“Ah, heaven’s no.” She took a step back, flashing her palm. “It’s fine. I usually sell out in three or four hours.”
“No,” I sternly affirmed, taking my entire cash wad, placing it in her hand. I didn’t have the words to tell her that Elliot had my back the entire time. War buddies. He’d saved me more than once. He was theonlyreason I was standing here instead of him. “It’s really not much, but maybe you can make a memory with little Frank.”
Her lashes fluttered, fighting back tears, as her fingers curled around the cash.
I reached toward her basket. “I’ll take those flowers off your hands.”
“It’s one hundred roses.” She raised a skeptical brow. “What are you going to do with them?”
“I must be assured you don’t stay to sell them and actually go home.”
She released the basket. I was rather surprised by how heavy it was, as I slid the basket on to my arm, shifting the weight. She reached out and cupped my cheek in her hand, holding it there while she paused. “Thank you—”
“Don’t,” I cut her off with a whisper, doing my best not to be rude. This conversation was dragging on more than I would have liked. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate her, or Frank. It was too much of my past bleeding into my present. Nobody in this little town was supposed to know me. If I didn’t get away from her soon, more memories would come flooding back, and I couldn’t have that. I backed away from her, and waved goodbye. “I’m not going to keep you.”
She flashed her hand up in a wave and turned on her heel, heading the opposite direction. Then I pivoted, not used to this giant foliage on my arm, and for the second time tonight crashed this stupid basket.Clearly, this thing needs caution lights.
“Ferschimmelt!” a voice called out.
“Excuse me.” I steadied my basket again and successfully held the roses stacked on top. My lips parted at the sight of Erralee standing before me, wearing another yellow dress and a sun hat. Even if she hadn’t been an actual princess, she looked like one. Her hair flowed down her shoulders, framing her perfect feminine posture. Her lips were flawlessly pouty, the perfect place to drop a kiss.Whoa, what!I forced my eyes to cement on hers, away from her kissable lips.
“Hey, Reeves.” She offered a sheepish grin, her cheeks spiking a blush that matched her already redder-than-usual nose.
“H-Hey.” I fumbled, still restacking the roses, which by now had started to tatter with some of the petals peeling back. A few stray petals even fell to the ground by my feet. “What did you call me?”
“Oh, it wasn’t a name. It’s Yiddish.” She waved dismissively. “I’m not allowed to swear, but I’ve collected a handful of funny words that feel good to blurt out.”
I blinked, both amazed I’d bumped into her in this sea of people, while also stunned that she’d be here in the first place. “Um, that’s interesting. What does it mean?”
“Oh.” She flicked her hand in a ladylike manner. “It’s a wrinkly vegetable, but nobody knows that. It’s fun to say.” She smiled daringly and urged, “Try it.”
“Try saying ferchim . . . ”
“It’sfer shim meltand say it with conviction.” She curled her hand into a fist and shook it playfully in front of her face.
“Ferschimmelt.” I enunciated each syllable, feeling proud I could get that word out in one breath.
She offered a humorous scowl. “You can say it louder than that.”
I checked behind me. Yep, people were still everywhere, and likely to think I was nuts. I had no idea how she was gettingme to do this silly thing, but I proceeded to practically shout, “Fershimmelt!”
Placing her hand over her mouth, she concealed a giggle. “That was much better.”
“I’m surprised I ran into you here.” I gestured toward the street. “I didn’t think flea markets would be your thing. No open fields for you to nap in—”I stopped before I mentioned rock climbing. That would just be awkward. Why do my toes curl just being near her? I’m sure it has nothing to do with our almost kiss yesterday.
Her lips pulled into an uncomfortable grimace. “I’m making the last of my goodbye rounds.”
“Goodbye?” My brow dropped as suddenly the reddened tip of her nose made sense. She had obviously been crying. By the look of dread in her eyes, I guessed it was something horrific. “Say what?” I fumbled, hoping to rewind her words.
Her lips tightened before she leaked out, “I ah, am officially accepting King Aswell’s proposal tonight.” She raised both brows in what should have been a look of excitement, but the inflections in her eyes confessed her lies.
She was close to tears, and so was I!
I thought she had five more days!
“Oh, man.” I ran a hand along my forehead, feeling a tad feverish. “Are you sure you want to say that so soon? Maybe you need to get to know him for a while. Marriage is a big deal,” my voice squeaked. Such a travesty. I needed to work on that.
Her shoulder raised, faking she didn’t care, but despair swirled in her eyes. She was not convinced yet. I still had hope.I have a chance to change her mind!Now, I needed a plan. My gaze squirted the sidewalk, until I was reminded of the giant basket of roses in my hand. It was so perfect I almost yelped. “Here.” I pushed the whole basket forward, pulling one side ofmy lips into a half grin. “I ah, got you roses. I planned this whole surprise for you, but haha, it looks like you busted me.”
