She took it, stared at it, and didn’t say anything.
Shit.
“I didn’t buy a bouquet because I figured they would die, and while they are pretty, they don’t last. This plant is not only pretty, but also represents courage and bravery. It’s perfect for you.” I cleared my throat, and my entire body tensed from her lack of reaction. I thought it’d be a good idea and unique to who she was, but the longer the silence went on, regret swept in.
“Look, I can take it back. I researched what plants had meanings and even joined this social media group to learn about it. If you don’t like it, I can it find a new home.” I grabbed for the pot, and that seemed to snap her back to the present.
“Don’t you dare.” She moved it out of reach, her eyes shining with…tears?
Did I make her cry? Damn it. “Nora, why are you…I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? You’re sorry?” she asked, her voice rising as she shook her head. “This is the best gift I’ve ever gotten in my life. Theabsolutebest. It is so kind and thoughtful that I’m having a moment, so you shut your mouth and stand there and let me take this in, okay?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, smiling so large my face hurt. Shelovedit. I let her stare at the plant as she blinked a lot and chewed on her lip. “I’m really glad you like it.”
“I’m obsessed. Like doesn’t begin to cover it, and I don’t know what to do. My heart is racing, and I want to jump on you, make out with you, and go take care of the plant and make sure she settles in. I’m going to call her Fritzy.”
“Fritzy?” My brows disappeared into my hairline. “Really?”
“Yes. I think it’s fitting,” she said, her lip curving into a smile as the water in her eyes fell down her cheeks. “I can’t even begin to describe what this means to me. All the dates I’ve been set up on, all the rich boys my parents tried to get me to be into…all those gifts havenothingon this. I need you to know this means a lot to me, okay?”
“I understand,” I said, somehow knowing that the panic in her voice matched the panic growing around my heart. They were the same. I cupped her face and kissed her once more, slowly. “We have some time before our date. You could go get her settled if you want, but not the whole welcoming committee, okay? Just a quick intro.”
“God, I like you so much.” She plastered a wet, messy kiss on me before she ran back into her apartment, and I leaned against the wall grinning like an idiot.
“Wow, what did I just watch?” Gilly, my goddamn sister, stood at the entrance to the complex. She had wide eyes and a half smile, but her tone wasn’t lost on me. She might’ve assumed Nora and I were…close, but I hadn’t told her the full of it. “Fritz, is this for real?”
I pushed off the wall and made sure the door was shut. “Not the time, Gil, please.”
“I texted you I was on my way,” she said, frowning as she stared at Nora’s door. “Dude, does she know the truth now?”
“No, not yet.” I winced as my sister’s gaze cooled. “Look, I’m taking her on a date and—”
“You need to tell her. This is fucked up. Especially after our pasts.” Gilly shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Tomorrow, we’re talking.”
“Fine, tomorrow though. You need to go,now.” I pointed at the glass doors, my heart hammering against my rib cage over and over as the weight in my stomach grew. Nothing she said was wrong, but how did she not get that I needed this tonotbe about marriage for money?
“If you care for her…she deserves to know. It shouldn’t change anything if you explain it start to finish.” She reached for me and squeezed my arm. It was then I noticed the sadness in her eyes.
“Wait, why did you come over? Is everything okay?” My goddamn mind could only be stretched so thin, and with the upcoming meeting with Peter, the date and lies with Nora, I wasn’t sure I could handle it if Christopher did something to my sister.
I’d kill him.
“Did he do something?” I asked, feeling my blood pressure spike.
“No, not Christopher.” She smiled. “He’s been…no, it’s not him. It’s about Mom. That’s all. Nothing major and I’ll get over it.”
A knob turned, a squeaky sound filling the room, and I froze.Nora.
Fuck!
“Oh, sorry!” she said, her singsong voice filled with so much joy. “Did the Carters have something urgent come up?”
“Yes, but it’ll be taken care oftomorrow,” my sister said, her intention crystal clear to me. “Bye, Nora!”
My sister waved and narrowed her eyes at me before leaving. I took a shaky breath at how close that was.What if Nora heard?
“You sure it’s all okay? We can always reschedule if you need to do your job.”
