Page 18 of Henhouse
“Or reclusive,” Effie joked, but it was the truth. It had always felt easier to live within the boundaries of what she already knew than dare to see what else was out there.
Schilling laughed. “I suppose that’s another way to look at it. Maybe the recluse thing was working and now it’s not?”
“Accurate. Everyone else in my life is passionate about something. It drives them. I don’t have something like that. I guess I’m starting to wonder if I just haven’t found it or if it doesn’t exist.”
“And the only way to find out is by doing things you wouldn’t normally do. That makes sense.”
“Does it? I feel like I sound insane.” Effie hadn’t been out with anyone new in so long she wasn’t sure what boundaries existed in polite conversation.
“Not at all. I get it,” Schilling remarked. “For me, it’s okay not to have that something. I’m here to soak in what’s good about life. And just because I love a thing doesn’t mean I need to obsess over it or monetize it or make it my whole personality.”
“Yes! Exactly!” Effie nearly screamed. She hadn’t meant to be so loud, but no one had ever connected with her over this point before. She even drew a glance from Talia and Theo at the pool table.
Schilling laughed again, and it was melodic, like chickadees in the sunshine on a spring morning. Effie allowed herself a flirtatious look at him. He smiled back, and Effie thought it was a good thing that Talia tried to intimidate her by calling him over. He was cute, fun, sweet. Talia’s tongue wasn’t down his throat. Schilling tasted like pennies, but that wasn’t terrible. Besides, his first name could be better. Even still, she couldn’t help but glance over at the pool table.
She timed it perfectly to catch Talia playfully squeezing Theo’s ass. Effie didn’t wait to see how he responded, turning her attention back to Schilling. “You sure you don’t care?”
“Definitely. I’m having fun talking to you. Must be the real reason I came out tonight,” Effie mused.
“A believer in fate?” Schilling asked, and the sadness in his eyes deepened.
“Usually, but I also think that sometimes the way of the world is pure chaos.”
“I feel more aligned with chaos than fate myself lately.” He definitely seemed sadder now.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Effie inquired, knowing her ear might be all that was needed to turn his spirits.
“I wouldn’t want to bore you with it,” Schilling said before taking a long pull from his beer.
Effie considered telling him to bore her. But she knew a deflection when she saw one. It didn’t matter that he was probably compelled by the same guilt she was when she didn’t want her grief to sully the mood. He didn’t want to talk about it, so she wouldn’t force him. Instead, she asked, “So, do you come here often?”
Schilling smirked. “What a line, Eggplant!”
Effie turned ten shades of red. “I didn’t mean—”
“I know,” he chuckled. “But yes. This is kind of our only haunt in town. Everywhere else is trying to be some high-end mixology bar when I just want a cold beer.”
“Fair enough,” Effie said. She sipped her drink to bridge the silence that followed. It dragged on long enough that Effie wondered if she’d ever think of something else to say.
Instead, Schilling interrupted her rising social anxiety by asking, “How are you with candle making? Is it in your crafting repertoire?”
“Actually, yes. I’ve taught a couple workshops and pour my own at home. Why?”
“My mom’s birthday is coming up and she is nuts for scented candles. Always burning one. Her favorite, though, is nearly burnt out, and the shop that she found it in went out of business. I was wondering if I could recreate it.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” Effie said with admiration.
“I like getting people thoughtful gifts, not stuff.”
“Well, I think I can help with that,” Effie asserted. “But we’ll need the nearly dead candle to try to recreate the scent. How’s Friday? We can do it at the store after closing.”
“Do what at the store after closing?” Talia purred, eyebrows raised high over her sultry silver-blue eyes. She and Theo resumed their seats at the high-top, fresh drinks in hand.
Effie didn’t bother to hide her glare this time, fed up with Talia’s teasing. The rise in Effie only seemed to please Talia more, though, so Effie spat, “Making candles.”
“Aren’t you just Martha Stewart in lace?” she goaded, eyeing the modest, cream top that Effie wore. Effie wanted to rip the smirk fromher face. Theo didn’t even seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t care. It was Schilling who came to her rescue instead.
“And the last time you made anything but a Cup O Noodles, Talia?”
