Everything is soft and pretty, curated for couple season.
Kari pauses at a display of handmade cards. Her smile brightens and my chest pinches for half a second. She’s so in love…with my perfect brother.
“It’s my first Valentine’s with Grey,” she says, almost shy about it. “We’re going to cook homemade pasta together. Then… Netflix and chill.”
I roll my eyes. “Gross.”
Lola snorts and loops her arm through mine, steering me past a table of heart-shaped trinkets and red candles. “At least you’re not still sleeping on their sofa.”
“Hallelujah,” I say. “It’s bad enough I had to listen to the two of them going at it all hours of the night. There’s probably a dent in the wall from the damn headboard.”
“Darby.” Kari freezes. Her face turns the color of a tomato so fast it’s impressive.
“What?” Sarcasm creeps up my throat and across my tongue faster than I can stop it. I fake a serious expression. “I’m proud of you. Very loud. Very committed.”
“Okay, okay. Give her a break.” Lola squeezes my arm, a warning not to go too far.
Too late.
A twinge of guilt stabs at my gut. “No more jokes. I’m happy for you, Kari. Really. I’m just?—”
“I know.” Kari gives me a brief, weak smile, and I feel even worse. “But it’s your own fault. You told Grey to make me happy, and he’s doing anah-mazingjob of it.”
Lola bursts out laughing and high-fives Kari. Kari bats her lashes at me and joins the others near the counter. My guilt vanishes immediately, because this is how we roll. These are my friends and why I love them dearly. They don’t let me get away with anything.
Lola leans close, her voice low and teasing. “We need to get you laid.”
“Oh, please,” I say, shaking my head as we follow Kari to the back of the store. “I’m not desperate.”
“Of course not,” Lola mutters as we near the counter. “But a dose of the big “O” couldn’t hurt.”
“Outside in the greenhouse to the left,” the woman at the counter says to Gabby. “If you need anything else, I’m Daisy. Happy to help.”
I catch movement outside through the glass doors. A dark-haired man steps into view with a cumbersome bag slung over his shoulder. He carries it without breaking stride, like it’s theweight of a feather. A worn hoodie clings to his broad shoulders. I tilt my head, watching as he shifts the bag to adjust his grip. His muscles flex, stretching the fabric taut across his forearms.
My brain blanks for a split second as I swallow. “Oh, hello,” I mutter.
Lola follows my gaze, and her mouth curls into a grin. “Well, well, well…”
“Don’t start,” I warn her. “Quick question, Daisy. Who is that?”
Daisy strains to see past me. “Oh, that’s Greg. He owns the place. He’s teaching your class today. He’s a very hands-on kind of guy. Salt of the earth.”
“Good to know.” My stomach does something a little annoying and a lot lustful. I wouldn’t complain if he gave me a little hands-on attention. “Shall we ladies? Don’t want to be late for class.”
Maggie and Gabby exchange smirks, and I don’t give a rats ass. If I’m going to be surrounded by love sick women and thorny roses without a Valentine’s Day date in my future, I might as well get to look at a hot man.
Kari glances back, and her eyebrows shoot up. “That’s my client.”
I give her an innocent smile. “I don’t know what you’re implying.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“I’m just here to plant stuff,” I add. “I can multitask without embarrassing you.”
Greg
I drop the bag of potting soil onto the bench. It lands with a thud, echoing through the greenhouse. I roll my shoulder once, working out the stiffness, then turn my attention to the worktable where my prize rose bush sits in quiet defiance.
