Page 36 of My Always One

I shoot her a wink seconds before I enter the main doors and make my way back toward Sami's cubicle. As I turn the corner, I enter a jungle complete with a chorus of sneezes and sniffles. Maybe it's piped jungle noises like they have at Planet Hollywood. I'm waiting for an elephant to raise his trunk and trumpet.

By the way, I am literal with the descriptionjungle.

Not as in,work is a jungle and only the strongest survive.

Sami's cubicle is literally a jungle.

Marcy was right. I have to wonder if there were literally fifty individual deliveries, or if one giant truck would have been easier. There's no open space. Even the hallway is lined on either side. The flowers and balloons have oozed out of her area to other spaces around her. Flowers are everywhere I turn, vases and planters, roses and lilies, daisies and irises.

"Achoo." Three rapid sneezes followed by yet another one echo from a nearby cubicle.

"Sami?" I call, looking into the sea of flowers.

"Achoo."

I follow the sound until I find her. When she turns, she's shaking her head. She has a tissue in her hand, her eyes are red, and her nose is running.

"Marshal? What are you doing here?" she asks as she dabs her eyes.

"I wanted...are you all right?"

She nods as an exasperated smile raises her cheeks. "I told you that I was allergic...achoo!"

A chorus of sneezes comes from around the room. Apparently, she isn't the only one who's allergic.

"What the hell?"

"I know, right?" Sami says. "My condo is full too."

I reach for her hand and give it a tug. "How about getting out of here for some lunch?"

"Throw in some Benadryl and you've got a deal."

I snicker as we make our way out to my car.

"It's not funny," she says with a welcome glint to her green eyes.

"It is. It's also pathetic. Have you talked to him or your parents?"

"Jack. We spoke briefly. I told him to get out of my condo. He did. He wasn't there when I got home, but there were—"

"Let me guess, flowers?"

"Oh my God. I never want to see another flower again as long as I live." She rolls down the window as we start to drive away. "Fresh air. I need fresh air."

Like a puppy on its first drive, Sami leans her face out the window, allowing the breeze to blow her hair back. I can hardly keep my eyes on the road. Considering she just emerged from an unwanted tropical nursery, she looks happy and carefree.

How can that be?

"Sami?"

She can't hear me. When she doesn't answer, I tap the button on the window to raise it just a little.

"Hey,” she yells as she pulls her head back into the car. “Are you trying to chop off my head?"

"No, I'm trying to get your attention."

Sami smiles. "You definitely had it last night."

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