well, better than nice,” I replied.
Lola looked away, and in her green eyes, I could see the glare of the computer screen reflected.
“You know, I’m kind of busy.”
“Can’t we talk? Even for a bit.”
Lola sighed, and looked up at me.
