“What?” I ask her.
She nudges him in the toe with her cane. “The guy with the tattoos who left too much money when he sprang for all those orchids a few weeks ago. This is him.”
Ty and I stare at each other, both of us rooted in place as Mary watches expectantly. I swear his cheeks flush.
“You two just gonna stare or what?” Her beady eyes sweep over Ty’s tall frame back to me.
I’m not sure what she’s expecting, but my nerves do what they always do. They ramp up double time and fly from my mouth in an avalanche ofwords.
I stick out a hand. “I’m Avery. Nice to meet you. So orchids, huh? Mrs. McMurphy typically carries quite the selection, but we are a little low on stock right now.”
Ty tilts his head, taking my hand and shaking it.
“I’m too old for this. I don’t got time to wait on introductions.” Marypfftsand hobbles away, calling over her shoulder as she does. “Avery, tell tattoos his change will be in an envelope on the counter.”
When she’s out of earshot, Ty drops my hand and leans in. “What amIdoing here? What areyoudoing here? How many jobs do you have?”
“Not enough, apparently, or I wouldn’t be crashing with you.” I try to keep my voice down. “Are you here for more orchids because you murdered yours?”
“You noticed?”
“I tend to them in the living room, like, every day, Ty. I’m a little insulted that you thought you could just replace them and I wouldn’t notice.”
Something buzzes in my pocket, and it’s only then that I remember I made plans for my lunch break today.
With Larissa.
Who is picking me up.
Who is currently calling me because she’s here. And we’re still standing right by the door.
“Geez freaking Louise, Ty. Why did you have to show up right now?” I hold up a finger and answer my phone. “Hi, Rissa— Wait, you’re coming in? For what? No. I can bring it out. I’m on my way out now. Don’t?—”
Before I can finish my sentence, Larissa walks in the front door, spotting me first before her eyes immediately land on Ty. Then her full lips part, her cheeks blanching.
“I said I was on my way out,” I breathe.
Larissa pries her eyes from Ty, and they bulge as they bore into me. “I don’t see any potting soil in your hands. You said you were bringing it out.”
“I’m having Mary hold the soil behind the counter. You don’t need to repot your stuff just yet. It could wait another day or two.”
She stares at me, a sculpted brow arched in giddy annoyance. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you when you were with a customer.”
“Oh, you didn’t.” I panic, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the door that’s mere inches away. “Mary! This guy needs help! I’m leaving for my lunch now!”
I don’t wait for her—or Ty—to respond, I just march out the door.
“Wait,” Larissa calls from behind me.
I turn to face her, her dark eyes still wide.
“Don’t you know who that was?” she finishes.
I shrug, yanking on her door handle that is definitely not unlocked yet. “Who? The guy? Oh. Yeah. Kings player, right?”
She sits into her hip as she unlocks the small black car and slides into the driver’s seat. “A player? Yeah, just Ty Brewster. Our strong safety. No big deal.”
The car revs to a start, and she pulls out of the lot. It takes me a block to come up with a reply. “Yeah. Ty said his mom is super into orchids and he wanted to pick some up for her.”
