With the mural for Mr. Ambrosi finished, I get back to painting pieces for the art show. Since the business owners in Priority loved my murals so much, I decided to cater several pieces to those same businesses in the hopes that the owners will purchase the artwork to display inside their respective businesses. I paint flowers for Bonnie’s Boutique, a weightlifter for Fitness World, and people enjoying great Italian dishes for Amor Amici. I even work on a few others, like a coffee shop scene and a gourmet sandwich for Tony’s sub shop.

By Thursday, I’m happy with my progress, so I head to the local printing place on Front Street. Even though it’s lunchtime, I spot Elana coming out of Last Call. I cock my head as I approach her.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, noticing she’s not in her usual teaching attire.

“I took a mental health day.” She shrugs like it’s no big deal. “That guy I’ve been seeing was supposed to take me into New York City today, but I sort of ended things with him last night.”

“Oh no. What happened?” I thought things were going well between Elana and Marco.

“I found out he was dating one of the bartenders at Maurice’s. Can you believe that? I mean, we didn’t exactly have the talk about being exclusive, but I’m positive he knew I wasn’t seeing anyone else. He could have at least had the decency to tell me. But instead, she showed up at Last Call, where we were having drinks last night. Apparently, Marco hadn’t mentioned me to her either. She threw his drink in his face.” She smiles. “Then I threw my drink in his face.”

I place my hand on her arm. “Elana, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s fine. He wasn’t that great in bed anyway.” She smirks. “I can do better.”

“You definitely can.” I look over her shoulder at Last Call. “So what are you doing here now?”

“I left in a hurry and forgot my jacket. Caleb called me last night to tell me.”

“Why does Caleb have your phone number?” I ask her, knowing the bartender is engaged.

“Relax. It’s nothing like that. I actually applied for the weekend bartending shift.”

I had no idea she was looking for a weekend job. “What happened to that pretty blonde that was bartending on weekends? Lonnie?”

“She’s working at Maurice’s now. Apparently, her best friend works there, and guess what? She’s the one Marco was seeing.”

“Small world,” I say. “So, did you get the job?”

“Caleb’s still interviewing, but I should hear soon.”

That’s what I should be doing. Searching for jobs to make some money to pay my bills. Instead, I’m chasing this pipe dream.

“Where are you off to?” Elana asks. “You’ve been holed up in your art room for days. I’m surprised you can stand being out in the sunlight.”

I tap my sunglasses. The temperature is mild today for this late in October. “I’m heading to Prints Plus to make some flyers for the art show.”

“You’re making your own flyers?” She widens her eyes. “Thank goodness you ran into me. Your artistic ability is amazing when it comes to paintbrushes, but your graphic design skills are seriously lacking.” She loops her arm through mine and walks with me.

“I take it you’re going to help me design the flyers,” I say with a smile.

“I can’t let your first show crash and burn because your flyers look like a preschooler made them.”

“What would I do without you?”

“Speaking of doing without, are you still avoiding Alex?”

I look down at the sidewalk. “I’m not necessarily avoiding him. I’m really busy right now.” I reach for the door to Prints Plus and pull it open.

Elana walks in first. “You’re going to the street fair though, right? You can’t miss that.”

I can, and I have to. The possibility of running into Alex is too great. Plus I need the time to paint. But if I tell Elana that, she’ll spend the next hour or however long we’re here trying to convince me to go. “I’ll try to make it.”

She narrows her eyes at me as we approach the computers they have set up in the corner of the store. Elana opens a graphic design program the store uses and selects one of the premade templates. “Okay, you fill in the information you want, and then I’ll make it look nice.” She steps aside so I can work.

I quickly fill in the date, location, time, etc, and then step back to let her work her magic. In the meantime, I look around at the shoppers. Even though it’s the middle of a workday, happy couples seem to be everywhere. I really thought Alex and I could be like that. We seem to fit so well into each other’s lives. He’s still pretty new to Priority, and I don’t think his job has allowed him to make many friends. This separation is probably hitting him hard, considering how much time we spent together since meeting. I’ve been avoiding the For the Record site. If I read Alex’s articles, it will make me miss him even more. I have to put him out of my mind until this art show is over. Then I can revisit whether or not I should forgive him for interfering so much in my life. I know he cares, and he wants to help, but I can’t be with someone who tries to run my life for me.

“Okay, you’re all set. Take a look and tell me if you want anything changed.” Elana steps aside so I can see the screen.

