Page 63 of Weekends with You

“We want surprising, but consistent. Creative, but conventional.”

“I’m thinking narcissus.”

“Excuse me?”

“The flower,” I said. “Narcissus. The daffodil. The contrast of the yellow against the red facade will give you that pop you’re looking for, and since the flower is quite common, it’ll give you a sense of familiarity, which makes it inspired for a restaurant window display.”

She rested her manicured thumbnail between her teeth, staring at me. I was just about to tell her I took back everything I’d said when she clapped her hands together and stood up.

“I love it. Oliver was right about you.”

“And what did he say, exactly?”

“That your passion drove your work, which is what made it brilliant. I’ve worked with quite a number of florists, but none who’ve understood our vision so quickly.” I wasn’t sure if my blush was the result of Oliver’s compliment or hers, but I couldn’t stop it either way. “I look forward to seeing how your plans come together. You’ll send me an email of a finalized design, will you? And then I’ll be back around a few days before the installment next weekend to see the progress.”

This woman did not mess around. She was all business, and I needed to be the same. Which meant no thinking about Henry, or Oliver, really.

“Sounds brilliant,” I said. “Thank you, Eve, for this opportunity. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

“Thank Oliver,” she said. “He insisted.”

We shook hands and exchanged polite smiles on her way out, but it wasn’t until she was out of sight that I could really exhale and let my smile take over my face. None of it made any sense. How could Oliver know I wasn’t a terrible florist? Was he just trying to give me business since I had overshared about my job-security concerns at the bar? It couldn’t be that he’d done all this to see me again, could it?

I physically shook the thoughts from my brain like they were a bug caught in my hair. None of it mattered. I had to focus. This had the potential to be a big break for the Lotus, and I had just established I wouldn’t muck it up for a bloke. Oliver could join Henry offstage. No blokes. Only flowers.

The rest of my workday floated by on a daffodil-shaped cloud, and by the time I was ready to leave, I had come up with almost an entire plan for the opening. This was a chance to prove myself, and I was going to do it for me. And for Renee and Eve, who were intimidating and inspiring in equal measure. And for Oliver, but only because he’d given us the opportunity.

When I got home, I found Raja studying in the living room. She looked focused, but I couldn’t resist interrupting.

“I have good news and bad news,” I said. “Which do you want first?”

“The bad news, obviously.”

“I’m not going to be around for this Warehouse Weekend, and I know it’s yours, and I’m so, so sorry,” I said, hoping I could roll right into the good news.

“Wow, Lu. You’re not avoiding Henry, are you?”

“Okay, ouch,” I said. “No, it’s not because of that. He hasn’t done anything to me. Except all the embarrassment and the rejection a few weeks ago, but I’m not quite keen on reliving that. I’m skipping because I got a massive work opportunity, and you’ll never guess who recommended me for it.”

“I’m listening,” she said, closing her textbook and resting her chin on her hands.

“Oliver,” I said. “From the party on New Year’s, remember? He’s the chef at that new restaurant that’s going in across from the Lotus, and he requested I do the window displays for the opening.”

“Bloody hell,” she said. “Why didn’t you say that from the beginning? I mean, I still don’t love that you’re missing my weekend, but this is big enough that I’ll allow it.” I rolled my eyes, and she continued. “So you’re going to see him again.”

“That’s not the point,” I said, though I got butterflies at the thought that she was probably right. “The point is, this is a huge break for the Lotus, and a huge opportunity for me to prove myself.”

“Yeah, yeah, we already know you’re brilliant and talented,” she teased. “It’s no surprise anyone would choose you, whether or not they’ve seen your work. But surely you’ll run into each other if you’re working together, right? And now that we’re totally over Henry, maybe we can take Oliver seriously?”

“Slow down,” I said. “Just because I’m over someone—which I’m not even sure I am, if I’m honest—doesn’t mean I need to immediately pursue someone else. It was just a nice compliment that he recommended me, that’s all.”

“If you say so,” she said. “But this better be the best opportunity of your career so far, if you’re blowing us off for it.”

“Why didn’t you give Henry such a hard time when he skipped for work?”

“He’s not my best friend, duh.”

She had a point. “Thanks for understanding, Raj.”

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