Page 32 of Weekends with You

By the time he sat down, it would have been awkward to inch my stool in the other direction, but he was dangerously close.

No one had ever really watched me work before, save for Renee and the occasional customer, of course, but it didn’t make me as nervous as I thought it might. I was at peace when I was working, and I would be damned if Henry Baker was going to disturb that.

I talked him through the motions as I worked, explaining what flowers I was using and why, what techniques would make the best arrangements for this function, and what effect I hoped to create.

“They all look like mistletoe,” he said. “Was that the effect?” He wasn’t teasing, he was genuinely asking, which made me all the more tempted to say yes.

“That’s the beauty of floral arrangements,” I explained. “You can interpret them however you please. So, if you choose to see mistletoe and the rest of us choose to see holly and mulled wine and white winter snow, then who am I to stop you?”

He laughed softly at the irony of my question, and I knew we were both thinking about Bonfire Night, when he’d tried to pick up where we left off and I was exactly the one to stop him.

“This is really something, Luce,” he said, admiring the pieces. “I mean, you came in here with bags of plants, and now you’re leaving here with something that makes people think of kissing or singing Christmas carols by the fire. I didn’t realize there was so much to it.”

“Most people don’t. But that doesn’t bother me. I realize how much there is to it, and everyone benefits whether or not they realize it, so it’s okay with me.”

“You are impressively humble. If I had a talent like this, I’d be demanding everyone in the city admire my flowers.”

“Well, I’m sure you’re equally talented in your own right. But I’d have to see you in action to find out.”

“Ah, is that how this works?”

“We made a deal, didn’t we?”

“Sealed it with a kiss.” He flashed a cheeky grin, and I swatted him on the arm.

“Henry! Friends don’t talk about the times they’ve kissed. Especially when they’ve agreed to never do it again.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said, but I couldn’t tell if that was the truth. “And we did make a deal. Why don’t you let me shoot you?”

“What?”

“Be my subject. Let me take photos of you, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I am. Photography really is quite easy when you have the right subject, so it’ll be the perfect first lesson.”

“How am I supposed to learn if I’m in front of the camera, hm?”

“Do you trust me?” It was a loaded question. One I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.

“I suppose I don’t yet have reason not to,” I said. It was the best I could come up with.

“That’s the spirit. Liv asked if I’d bring my camera to the party tonight anyway, so we can get started right away.”

This was already more than I’d signed up for, but I couldn’t back out now.

I popped downstairs to deliver the arrangements, and the transformation of the space took my breath away. Silver tinsel and LED lights lined the windows, and along the opposite wall stood a plastic table prepared to hold classic holiday nosh and another doubling as a bar. A few high-tops dotted the space, surrounding what would be a dance floor in the middle. We were going to have a proper party in the garage/storage space/makeshift gym, and I needed to get ready.

Just over an hour later, I stood staring at myself in the full-length mirror, preparing to join the rest of the flat downstairs. I was wearing leather pants and a velvet bodysuit with a deep V, where a thin gold pendant hung against my sternum. I had blown my hair straight just to curl it properly, then pushed one side behind my ear and secured it with a pin. Raja had told me twice that people went all out for this, so I had to make sure I did the same.

“Lu, we’re going to leave without you!” Raja shouted up the stairs, and I realized I was the only one still missing.Shit.

“Coming!” I slipped my feet into a pair of black pumps, then jogged down the stairs and dashed into the foyer to join my roommates, apologizing for holding anyone up. Finn started a slow clap upon my arrival, and Raja wasted no time jumping right in.

“Damn, Lucy,” Raja said, running her tongue over her teeth. “I don’t even know the last time I’ve seen you in anything other than sneakers and oversize T-shirts, but this look is really working for you.”

“I second that,” Finn agreed. “Yer a babe when you put the work in.”

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