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“She’s had a few moments, Manny.” Bishop clapped as though he were done and signifying that everyone else should be too. “What’s on the agenda today?”
“I’m not crazy.”
“She’s passionate,” Locke offered.
“Unorthodox,” Manny added.
Ella smiled. “I’ll take those.”
He smiled and winked. “They’re not as fun to call you.”
“O-M-G, Bishop, please,” Manny begged and fanned himself. “God, have mercy.”
“I can’t handle this shit.” Locke laughed. “I’m out, folks.”
“You didn’t finish the smoothie!”
“Well, I—it was good.”
“Make a to-go cup,” Ella ordered.
“Definitely good enough that I’ll do that.”
“Thank you.” She pointed at Bishop. “You should take notes, Muscles. He’s better at this than you.”
“Crazy, your nickname’s going to morph into Batshit if you’re not too careful.”
God, she hadn’t laughed and had fun like this in so long. Just relaxed and—an idea sprang to mind. “Manny, want to do a video with me?”
He could do the bees-and-herb vlog with her. Then she could get it all finished and be done with it. In production, she could chop it up and make it into several short vlogs, maybe a webinar or something. Tara could work with that.
“Are you joking?” Manny’s mouth hung open. It was a big task. Manny touted to everyone and anyone that he was personal assistant to the stars and an Eco-Ella super fan, but this was way more than that. His head bobbed, accepting before he even knew what the task would incorporate.
“You know that gorgeous park over in Seneca?” She pulled the pieces together on the fly, turning to Bishop. “Where we were the other day?”
“Um, yes,” Manny answered for him. “Your favorite spot in the whole world.”
“Not the hut, but the park, that big hill.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!”
What a beautiful treescape that would make in the background. “We could set up a tripod and just talk. Do a few candids into the phone. I want to wrap the lavender-and-mint project up and pimp the urban beekeepers. It’s such a good thing, but I’m losing the focus right now.”
“Ilovewhat you’re doing with that, though,” Manny gushed.
“Which is why you’re the perfect guy to help me.”
“Ella, I would be so honored,” he prattled. “I will do everything. I’ve always wanted to be your helper bee. No pun intended.Yes, pun intended!Oh, my gosh, I’m going to die.”
“Sweet! We’ll go do that today. That’s our to-do list.” She tilted her head to Bishop, questioning if he was on board.
“Nice.” Locke nodded. “Seneca is gorgeous.”
“You should join us.” Manny clapped. “Like a big team event. It’s my first on-air production.”
“I gathered,” Locke added, letting Manny have his moment.
“He’s off work,” Ella explained.