“Where did you get pictures of my artwork?” I ask, noticing she somehow used one on the flyer.

“While you were busy drooling over what could have been, I swiped your phone from your purse.”

“I wasn’t drooling,” I say, holding my hand out for my phone.

She rolls her eyes and places my phone on my palm. “Whatever. Why don’t you call him? We both know you want to.”

“I have to focus on getting my life back on track right now.”

“And you don’t see Alex in your life when that happens?” She crosses her arms, not buying a word I’m saying.

“I do, but not the Alex that he was when he rented that space without even consulting me.”

She holds her hands up in front of her. “Okay, fine. I know you’re all about woman power and independence, but don’t you think it was a little sweet how he went to such great lengths to try to make your dreams happen?”

“It’s not his intentions I’m questioning. It’s his execution.” I put my phone back in my purse and send my flyer to the printer.

“That’s it? End of discussion?” she asks.

“Yup.” I walk toward the printer.

She hurries after me. “Seriously? You know he’s perfect for you, right? I’ve never seen you jump into bed with a man that quickly.”

I whirl around on her, and through gritted teeth, I say, “Can we not discuss the details of my love life in the middle of Prints Plus?”

“Oh, please. Everyone in here is having sex with someone or wishes they were.”

The elderly lady at the register nearby looks in our direction. “She’s not wrong, honey,” she says, smiling at me.

Oh dear Lord!

“Good for Granny,” Elana says. “I hope I’m that way at her age.”

“Okay, stop. I really don’t want to have this conversation.” Why won’t these damn flyers print faster? I grab the stack that’s already in the tray and wave my hand at the machine, as if that will speed up the process.

Elana thankfully drops the subject. For now at least. I’m sure she has plenty more to say on the topic and that it will come in due time. “Want me to help you hang those?” she asks when my printing job finishes.

“No. Enjoy your day off. Do something fun.”

“I was planning to, but the man I was seeing was sleeping with someone else, remember? At least you can be sure Alex isn’t doing that, even with you freezing him out.”

“How do you know he’s not?” I ask, bringing my flyers to the register. “You don’t know him.”

“I met him at the school, and I know what you’ve told me. He’s not the cheating or dating around type. Besides, I saw the way he looks at you. He barely even noticed me, and I’m gorgeous.” She elbows me and smiles to show she’s only joking. Truth be told, Elana is gorgeous. She tries to downplay her looks at work because who wants a bunch of horny teenage boys drooling as you try to teach them about proofs? She has those European cheekbones that make her round face stand out in a crowd. And her Czechoslovakian heritage gives her these piercing blue-gray eyes. You really can’t help but notice her.

“Are you all set?” the cashier asks me.

“Oh, sorry. Yeah, I was at printer number six,” I tell her so she can pull up my total.

I have to charge my purchase since funds are so low. I hate having to pay the minimum balance on my credit card, but right now I don’t have the luxury of paying in full for anything. I’ve been living on Cheerios and plain pasta to save money.

We walk out of the store, and Elana grabs my arm to stop me. “Are you sure you don’t want help littering the city with those flyers?”

“I’m sure. Go get your nails done or some other relaxing activity that a day off merits.” I give her my best smile to convince her.

“Okay.” She looks at her chipped nail polish. “It has been a while since I had a manicure.”

“Good.” I start to walk away before she changes her mind.

“I’ll see you Saturday,” she calls after me.

I raise my hand over my head in a wave, not wanting to lie to her. I have no intention of going to the street fair or anywhere else Alex might be. It’s why I called Mr. Monohan to tell him I can’t write for his paper. It’s also why I called Nate about the ad Alex wanted to run. I don’t want them doing me any more favors. Letting me use the old office space for my art show is more than enough already.

I have to do the rest on my own. I start toward Last Call to give Caleb the first flyer and to find out if he’d be interested in any artwork for the bar. I feel like a saleswoman, which I hate. But I have to suck up my pride for the time being because the other option is taking a job I know I’ll hate. The fact that Caleb has a sign in the window advertising a waitressing position that’s available makes me wonder if the universe is trying to tell me something. I open the door, but I don’t get far before I spot Alex and a few of his coworkers sitting at the bar. They must be having a working lunch or something. As much as I want to talk to Caleb and try to secure at least one sale at my art show, I slowly back out the door and hurry down the sidewalk before Alex sees me. If this is any indication of how my life is going to play out over the next two weeks, I’m not sure I’m going to make it.