Page 36 of Tilly in Technicolor
“That’s absolutely brilliant.”
My eyes flick to Amina, who’s grinning at me. “I-it is?” I ask, chewing on my lip as a nervous smile stretches across my mouth.
“I love it,” Amina says, looking at Mona. “Don’t you love it, Mo?”
Mona’s staring at me like she doesn’t recognize me. “Which colors would you show, then?” she asks, each word slow and thoughtful.
I glance at Oliver, and his eyes are locked on my mouth, like he can’t take a breath until I say what I think.
“Why not all the jewel tones,” I say, the suggestion sounding more like a question.
“For summer?” Amina asks, tilting her head. “Wouldn’t that be better for fall or winter?” She looks to Oliver for confirmation, but his gaze is still laser-focused on me.
I shrug. “I guess traditionally they are, yeah. But do you really need a season to want to deck yourself out in colors of gemstones? Feel like a million bucks with the rich purples and bold emeralds? Then finish off the samples with the real show-stopper. Be bold. Go with gold.”
Mona’s mouth falls open, eyebrows furrowed as she continues to look at me.
My heart thumps so hard it crawls up my throat as I wait to hear what mean thing she’s going to say. The seconds tick on and on as she stares.
“I absolutely love that,” she says.
Now it’s my turn to have my mouth hanging open like a dead fish. Was that… holy shit was thatpraise? From mysister?
“Oliver,” she says, a new excitement in her voice. “Do you think you could edit some photos? Get the jewel tones highlighted and add them to the slide deck?”
Oliver’s head is a blur as he nods, already pulling out his laptop and waking it up.
“This is going to befabulous,” Amina says, scribbling notes in her notebook.
Mona starts throwing out business terms to Amina that I don’t recognize or care about, and the two fall into an excited discussion, leaning toward each other as they talk.
A warm glow fills my chest, tendrils of happiness flowing down my arms and buzzing in my fingers. I turn back to the window, smile huge as I stare out the glass for the final hour of the ride.
When we finally arrive in Rome, we all unfold from our seats, grabbing our luggage from the overhead racks and squeezing down the aisle.
Amina and Oliver are already off the train when Mona reaches out her hand and taps my back.
I look at her over my shoulder, and a light blush covers her cheeks. She clears her throat.
“Thank you,” she says at last, tucking her hair behind her ears. “What you came up with is very clever. And I’m just…” She bites on her lip for a second then does the last thing in the world I’d ever expect. Mona reaches out and pulls me into a hug.
It’s awkward and a bit stiff and super uncomfortable because I’m still facing forward and she’s kind of hugging my back and jamming my nose into her shoulder and the aisle doesn’t leave us much room, but it might just be the best hug of my life.
“Thank you,” she repeats. “I’m glad you’re here.”
I pause for a moment, swallowing past the flood of emotions that clog my throat. When I trust myself not to cry, I say, “I’m glad I’m here, too.”
Mona releases me then clears her throat. “If you’re, um, interested, I’d love for you to join us at the meeting.”
I blink rapidly as that thought tumbles around my brain. “Really?”
Mona nods then smiles, using her hands to usher me forward. I chew this over as I squeeze my bag between the aisles and off the train. Do I want to go? If I’m being honest with myself, the only reason I originally wanted to go was because Oliver got to go. But in reality, business meetings sound like an adult version of being in a classroom. In other words, one of my personal circles of hell.
On the platform I turn to Mona. “I don’t think I do want to go,” I rush out.
Mona’s smile wobbles into a frown, and her body tenses. She’s about to get defensive and she opens her mouth.
“Not because I don’t believe in what you’re doing,” I say, cutting her off. “But I just don’t think it’s the best way I could be helpful. And I want to help. So badly.”
