As if in slow motion, the crowds separated in front of her. Keith was here, standing in the doorway. Their eyes met and the vase dropped swiftly and exploded with a crash at her feet. Her heels were soaking wet, vanda orchids strewn around her feet.
Elly opened her mouth in an attempt to breathe. He just didn’t look good. He looked … like the man she loved. A gray suit she had never seen fit him perfectly, cutting impressive lines along his strong arms, neck, and back. He was wearing a cranberry tie and black shoes. His deep-blue eyes searched for her and Elly braced herself as he took a step toward her. She dropped her eyes to the ground as she started to pick up the shattered glass, her hands shaking. He’s coming, she thought, half in shock and the other half with a buoyant joy. A dark figure stepped into her line of sight. Keith was blocked out by thick, hairy legs. Who would wear shorts to this thing?
“What are you doing here?” Dennis’s voice boomed through the crowd. Suddenly, everyone around them was talking in whispers, leaning toward them to hear the conflict. “Go home, dude. She doesn’t want to see you.”
“Dennis,” whispered Elly, “it’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” he mumbled.
Keith stepped forward. He took Elly’s breath away. “This isn’t your business, Dennis.”
“Yes, it is. She is my sister. And she was having a good night, and now you are ruining it. Go home. She doesn’t want you here. Why did you even come?”
Keith looked confused. “Because I was invited.”
“By who?”
“By … Elly?” Sadness entered his eyes. “I got an invitation in the mail.”
Snarky Teenager was suddenly at Elly’s side. “That’s my fault. You must be on our mailing list. I sent the invites. I’m sorry.”
Elly suspected this was no accident. Everyone was staring at them now. Elly felt her lower lip tremble. She could not lose it here, not in front of all her clients and those that would be her new clients. It was time to cowboy up. Hearing his voice for even one more minute would cause her to dissolve in front of all these people, a meltdown propelled by the desire to be his. She stood shakily. “I think you should leave,” she said, her voice sounding stronger than she felt. Elly glanced up into Keith’s wide eyes. “Please. Just go.”
“Elly, if we could just talk….”
“Go.”
Dennis stepped up to Keith. “She asked you to leave. Get out of here, dude. Don’t ruin her party.”
Sean walked up and clapped a friendly hand on Keith’s shoulder. “Hey, bud, let’s go for a walk. I’ve got a stash of cigars in the car.” Kim rolled her eyes.
Keith gave Elly one last lingering look and bent forward to whisper in her ear, his lips brushing her hair. “You look stunning tonight.” Then he walked out the door.
Even though Elly swore that her heart shattered outwards, the party still continued as if nothing had happened. She felt Kim’s hand, firm around her arm. “Are you going to be okay?” Kim asked. “Do you need to leave?”
Elly shook her head and swallowed the lump rising up in her throat before letting out a long exhale. “Nope. This is my night. I’m okay.” Hands shaking, she turned to the ridiculously attractive couple on her left. “Hi, there! Are you guys enjoying Store B? Can I get you anything?”
It was late when the last party guest left. The store was a mess—a strange combination of lily grass, orchids, and plastic wine cups littered the floor; a multidimensional collage of too much fun. Elly kicked off her heels, put her feet up on the desk, and leaned back in the chair, her own wine cup emptying rapidly. The night had been a success. Hundreds of potential new clients were wined, dined, and sent home with gorgeous arrangements and an endless supply of business cards and coupons. Snarky Teenager had been unbelievably on. Each person that had entered the door had been swept off their feet—dazzled by her beauty and charm and by the certain seductiveness of a perfect orchid. The party had raged until two a.m., when Sean and Kim finally coerced everyone out the door with tropical flower arrangements.
Elly let out a low burp and swirled her wine around. Not to mention, she mused quietly to herself, the party guests had seen a free show! Keith, disrupting her whole night with his dapper suit, his requests to talk, and his pleading eyes. Elly gave a sigh.
“Wine is sort of gross,” gurgled Dennis from across the room. “I’ve never had it before tonight and I would have to say it’s sort of bad.” He was leaning awkwardly over Snarky Teenager, who was drawing inappropriate pictures on the design board and giggling. Elly stomped across the room, grabbed their wine bottle, and retreated back to the desk. “You aren’t even old enough to drink. Where did you get this?”
Dennis shrugged and Elly found herself caring less than she should have. She just wanted to go to sleep, right here, in this chair. If she didn’t think about Keith, or about Lola….