Chapter 19
Maya
Even though I've only been away for a few days, coming back to the cramped apartment feels unfamiliar. Weary, I step into the hallway, set down my travel bag, and close the door behind me.
"I'm back," I call out into the silence of the shared flat.
Within seconds, Elina storms out of her room and throws her arms around me. There's a hint of disinfectant scent surrounding her. "Welcome back," she says, beaming with joy, then she leads me into our only communal area—the kitchen.
"I want to know everything." Elina joins me at the square kitchen table, holding a selection of subtly colored nail polishes. She hands me the small bottles and places her hands flat on the table.
There's no need for her to ask me to do her nails. There's hardly anything I enjoy more. "Shell pink?"
She nods, then looks at me expectantly. "Go ahead."
Seeing her excitement, I can't help but grin. "It was amazing." I don't even know where to begin with my stories. Should I talk about the herds of sheep calmly blocking the narrow country roads? Or the endless expanse of the ocean and the feeling of humility that naturally arises when standing on the towering cliffs where the waves crash? Or the countless shades ofgreen that merge into a single radiant symphony in Josh's eyes?
"Earth to Pippi." Elina's hand is suddenly right in front of my face. Her fingers snap several times. "Not just dreaming about it but also talking about it."
I unscrew the nail polish bottle, carefully wipe off the brush on the edge of the bottle, and place it on Elina's fingernail. The pungent smell of the polish fills my nose. "What interests you the most?"
"Of course, what makes you glow like that." There's a hint of sensation-seeking in her tone.
"Oh yes, Sophia was amazing. With each passing day, she opened up a little more. We became a team." Now, we just need Josh to join our community. I don't know how I'll make it happen, but it's so important for both of them, so I'll have to come up with something.
"Yes, exactly. Sophia." Elina shakes her head amusedly. "She's definitely the reason for your good mood."
Of course. What else could it be?
Unfazed, I finish painting her pinky nail and move on to the ring finger.
I notice that she can hardly keep her hands still. "And how was it with the hot pianist?"
"Come on, he's not that hot. Besides, he's my boss." And I stay away from men as a matter of principle. It can only go wrong anyway.
She shrugs. "So what? It wouldn't be the first time..."
I shake my head. She can't seriously think that I would get involved with Josh. I haven't lost my mind.
"Keep dreaming." I focus on painting Elina's middle finger. The shade is dull. Maybe I can convince her to add a sparkling top coat. "How's it going with Flo?" Iask even though I'm not interested. But it's the best way to change the direction of the conversation.
Before the words have even left my mouth, Elina starts gushing. She tells me everything they've done together in their limited free time. She describes every kiss and every touch, and whenever I look up from her fingernails, her cheeks have become a little rosier.
"And as we walked through the night the day before yesterday, he put his arm around me, pulled me close, and said that the stars only shine for me," she concludes.
Heaven. How cheesy is that?
I struggle not to show Elina what I think of her Flo. He's just whispering in her ear what she wants to hear. Nothing more. This woman is incredibly intelligent, but when it comes to men, her mind seems to go on vacation.
"He loves me." Elina sounds like she's on drugs. "And I love him."
And they lived happily ever after. "Mm-hmm," I murmur and proceed to apply the second coat.
"You're just jealous," she suddenly says in a venomous tone. "Because you'd like to have someone who means the world to you too."
Thanks, but no thanks. "I'm perfectly fine on my own," I reply and accidentally paint Elina's cuticle.
"Mm-hmm. Regards from Dr. Freud," she says, fixing me with her gaze and demanding a response.
