“And what happened?”
“Oh, they told me there’s a shipping delay.” I grabbed the cookie and took a giant bite out of the perfect little heart.
It was satisfying.
“A… what?”
“Shipping delay,” I repeated around the mouthful of cookie. “Yeah. Apparently a blizzard in Topeka has grounded my roses.”
“There’s a blizzard in Topeka?”
“Wow, how interesting that you should ask. No, Mason, there isnota blizzard in Topeka.” I took my phone from my pocket and set it on the table. “As any idiot with a weather app would know.”
“So, what did they say when you confronted them?”
I shook my head. “Pat—he’s the owner—he said there was nothing he could do. And he told me, in a very loud voice, not to take my aggressions out on him.”
“What?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he had cameras in the office ready to record me hitting him or something.” I rolled my eyes. “I was tempted but refrained. I used to say that fairness and respect went a long way in business, but apparently not when your asshole cousin tells you to blacklist someone.”
“Shit. So… What are you gonna do?”
I took a sip of my coffee and thought about it. For the five millionth time since Monday, when Pat had spewed his candy-colored bullshit at me.
“Not sure,” I said, coming to the same conclusion I’d come to the other four million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine times. “There’s exactlyonemajor flower supplier around here, and they’re it. I’ve been on the phone all week trying to source evenpartof what I need.” I sighed. “This morning, I had to call the bride and explain the situation.”
“Oh, God.”
“Yeah, you have no idea.” Marissa Corcoran’s panicked voice was one I would remember for a really long time. I shuddered a little.
“What did Constantine say?”
“He didn’t say anything. I didn’t tell him.” I took another long sip of coffee. And then I explained everything I’d tried to do for Constantine, and everything I’d ended up doing instead.
“Ohhhhh, Micah.”
“And he told me if I respected him even a little bit, I needed to let him go,” I said. “So I did.”
“And that was how long ago?”
“Six days.” The six longest days of my life.
“And you haven’t called?” he demanded. “Not even a text? Not even to say,How are you doing? Am I still slightly below plankton on your personal list of useless organisms?Nothing?”
“He said not to.”
Mason nodded. “I see.”
“What do you see?”
“Nothing.” Mason smiled. “Just… really glad I persuaded you to come meet me today.”
I laughed. “Okay. Because I’m such great company? Or because you needed the cookie.”
“Both. Just out of curiosity, how are you doing otherwise?”
“Uh. Besides my boyfriend possibly breaking up with me, losing a contract that’s going to cost me thousands, and being basically paralyzed until I can find another supplier? Things are going great, Mase. Thanks for asking.”
