“That sounds amazing.”
I made another trip to the study for art supplies, then stopped in the kitchen to see what I still had on hand for the chocolate bar.
Not much. Davis and I had made short work of the leftovers from my sweets charcuterie with Cecily.
I delivered the paper, markers, and colored pencils to Annie. “Will you be okay if I run to the market? I’m low on all the good toppings. Or do you want to do this later? I guess it’s gotten kind of late.”
Annie furrowed her brow. “You can’t offer a pregnant lady hot chocolate, then take it back. Plus, I’m all worked up now. I need to get my thoughts on paper before I forget.”
“In that case, I won’t be long. Benefits of a college town? Lots of things that literally never close. Do you want me to call Jeffrey while I’m out? Or do you want to walk up the road together later? Because I think he needs to know you’re okay.”
She pursed her lips, shamefaced. “Will you let him know I’m here and safe? And sleeping?”
I nodded. “Got it. All is well, and you’ll be in touch tomorrow.”
“Thanks.”
I grabbed my purse, keys, and phone, then stopped again. “You parked behind me.”
“Keys are on the table. And we need to talk about the hottie who dropped you off tonight when you came home,” she called. “No wonder you wanted feedback on your outfit for that date.”
“He wasn’t my date,” I said. And I didn’t have the emotional energy to unpack my Davis Sommers drama tonight.
All that mattered until morning was Annie. My love life, or continued lack thereof, could wait.
I smiled at my bouquets as I turned for the door. “Thank you again for all these incredible flowers.”
“No problem,” she said. “I would’ve sent more than those three, but the extra medical appointments are eating into my pocket money.”
I stared at the fat arrangements of honeysuckle and daisies for an extended beat, then swung my head and shoulders through the archway to the sitting room. “You sent the bouquets of hyacinth and peonies.”
Annie didn’t bother looking up from her work. “Mm-hmm.”
Apology bouquets.
The last few deliveries had been different. Honeysuckle and daisies. Flowers denoting affection.
“Are you leaving tonight?” she asked, spearing me with a tarty glance. “Or are you waiting to make those drinks after the baby arrives?”
I grinned and ducked back into the foyer. “Already out the door.”
A few moments later, my phone popped and dinged with a dozen missed calls, texts, and messages from Cecily, Mom, Jeffrey, and Davis. I scanned the most recent first.
Davis: Can we talk? Please?
Davis: I can bring breakfast tomorrow for you and your sister
I responded quickly to put the mess behind me, at least for now.
Me: No thank you. I need this time with her
I sent one more message before swiping the app away, not quite ready to revisit my romantic failure.
Me: I’ll reach out when I’m ready to talk
Perhaps via IBOOM,I thought dryly. Since that was where our relationship had begun.
I returned Jeffrey’s call first as I motored down the driveway in Annie’s car on my way to the all-night grocer.
