Free Tin Lily by Joann Swanson

wondering why these words have left my mouth.
    “Sounds like the start of a great book,” he says.
    I feel the corners of my mouth pull up a little on their own. He doesn’t look like Margie did when I tried to smile before, so I think this time I did okay.
    “Are you all right?” Nick asks.
    “Yes, why?”
    He rolls his eyes and smiles even wider. “Well, you aren’t shy, for one.”
    “Something’s wrong with not being shy?”
    “No, it’s just the way you’re looking at me.”
    “How’s that?”
    “Like you’re trying to memorize my face.”
    I think he’s probably right. His smile would make Margie happy, would tell her everything is okay. Maybe if I smile like Nick she’d feel better. Besides, something in his smile holds my attention, keeping me tethered and the bees far away.
    “Every girl you meet is shy?”
    Nick clears his throat, looks up at the elevator ceiling and taps his chin with an index finger like he’s got some long hard thinking to do before he can answer my question. He’s opening his mouth, his grin turning lopsided—a smartass grin, I think—when there’s a ding and the elevator doors slide open again. A bouncy blonde gets on, stands facing me, then gives me the head-to-toe sweep. Her face pinches up like she’s smelling something bad. I’m used to it from my old school and have to push down the impulse to lift my arm and take a big whiff of my sweater to see if that dog food smell didn’t all wash out. I stop myself until the elevator doors close, then sniff the cuff of my sleeve.
    She glances at Nick, does a double-take, then slides up next to him. She stands close, her arm touching his. “Oh hi, Nicky. Where you going?” Her voice is all melted butter and fake shyness. I think Nick with his beautiful face and dancing eyes probably has a lot of girls go gooey like this.
    He leans away, avoiding the blonde’s eyes. “Hey, Tiffany. Out and about. You?”
    Tiffany starts coiling thick strands of dyed blond hair around one finger. She glances at the floor, at the walls, back to Nick. She pouts and then smiles, like she can’t decide which expression is cuter. “To my sister’s. She’s having a baby in a month and needs help this afternoon.” She pulls her hands behind her back and swivels the toes of one foot against the floor. She’s wearing high heels that have a strap made of hopefully fake leopard skin. It covers all but her pink toenails. “You wouldn’t happen to know how to put together a crib, would you?”
    Nick shakes his head fast. “Sorry, I’m no good with tools.”
    We reach the lobby with a stop so smooth I don’t know we’re there until the doors sweep open. I start to move toward them, but I can’t get past Tiffany. She’s little, but she fills the space up with her glowering and flirting. She ignores me, staring up at Nick through long painted eyelashes, blinking slowly like she’s sleepy. “Sure you don’t want to come?”
    Nick shifts uncomfortably and crosses his arms so he’s not touching her anymore. “Sorry. Have fun with your sister, though.”
    Tiffany squints her eyes and it’s easy to see Nick’s made her mad. She’s not used to not getting her way. “Okay, no problem. Maybe I’ll catch you later.” Her voice is tight, deep—no more lightness, no more flirting.
    Nick smiles politely. “Okay, see you later.”
    Tiffany’s held us up getting off the elevator and the people in the lobby waiting to get on. She doesn’t seem to care. She saunters out like no one’s there, like she’s the only one in the world, her hips swaying back and forth in a tight skirt that doesn’t look all that useful for putting together baby furniture. Nick holds his arm out, inviting me to go next. I step out and don’t sway my hips at all. I think if I do my jeans will fall down.
    I walk past the guard sitting at the front desk and through the first set of double glass doors before I realize Nick’s right next to me. I glance up and he’s