I wander around the room, trying and failing not to let my imagination run away with me. The coolers could go in the back corner, out of the way enough to not draw attention. The front windows could be filled with seasonal blooms, and the area in front of the exposed brick wall would make a great display backdrop. There’s room for a large counter in the middle where I could work. I like the idea of customers’ being able to see arrangements being put together while they shop. The vision pops into my head a little too clearly, already formed and morphing to fit the space.

Jack continues to ask likely pertinent and important questions as I make my way to the back hallway. There’s a small bathroom and a tiny office, and a door leading outside. I unlock it and push it open, barely registering the blast of cold air as I reenter the December evening.

“What the fuck,” I mutter to myself, coming to a halt in the middle of an outdoor space.

I was expecting an alley filled with trash. Instead, I’m standing in the center of a large (by Brooklyn standards) plot of dirt. It’s fenced in and completely bare and basically begging me to plant it full of gorgeous flowers. With a space this big, I’d be able to source my own blooms. Or a lot of them anyway.

But I shake my head at the thought. I didn’t pay attention when Kristen dropped the price, knowing no matter what number she revealed it’d be too much for me.

“Sade?” Jack peeks his head out the back door before joining me in the expansive outdoor area. “Whoa.”

“Yeah.” My mind is racing, darting off in a million different directions. But I keep my face totally neutral, not wanting to reveal how much I like the space. How much I could actually envision this as some kind of real possibility.

How absolutely perfect it would be.

Jack studies me for a second. “What do you think?”

I shrug, shoving my hands in the back pockets of my jeans, turning to head inside. “It’s all right.”

He purses his lips, following me without a word.

“What did you think of the outdoor space?” Kristen looks up from typing on her phone when we come back into the main room.

“It’s big.”

She nods, her eyes scanning me from head to toe as she sizes me up. “Jack mentioned you’re a florist. There’s a lot of ways you could utilize the room.”

“Yeah. I’m just not sure I’m ready to make that kind of commitment.” Ignoring the steady burn of Jack’s eyes on me, I reach out my hand to shake Kristen’s even as I head for the door. “Thank you so much for your time.”