The Girl Behind the Counter

Chapter 5

Michael stood on Maxie's front door step at 6:15 holding a bouquet of roses that he had made her promise to conveniently forget he had bought from her the day before. "You know, in my family it's very rude to be 5 minutes early or 5 minutes late." She scolded, but Michael took no note of her tone, all he could look at was her. Her hair was curled perfectly and her cheeks were a dusty rose. Her eyes were lined, causing their blue color to burst, and her lips were painted red. Her dress was the same color red as her lips, but sparkled as the evening sun hit the sequins on it. It was cut low in a fashionable manor, but Maxie's body shape wasn't quite the in-style boyish figure, which the low cut revealed. The fabric seemed to be hanging off of her every curve. Michael's mouth was hanging open as his eyes looked her up and down and up again. Fuck every flapper in every club Michael had ever gotten hard for. Maxie was the most succulent thing he had ever laid eyes on. "You'll catch flies with your mouth open like that." She giggled. "Sorry I just, wow you look great! I mean, you look absolutely stunning! I mean, wow!" Michael managed to say. "You're used to seeing me in a greenhouse, if you'd have taken me out sooner you could've already seen how well I clean up." She winked. "Oh um here these are for you!" Michael sheepishly handed her the roses. "White roses! How lovely! And a complete surprise too! Let me just run inside and put these in the vase I magically already had ready!" She turned and went into the house. "Wait a moment!" Michael exclaimed, following her inside. "Yes?" Maxie asked. The back of her dress was also low cut and between her shoulder blades was, to Michael's surprise, what almost looked like a tattoo. "Is that a tattoo?" He asked. "Yes it is, you're very observant." Maxie teased. While she arranged the flowers Michael walked up close behind her to get a better look. He ran his fingers along the ink as he read the words and Maxie hoped he wouldn't notice the goose bumps his touch had caused. "In everything you do, always be yourself." He read aloud. "It's something my mum would say. It's like 'to thine own self be true' but less cliche. The tattoo artist was also able to copy her hand writing, so it's like she wrote it for me." She explained. "That's absolutely beautiful. Did it hurt?" He asked. Michael had never known a girl with a tattoo before. "Not really. My second one hurt a lot more since it's on my ribs." She shrugged. "You have two?" Michael's mouth had once again fallen open. "I have three actually." She replied. Who knew the flower shop girl was such a badass? "So where exactly are the other ones?" Michael was finally able to close his mouth. "It'll be your lucky day when you find that out." She winked and the mouth Michael worked so hard to close fell open again, causing Maxie to giggle. "Come on, we'll be late!" She grabbed his hand and led him out the door.

Right before walking into the ballroom of Arrow House Michael stopped. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait." He grabbed Maxie's hand and made her stop too. "What? What's wrong?" She looked at him with concern. "You're too beautiful, you can't be around any of the lads." Michael said. "Oh ha ha." Maxie rolled her eyes, thinking it was yet another compliment from Michael (She was a bit offended that she had to get so dressed up for him to say so many nice things). "No I mean it Maximiliana! You're beautiful, which is why I was nervous to introduce them to you, but now your are drop dead gorgeous and they're going to behave terribly." Michael explained. He had taken up the habit of using her full name, Maximiliana, when serious or angry. "Oh please, you're over reacting." Maxie again brushed him off. "I don't think you realize just how remarkable you look tonight. I didn't think it was possible for someone to be so stunning." Michael didn't say this as a compliment but as a call to reason. "It's a bit too late to change now." Maxie pointed out, still not believing him. "You're right. I'm just going to go ahead and apologize now for the lads." Michael once again took Maxie's hand and led her into the ballroom. In the center people were dancing and laughing, to the right was a bar, and to the left were tall tables people were crowded around with cocktails. When Michael walked up to one of these tables all of the guests at it seemed to disappear, leaving plenty of room for him and Maxie. "Is that a Peaky Blinder thing?" Maxie asked in response to the suddenly clear table. "Yep, its a Peaky Blinder thing. Would you like champagne?" Michael asked. "Please!" She responded. Michael headed off towards the bar and Maxie began to scan the room. Yep, just as she thought. Not a single familiar face. "Excuse me, but do you mind if I finish my drink at this table?" A woman with short brown hair, large eyes, and cheeks that reminded Maxie of apples asked. "I don't mind at all! Please!" Maxie took a step to the side, indicating a free spot, even though the whole table was free. "That was a handsome lad you were with, if you don't mind my saying so." The woman had a twinkle in her eye when she said this. "I don't mind at all! He is very handsome, and wickedly smart too. I had heard rumors that he's trouble, but I figure that even if those rumors are true he's well worth it. Don't let him know I'm so fond of him though! I'd hate to have him think he has the upper hand!" She said, only half kidding. "Oh no, we girls can't let those men have the upper hand!" The woman agreed. "Truth is I like him quite a lot. He's been nervous about introducing his family to me, but really it's me who is a bundle of nerves about meeting them! I just hope I can make a decent impression and keep the number of feet in my mouth to a minimum!" Maxie playfully used the old phrase in a way that the woman found charmingly clever. Before the stranger could respond Michael returned. "Here you are love." He handed the flute to Maxie. "Evening mum." He said to the stranger. Maxie froze. She had been talking to Polly Shelby the whole time. "Well, there goes the first foot I suppose." Maxie nervously chuckled. Polly laughed. "Not at all dear! I'm so very pleased to meet you, I've heard quite a bit about you!" The two girls shook hands and Michael breathed a little sigh of relief. He had been worried to find that his mother was alone with (Y/N), but all seemed well. It was more than well actually. The two women hit it off right away. Polly somehow had known Maxie's Grandma, the one called Honey, some time ago. "Honey was the toughest thing to ever be so sweet!" Polly laughed. and Maxie nodded her head in agreement while laughing as well. "I'm going to go get more for us to drink, I'll be right back." Michael whispered in Maxie's ear just before placing a kiss on the side of her head. While at the bar Michael noticed that every man seemed to all be looking in one direction. Some were huddled in groups while smiling and staring. To his horror Michael realized it was Maxie all the men were looking at. He quickly grabbed the drinks and headed back to the table just as one of the bolder men walked up. "Pardon me, but you are without a doubt the most stunning looking creature here and I was wondering if I might have this dance." Isaiah walked up and took Maxie's hand, bowing down to kiss it. "Fuck off." Michael ordered as he set the refills down on the table. "Michael mate! I didn't see you! Hang on, that means this is the flower shop girl! What the hell kind of magic voodoo did he use to land a girl like you?" Isaiah laughed, but Michael didn't find it as funny. "Maxie, this is me best mate Isaiah." He grumbled the introduction. "Oh! Michael has told me about a bar fight or two the pair of you have been in the middle of. Nice to meet you!" She smiled and Michael recognized the look of 'you're so pretty I might go blind' on Isaiah's face cause its the same look Michael himself gets when Maxie smiles at him. "Aye and did he tell you that one of those fights landed Michael in jail?" Polly smirked into her drink. Maxie's smile faded. "He did actually, yeah." It was one of the few unpleasant memories Michael had been willing to share with her. "Maybe I should tell her how I got out." Michael stared his mother down and Maxie wasn't sure what the stare held, but it made Polly say, "I think I need a refill, excuse me." She wandered off, as did Isaiah who was looking for a single girl to make his for the night. "What did you mean by that?" Maxie asked. "Don't worry about it." Michael responded. That was always his response when she asked about business or about something painful, the two usually going hand in hand. She took a sip of champagne and hoped Michael's mood would become less sour, though she knew that was unlikely.