Maybe I love you

18. Moon and tide

Two days had passed and Joyce hadn't spoken to Hopper since then because she hadn't seen him again. 

It was a Thursday, early in the morning and she had her back against the back of her chair, fighting not to fall asleep.

----

Hopper took a deep breath before entering Mervald's shop at lunchtime. He found Joyce talking to a customer at the corner of a section. He smiled as he looked at her for a few moments before deciding to join her with a bunch of roses in his hand. El had begged him to give her one and, imagining the reaction Joyce might have, he had cracked.

After all, if this little gesture could make her happy, why not? Everybody was used to doing that in the movies according to his daughter. 

But the closer he got to her, the more his confidence dissipated. 

Argh, why did he have to listen to a teenage girl! 

It was stupid... so stupid.

He cleared his throat when he came up behind her. First he had to take a chance to see if she would accept to talk to him.

"... but it depends on the children because..." Joyce turned around and saw Hopper looking at her and pinching his lips. "Um... I'm... sorry, excuse me, I'll just be right back in two seconds", she said to the customer before taking Hopper's arm and pulling him to the other end of the section, pinching him at the same time.

"Uh... Are you... are you all right?" He asked.  

"Can't you see I'm working here! Maybe you should do the same someti-"

Hopper handed her the bouquet of roses he had bought earlier. Joyce opened her mouth as she looked at the flowers and then closed it again, raising her eyes to Hopper's and crossing her arms.

"Don't you want it?" He asked, lost. 

"Do you really think a bouquet of flowers will make everything better?"

Hopper felt his jaw drop to the ground.

"No, of course not, but I thought that... I don't know... I just wanted..." He stammered.

"I don't need flowers. I just need explanations."

"I'm really sorry. I just... panicked? I don't know how to explain this to you without... well I mean... um..."

Joyce turned her eyes to her client who was looking at his watch.

"I don't really want to see you right now, you know", she said coldly. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going back to work."

She left, lowering her eyes so as not to catch Hopper's gaze.

—♡—♡—♡—♡—♡—

It was the day after and Hopper decided to have a new try, he wouldn't give up so easily. She wanted an explanation so he was going to try to explain to her even though it made him vulnerable. And then, actually, he liked to be vulnerable with his feelings, but exclusively if it was with Joyce. 

The bell rang and she turned and smiled, ready to greet her new client. She didn't. It was him and she didn't want to see him. 

"Hello", he said, smiling.

"Leave me alone, I don't want to talk to you, let alone see you. Damn it, I thought I made myself clear, Hopper."

"You have no right to force a client to go out, and you're supposed to help me if I don't find what I'm looking for", he said with a new proud smile.