I look up at her expectantly.
“Someone called this morning asking if you had any new pieces in this week.”
“New pieces of mine? Seriously?”
“Seriously. It was a woman. I didn’t ask her name, but she said she’d be in this week.”
Hopefully today. I could use the money after taking three thousand dollars out of savings to pay Sam.Don’t think about Sam. Just don’t….
“Hey, MacKenzie. Did you have a nice weekend?”
I turn to see Bobby walk into the store. “Hello, Bobby. My weekend was fine. How was yours?”
“Good. Played in an online tournament this weekend.”
I walk into the back room to put my coat and purse away. “I’m still listening,” I say loudly. I’ve sort of feel bad about Bobby. I keep blowing him off. I know he’s got a little crush on me but there’s nothing that says we can’t be friends. Right? “What game was it?” Not that I understand or know anything about video games.
“Die2Niteis the name of it. It’s really hilarious.”
“The name makes it sound scary.”
“Nah, it’s about zombies. It’s cool.”
“Oh, zombies I totally get. I loveThe Walking Dead.” I walk behind the cases to get to the one where my pieces are displayed. I’ve got my new pieces in a box in my hands. As I arrange my small display, Bobby continues to talk.
“So, in the game, there’s this attack of the hordes that takes place every night at midnight. The zombies attack the town and attempt to kill citizens. The citizens in town have to do a bunch of stuff to protect itself like using construction sites?—”
“Uh-huh. Sounds cool.” I nod. I’m sort of listening. I’m just not the gamer type. I had trouble withMario Kart.
He continues. “There are players from all over the world inDie2Nite, so there is no nighttime search penalty, which occurs in the German version,Hordes.”
“All over the world? Wow, that’s nice.”
“It is. And…,” he says excitedly.
I’m still arranging my jewelry when someone holding the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen interrupts ourconversation. Bobby stops talking and stares at the man. “Can I help you?” I ask.
“Is there a MacKenzie Parker here?”
“Uh, that’s me,” I say, swallowing hard.
He sets the flowers on the glass display case to my right. “Sign here, please.”
I sign the electronic receipt and stare at the flowers. Theresa walks up behind me. “Wow, those are beautiful. Very expensive,” she adds. “Who’re they from?”
I know who they’re from. But I’m afraid to read the card. Courage,MacKenzie Blue. I reach into the bouquet and pull out the card. I try not to notice the red and yellow roses, the pink and white lilies and yellow daisies. Dang, I love lilies—how did he know that? I unseal the tiny envelope and slide out a rather pretty card.
MacKenzie,
I’m sorry about the other night. I was a complete ass. Please give me another chance. Sam.
I feel Theresacrowd in behind me. “Wow, what did he do?” Theresa whispers.
“Nothing.” I shove the card back in the little envelope. “I think the flowers should stay in the store, don’t you? Yeah, let’s put them over here near the front so other people can enjoy them.”
“MacKenzie?”
I look up at Bobby. His expression looks pinched. “Who sent you flowers?”
