Elly was overwhelmed by this small, sweet gesture. She cupped Isaac’s cheeks in her hands. “You are good for me. Every part of you has been a wondrous surprise.”
Isaac opened his mouth to say something suggestive and Elly put her finger over his lips. “Don’t ruin it.”
Elly settled herself down on the thin afghan and shoved a pillow under her legs. “I’m intrigued. What are we having?”
Isaac smiled. “Well, I think it’s something you will like, and I worked all afternoon on it.” He came out of the kitchen carrying two familiar sandwich bags. “I know you love Keith’s deli, so I bought you your favorite sandwich. I ALSO got us this amazing salad and chocolate ganache cake for dessert.”
Elly felt her heart sink. Keith? The last thing she needed tonight was to think of Keith. Keith tipping his hat at her. Keith tricking her into thinking they were good friends, when he had ulterior motives. Keith’s face, covered with tiny reflections of light, the way her body had simply radiated light when he touched her….Ugh! Elly slammed her hand down on the rug. Keith and his stupid, stupid sandwich face! Elly was suddenly furious at him. Who did he think he was, walking into her store at two in morning and telling her that Isaac wasn’t the right guy for her? How rude! Elly scoffed as she looked at Isaac, humming to himself as he folded his legs underneath him. Isaac...not the right guy? Look at him, she thought, how could he be the wrong guy?
“You okay?” Isaac asked, putting the sandwiches on the plates. “Do you want something else? I could order a pizza…”
“No, I’m fine” Elly snapped. She grabbed the wrapped sandwich. “Smells amazing. What do I have here?”
“Something Keith came up with. I was going to get you the Sprout Veggie Surprise, but Keith said you would like this better.”
Elly took a bite into her sandwich. It was incredible. She suppressed a loud moan, figuring only strange, fat girls moaned about sandwiches. Keith had outdone himself.
Creamy chicken with a hint of lemon and mustard danced across her tongue, while sharp braeburn apples mingled sensually with brie. The bread was a thick grain, toasted lightly and then brushed with butter. It was the best sandwich she had ever had. Isaac, on the other hand, was making a disgusted face at his.
“Gross!” he said, flinging aside a wilty cucumber. “This is nasty.” He took another cautious bite, chewed and then spit into a napkin. “I’m pretty sure this lettuce has mold growing on it. Sick. I’m never eating there again. I think that guy HATES me. Is yours okay?”
Elly couldn’t answer, as she had a mouthful of pure bliss. She nodded.
Isaac popped up from the pillows. “Whatever. I’m having ramen.” He huffed into the kitchen. Elly sat back on the blanket. Now that the sandwich was resting happily in her stomach, she was feeling very sleepy. Isaac sat down beside her.
“Where’s your ramen?” Elly asked, with one eye open.
“Oh. I didn’t feel really like eating. I had a banana today already.”
I hate you, thought Elly.
He leaned over Elly, bracing his body over hers and sticking his hip right into the remains of her sandwich.
“Er, I think you might have chicken on your thigh,” she pointed out. He smiled, his white teeth dazzling her. She suddenly felt a loss for words.
“I don’t care,” he said, trailing his finger down her cheek. “I just care that you are here with me. Close to me. I don’t like being away from you. You are just so…warm.” He kissed her softly. She fell into him, whirling in a vortex of passion. He pulled away from her breathless. “Wow. You really did have a week, didn’t you?”
Elly nodded, her eyes unexpectedly filling with tears. “It’s been crazy. I’m still not sure that I can pull this off, and I’m asking myself ‘Why? Why did I do this? Why am I torturing myself? Am I masochist?’”
Isaac’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I certainly hope so.”
She slapped his roaming hands. “You should stop in and see the studio. It’s fern gulley in there. We have six different types of greenery…Dark pittosporum, Magnolia leaves, jade palms, and this amazing full leaf called Tree of Heaven…” She sighed happily. No matter what the occasion, talking about flowers always brought a sense of calm. “You can barely walk because of all the buckets, but it does feel a little like a peaceful rainforest.” She paused. He looked like he was listening, but she couldn’t be sure. There was something that she had wanted to ask him…something that she had talked over with Kim. Elly sat up halfway.
“I need to ask you something.”
Isaac sat back, looking oddly disappointed.
“What would you think…” she halted to read his face, “about helping me with the wedding?”
Isaac’s face was still as ice, but his eyes widened. She traced over his hand with her pointer finger.