I nod my head at the man.
“Well then, these are for you.” He thrusts the bouquet into my hands. “Enjoy the rest of your night, Miss.”
I’m confused and unsettled as I watch him leave down the steps and into his small hatchback car parked in my driveway. It isn’t until he’s turned off the street and completely out of sight that I finally go back inside and lock the door behind me.
Who sent me flowers?
Turning the bouquet in circles, I search for a card, but there isn’t one. I inhale their familiar aroma as I head to my kitchen with the flowers cradled carefully in my arms in search of a vase for them.
I don’t know who sent them or why, but I’ve never been one to let something beautiful go to waste.
Too bad I’m not something more beautiful.
He would have never seen me as a second choice if I were. He would have picked me.
I find a vase in the back of my overly cluttered cabinets and stick the roses in before adding water. I slide them to the middle of my kitchen island and then pour myself a large glass of Pinot.
I stare at the roses as I sip at my wine. They really are perfect. Each bud is close to blooming, but hasn’t quite opened yet. It’s been so long since I’ve received flowers—since I’ve received a gift from a man.
The men in my life only leave me broken.
I glance up at the photographs sitting above my fireplace.
There are so many of Teagan, Capri, and me. All happy, smiling, being silly in love with each other’s friendship. My gaze lingers on a photo with our whole group at my birthday last month, and I walk over and pick it up. Capri and Lee are on one side of me, and Teagan and Josh are on the other as they hold up a giant chocolate cake covered in pink frosting. My name is spelled out with those cute letter candles, and we all have huge smiles.
It shouldn’t hurt this much to see them together.
The frame comes apart easily from the back, allowing me to slip the photo free and bring it closer to my face. I look so happy here. You’d never guess I was burning with jealousy from the inside out.
Teagan and Josh only have eyes for each other in the photo. She has a giant smile as she looks at him, and he is caught mid-laugh at whatever she says to him.
The photo rips easily under my fingers as I tear it apart into neat strips. I place the piece of Capri and Lee back on the mantle and carry the rest to the couch.
I stare at the piece of Teagan and Josh. I should be happy for them, for the love she finally found for herself.
But I’m not.
I take a large gulp of my wine before I rip them away from each other and ball one half of the photo into my fist before tossing it towards the kitchen. I’ll throw it away later.
Forcing the only two pieces of the photograph I left together, I can’t help but smile. Instead of Josh laughing at something Teagan said, he’s standing with me.
He only has eyes for me now.
The way itshouldbe.
He said he was going to propose tonight. The fact that he didn’t causes a blossom of hope to bloom inside me.
Maybe like my new roses, he’ll make me bloom in time, too.
I’m a horrible person and an even worse friend—I really am. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and all I want is Teagan out of the way so I can finally have Josh the way I deserve him.
Chapter three
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Lee says with a smile as he cuddles me from behind.
I can’t see his smile, but I know it’s there. That happens when you’ve been married to the love of your life for years. You know them without having to ask.
I’m so incredibly thankful that Lee isn’t like Josh. I can’t imagine how much Teagan must force herself to smile while enduring Josh’s selfishness.
