Part 1 (1/2)

BLUR.

By Piper Page.

Chapter One.

Mallory.

Im so sorry, I dont know why the train always takes so long. I promise my car will be out of the shop any day now. The familiar, silver plated bells above the shop door of Pus.h.i.+ng Daisies Floral Shop jingled over my head, mocking me as they announced my late arrival. Les, I am so so sorry. I squeezed her arm as I rushed past her, giving her a regretful gaze.

My best friend, Leslie Martino, shook her head and rolled her eyes. Mallory, youre like three minutes late, if that. Why do you always make being late such big drama?

I scooted by her and grabbed my pink, pinstriped ap.r.o.n from beneath the counter and swathed it around my waist, waving my hands dramatically in front of me. You know why, I hissed as I pressed by her and ducked my head back into the work room to let my boss know I had arrived.

Mallory, koukla, so you decide to join me today, hmm?

My mouth dropped open. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks. Mr. Alika walked up and cupped my face in his hands. His balding little Greek head was only two inches above my pet.i.te five foot four height. He pinched my cheeks in his fingertips that always smelled of lilies and ivy. Youre my favorite. Why you always so worried?

I smiled through my pinched cheeks and puckered lips. Mr. Alika Nicholas or Nick, it no matter, he corrected, throwing his hands into the air dismissively and turning back to the arrangement he was currently working on.

I rubbed my bruised cheeks. Nick, I like to be on time. You pay me to be on time. Its good for business. I didnt want him to think I was taking advantage of his kindness to keep me employed here.

He turned and shook a long-stemmed rose at me. You, I never worry about. Those other ones, he pointed the white rose out toward the front of the shop and lifted his hands in resignation, and looked to the ceiling those ones I worry.

My smile was genuine. I knew Mr. Alika liked me, even without my familys history, I felt that he liked me for me and my professionalism. Thank you Nick, Ill get to work on the new deliveries right away.

Mmmhmm, get Leslie to help you.

Yes sir.

Leslie was leaning on the customer counter, jawing with Robbie, the Pus.h.i.+ng Daisies delivery boy. Im telling you, he didnt care. I could have sucked the gum right out of his mouth.

I shook my head and tried to ignore the ongoing conversation. There were several phone orders to fill, and customers would start filing in to the shop within the hour.

What about you, Mallory? Robbie had hopped up on the counter. His one lengthy, stick-thin leg dangled on the side while he had drawn up his opposite leg and was proceeding to unlace his dingy red sketchers.

What about me what? Robbie get your broke a.s.s kicks off my counter. I swatted at his foot with a roll of bouquet tissue.

Hey! He dodged the cardboard, faux weapon and jumped back to the safety of the other side of the register. Did you go out last night?

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Right.

Leslie sidled up behind me and rested her chin on my shoulder, creating a mesh of my mousey brown hair and her lush black locks. Robbie, didnt you know our Mallory is beyond dating? she teased.

I flicked her in the nose and she yelped, jumping away and rubbing at the pert tip.

I date! My voice sounded defensive.

Oh yeah, whens the last time you were out with a guy? Leslie taunted as she replaced Robbie on the counter and snapped her ever-present mint gum.

I pursed my lips and turned away with a shrug of my shoulders, repeating simply, I date.

Both Robbie and Leslie groaned in unison, looked at one another, and laughed.

I puffed out a frustrated lungful of air and began to pull out ribbon and floral wire to start on some corsages.

Leslie joined me at the front work station. Her fingers were as skilled as mine, and we made good time on our daily preparations. Mal, would it be so terrible to go out once in a while? No one is asking you to get married, but girl, you could use a little cuddle time, if you know what I mean. Her elbow gently jabbed into my ribs.

I sighed. Has your brain been totally fried? You do remember how my last two relations.h.i.+ps ended, right?

Leslie swayed from side to side, her bright eyes focusing on the bow she was making in her fingers. I have no idea what you are referring to.

I knew she was playing dumb. I also knew it wasnt her fault that the last two guys I had dated were only trying to get to her through me. I couldnt really blame them. Leslie was an Italian G.o.ddess. I was just the short, Italian floral arranger with a little too much padding up top and in the back. Although I was twenty-one, I always thought the freckles that dotted my upturned nose gave me the appearance of a teenaged school girl. Leslie told me all the time that I was being unfair to myself, that I was beautiful but had low self-esteem. I would argue and tell her I loved all the parts of my body, I just didnt think they were arranged quite right. When I actually took the time to add makeup, do more than twist my hair into a messy bun and adorn my curves in more than jeans and a shop tee s.h.i.+rt, I could pa.s.s for a pretty girl. Her idea of cuddling didnt even factor in at this point in my life, or at any point before.

So what do you think? Leslie nudged me in the shoulder, pulling me out of my self-sabotaging, internal thoughts.

Think about what?

She gave a sigh of complete exasperation. Do you ever listen to me? What do you think about Robbie? Should I ask him out?

Ouch, d.a.m.n it. I yelped, taken aback by her suggestion. I sucked at the puncture wound I had just given myself on the pad of my thumb. Are you kidding? I asked over the throbbing finger that was shoved in my mouth. I was shocked that she was even toying with the idea.

What? she shrugged. Hes funny and cute in a nerdy, boyish kinda way.

Leslie, I dont think its a good idea. You shouldnt mix work with your personal life.

She made a face and stared at me. Seriously, Mal?

I braced myself for her retort.

Her words came in a whispered hiss, This coming from a girl whose father was one of the bigger players in the game? You cant stand there and lecture me on mixing work and personal, when your entire life has been a mix of work and personal. Remember, I know all about your personal.

I frowned. It hurt when she turned on me like this. I narrowed my eyes at her. Fine, suit yourself.

Ten minutes later, the whole conversation had been forgotten, and we were laughing and joking once again. Thats how it was with Leslie and me. Sometime we were more like bickering sisters than best friends. I supposed that was how life worked.

Robbie picked up the boxes we had prepared and was about to walk to the waiting delivery truck when the tiny metal bells jingled out their magical chimes to let us know a customer was in the shop. I walked out from the back, wiping my mouth on the back of my hand. Leslie and I had been taking our usual morning coffee break. Robbie was standing stock-still, his jaw slack and his mouth hanging open. His eyes were wide, and I wondered if he was having some sort of episode. Hopefully he wouldnt start drooling.

Good morning, welcome to Pus.h.i.+ng Daisies. Im Mallory, just let me know if theres anything I can help you with.

The young man smiled. I felt his eyes travel from head to toe and back up again. My brows furrowed, and I gave him an awkward grin. I wasnt sure what to think. No one had so blatantly given me the once-over like that before. Oh G.o.d, I thought, did I have powdered sugar in my cleavage? I turned on my heels with a quickness that shocked Robbie out of his standing stupor and promptly swiped at my b.o.o.bs, ridding my s.h.i.+rt of any sweet doughnut crumbs.

I need a small bouquet”something not exactly girly, but still nice. His voice reminded me of sweet maple syrup on a winter morning, melting over hotcakes by a warm fire in the Alps. It was amazing. I felt my mouth literally water.