Tessa:Same energy when you’re rich! ??
I locked my phone and stood there in the parking lot, trying to decide how I felt.
Flattered? Yes.
Confused? Absolutely.
A little bit scared? Maybe.
The lack of fear was bothering me so badly. It was infuriating me lowkey, but lying beneath was curiosity—the kind that killed the cat. Every single time. Whoever this was, was speaking to the woman I only let out when nobody was watching. And that kind of attention had the potential to have me on bullshit.
I couldn’t lie and say I didn’t feel a little giddy thinking about whoever was doing this. They weren’t just throwing money around. They were paying attention. Knew exactly what would make my day better after a hard week. It was sweet and something I wasn’t used to. Maybe that’s why the fear that was supposed to be telling me to steer clear felt like curiosity.
How could my thoughts be this scattered over a stranger?
???
Three Days Later
Derby practice had run late, and my body was running on fumes by the time I turned onto Sycamore. Total’sWhat About Usplayed through the stereo on low, and I hummed to tune out Brixxi, who was curled up in the passenger seat, snoring like she paid bills. I was just ready to get home, shower, and fall into bed before my next shift.
Tessa was mid-rant about my “secret admirer” again, her voice carrying through the car speakers. Ever since the spa, she’d turned into a full-time investigator, convinced some man was trying to sweep me off my feet. I half-listened, answering with the occasional “mm-hmm,” not ready to admit she might’ve been right. Because she wasn’t just convinced, I had an admirer; she was convinced it was him. I couldn’t even bring myself to say his name anymore.
Dramatic.
I eased into my spot, shifted into park, and stepped out. Brixxi stretched beside me, tail wagging.
“Tessa, stop talking like a fool. Neither you nor I know who this is. It could be Josh for all I know.”
The laugh that sliced through the air from her made me roll my eyes.
“Bitch. Josh? When did that nigga ever apply pressure like this? I’ll slap you for saying that. Josh can’t even try anything new at Applebee’s, let alone be spontaneous like this.”
“Tessie.”
“Halo.”
I laughed because she was serious, and she was right. We continued talking, more so Tessa. I was laughing at her antics while I grabbed my mail. But my laugh clipped short when I reached my porch, and it looked like somebody had robbed a florist.
I froze. Roses, orchids, sunflowers, wildflowers, at least a dozen arrangements lined across every inch of the steps, each in a different vase. I quickly disconnected with Tess before she could dig deeper into her theory.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I muttered.
First, the bagels. Then the spa appointment. Now this. Whoever was behind it was escalating, and I didn’t know if I should be flattered or scared.
The smell hit first. It caught me mid-stride, right before I reached the steps.
That’s when I saw the card tucked in the center. My hands trembled as I grabbed the card.
Pick the one that speaks to you first. That’s how I’ll know what you like. — A Friend
I read it twice. The handwriting was careful, deliberate, just like everything else about this.
Again, I was waiting for fear to overcome me, but it never came. Instead, I was standing there staring at the flowers, analyzing them to ensure I made the right choice. The roses were predictable. The orchids were too high maintenance for my life. But the sunflowers stood out. They were bold, unapologetic, and taking up space without asking permission. Those spoke to me. I reached for them, playing along. I grabbed the sunflowers and left the rest. Let the neighbors have some beauty, and let whoever was watching see they weren’t scaring me. Well, not completely.
I looked around the street, half expecting to see someone watching. But there was nothing. Just porch lights and parked cars. Everything looked normal, even though nothing about this felt normal. I needed to get inside and figure out what the hell was happening—and why I was teetering on the edge of exhilaration.
Brixxi trotted after me as I unlocked the door and threw the deadbolt. I carried the sunflowers to my kitchen table and set them in the center, where the morning light would hit first.
