Coffee

A couple of days later I was putting out my Saint Laurent suit to get dressed before I heard a knock at the door. No one even knew I was in LA who could possibly be at the door? Standing in the doorway was a delivery man with a giant vase of red poppies. I took them from him and went to sit the vase down on the nearby table before I said thanks to the delivery man. When I looked back at the door Justin was standing there with two coffees in his hand.

"Hi there." He said, smiling.

"Don't you think it's getting creepy that every time I turn around you're sneaking up on me?"

"Chill out, I just wanted to bring you a coffee and wish you luck today. Apparently I'm not the only one." He said eyeing the flowers on the table. 

"You're not. Close the door behind you?" I started walking back into the living room and sat the flowers down in the center of the coffee table. I looked at them for a while before I walked over to the kitchen where Justin was standing.

"From Jeremy?"

"Yes."

"Why red poppies?"

I guess in the larger sense Justin wouldn't have an archive of Van Gogh paintings stored in his head, but I was still surprised when he asked. That was always one of the things Justin and I never had in common. He would listen to me rant about artists and what certain paintings and pieces meant, but we could never share those feelings. When I started seriously dating Jeremy and we could share those feelings and the excitement over seeing artists we loved it was new to me. Watching his artistic process when he is inspired to paint something is incredible. He is incredible in every aspect.

"There's a Van Gogh painting called Vase with Red Poppies. He said that painting always reminds him to send me flowers." Justin started dry heaving and I snatched my coffee off the counter. "I have to get dressed. For someone who couldn't even look at me a few weeks ago you're very active in my life suddenly."

"I figured seeing you at the airport was some kind of sign. We had fun on the plane right?"

"After the 4th drink, sure."

"Like I said, I went to get some coffee and thought I'd come wish you luck today. Didn't know you'd be beaming at some fucking poppies for 20 minutes."

"Thanks for the coffee. I really appreciate it." I said, ignoring his last comment. "I have to go get dressed now, but um...we can have...dinner later?" Before I even realized what I was saying the words has escaped my mouth. 

"Sure. 8? I'll call you."

"Sounds good."

He looked at me for a minute as though trying to make a decision and then he just started walking past me.

"Later."

I stood there absentmindedly drinking my coffee. When Justin wafted past me I could smell his cologne. It had intoxicated me and I had to snap myself out of it to put my suit on. I'm not sure what Justin is doing or why he's been acting this way, but it was starting to effect me in a very strange way. I felt like a teenager with a high school crush. Which was ridiculous. I'm 34 what reason could I ever have for fawning over some man like this.

I was standing in front of my mirror wearing my suit and surveying my appearance. I put the necklace Justin has given me on years ago for some type of good luck. Some type of reminder of who I was. I was nervous but I didn't know why. What if they didn't like me? What if i didn't like them? I mean, she wouldn't have invited me all the way here if she thought that I wasn't going to be perfect for the job. She's important. She doesn't just have time to be calling random people she MIGHT be interested in for the museum. My phone vibrated across the room and I opened it to reveal at text from Justin that said "stop freaking out." He can't still know me like this after all this time. I shook my head and grabbed my purse, leaving the coffee on the counter.