Behind her, the door opened, and Liv knew she’d see Emma when she turned around.
“Wow, those are beautiful,” Vera said, confirming Liv’s suspicion. “I wish someone would send me flowers. Whoever sent them must really care about you.”
Emma placed yet another vase full of flowers on the table. “I keep telling her that. Every few days for almost a month, he’s sent her flowers.”
“That’s so sweet. But don’t expect it to last. Simon used to send me flowers all the time when we started dating. Now I only get them on my birthday and our anniversary,” Vera said.
Liv had expected the first bouquet to be a one-time occurrence, a single attempt to change her mind, and when she didn’t rush back to him, he’d give up. Today’s roses were the twelfth bunch. Flowers weren’t the only thing he sent either. Every afternoon at two, a latte and a snack from Hometown Brews arrived. While the snack varied, a note was always included with it.
“Thanks for delivering them. I’ll talk to you later.” Liv didn’t want another lecture from Emma, period. But she certainly didn’t want one in front of Vera. The woman loved to gossip, and Liv didn’t want to be the next topic discussed in the produce section.
“Here are the options available for package B.” Liv handed Vera the binder as she sat.
“Aren’t you going to open the card?” Vera asked.
She didn’t need to. The previous ones had all said the same thing. Today wouldn’t be any different.
“I’ll do it later. If you look at page 3, we have the vegetarian options listed.”
Fifteen minutes later, her afternoon latte arrived as Vera headed out. On Friday, she’d found an oversized chocolate chip cookie in the bag; today, she pulled out a cinnamon bun and, of course, a note.
Thinking of you. Hope you’re having a good day. Love Matt.
Liv couldn’t figure him out. When he left her apartment, he’d told her this wasn’t over. She’d assumed that meant he’d return in a couple of days and try to change her mind. When he couldn’t, he’d drop the issue and return to Florida or wherever he planned to spend the rest of the summer. When the weekend came and went and she didn’t even get a text from him, she’d decided he’d rethought everything and realized she was right.
Then on Monday, Emma showed up with a dozen roses. Liv’s first thought had been that Seb sent them. She’d been speechless when she opened the card and saw Matt’s name. Later in the day, when the latte and scone showed up with a note, she’d chalked the deliveries up to Matt’s single attempt to change her mind. And for the rest of the day, she’d waited for him to call or stop by. Neither happened.
Although he hadn’t come to her apartment or visited her at work, she’d seen him. The day after he had given her the first dozen roses, he came into the restaurant with his brother while she was working. He’d come in again last week too. On neither occasion had he brought up their relationship. Instead, he’d eaten his meal and left like any other customer.
Unable to resist, she retrieved the card with the flowers. Thinking of you. Love Matt.
What’s your game plan?
Emma came through the door as Liv put the card back down. “So, what does today’s card say?”
“Please, like you don’t already know.”
“I didn’t work this morning. I had a doctor’s appointment, so Mom took the order.”
Liv checked the card again. Emma had a distinct way of writing the letter T, and it was absent on the card. “Read it yourself.”
“Has he called?” Emma accepted the card without hesitation.
Liv stacked up the binders on the table. “Nope.”
“You should call him. At least to thank him for the flowers and daily lattes.”
She’d already had that argument with herself. Each time, she convinced herself it was better not to. “I’ll think about it.”
“It’s weird.”
“What’s weird?” Removing the cover, Liv sipped the latte and then offered Emma half of the cinnamon roll.
“He sends flowers and lattes, so he’s clearly thinking about you, but he doesn’t call or visit. Why?”
“He’s bored.”
“Maybe he wants you to make the first move, or maybe this is his way of reminding you he’s still here and not leaving.”
