What the hell am I going to do?
Pushing the decision-making to the side, I change and high-tail it to the flower shop. I need to finish the pictures for my lookbook and make a very special delivery.
Love Is a Battlefieldblares through the speakers. Pat Benatar belts the lyrics, and I sing along with her.
She’s right about one thing: love is a battlefield. Having the capacity to love multiple things is almost paralyzing.
I know what I’ve always wanted. But I’m putting a lot of eggs in one basket. When Fletcher called about Naomi and he ran out that door, I wanted to jump in the truck with him. I need to admit to myself how monumental that is.
After I finish primping the daisies, I lock up and carry them out to my car and head out to Hayes Ranch. Hopefully they aren’t home and I can sneak away unnoticed.
***
Slowly pulling up to Cooper’s house, I sit there for a second to make sure no one is home.
Unbuckling the vase, I hurry up the steps and stick the little card in the fork before running back to my car.
I hope these make Naomi smile. It doesn’t matter that I don’t have all the details. Whatever happened was traumatizing for her. My heart breaks for all of them, and I wish I could help, wish I could do something about it.
When I get home, I immediately check my phone to see if they got them yet.
Instead, I find a text from June.
June: Did I just see your car leaving the ranch?
Mae: Mayyyyybe
June: Who were you looking for?
Mae: No one
June: Kay weirdo
June: When are we hanging out? Gracie is back in town in a few days. We should do something.
Mae: okay tell me when and where.
June gives me a thumbs up, and the easy exchange is like a bucket of ice water. I’ve put myself in a difficult position, and I’m at a crossroads.
I have friends here. I like Paxton, but I’d like the flower shop a little more if it were actually making money. But I also like my accounting job, and my parents expect me back in less than a year.
And I like Cooper Hayesa lot.
Cooper said he would give me plenty of reasons to stay, and he’s given me a few, but are they enough? Will Mom and Dad be okay? What happens if Cooper and I don’t work out? What then? I end up back at square one, only this time I gave up more for nothing? Is it possible to have it all? Is it worth having it all? Do Iwantit all?
Chapter 31
Cooper
NaomiandIstrollhome after I’ve wrapped up for the day, and she squeals running up the stairs.
“Daddy, look flowers!” she yells.
She holds the vase and shoves her face into the blooms.
I smile and pluck the card from the little fork.
“I think I know who these are from,” I tell her.
