AI isn’t as useful as everyone keeps saying. When I asked it to figure out my problems, it was very little help. It couldn’t even come up with a viable scheme to keep Ms. Nash and my father from going to the homecoming game.
That night while Dad and I did the dinner dishes, he asked how Cooper and I were getting along.
The flowers I’d ordered would be delivered any time now, so I said, “They’re looking up. We talked through things.”
“I guess that’s good news,” Dad said, but he didn’t sound enthusiastic. “Nicole is coming over in a bit, and Cooper will be with her. I was going to tell her not to bring him if it would make things awkward between you two.”
“It won’t be awkward at all.” It was totally going to be awkward if the flowers came while Cooper was here. If they did, I would have to give him a hug, and he would have to pretend to enjoy it. “Why are they coming over?”
Dad dropped some silverware into the dishwasher, and for the first time I noticed that he still wore his dress shirt and pants. “Nicole and I were discussing our favorite books, and I hadn’t even heard of any of hers. She’s bringing me a few, and I’m giving her some of mine.”
In other words, they wanted an excuse to see each other. Bookstores and libraries existed for a reason.
The doorbell rang. My father glanced at his watch. “Looks like they’re a few minutes early.” His gaze circled the kitchen and landed on the remaining dishes. “Can you take care of those while I let them in?” He left, and I finished putting things into the dishwasher.
He returned a few minutes later, carrying a bouquet of light pink peonies and white roses. They were even prettier than they’d been on the website, with delicate pale petals and greenery dripping over the white porcelain vase.
My father looked more than a little puzzled as he handed them to me. “These came for you.”
I smiled and turned the vase in my hands, admiring the flowers and taking in their fragrance. Peonies were so soft and elegantly casual, like little floral clouds. I was glad I’d ordered the large bouquet instead of one of the smaller ones.
“Who are they from?” he asked.
“I can only think of one person who’d send them.” Technically, this wasn’t even a lie.
I put the vase on the counter, plucked the card off, and silently read the words I’d written.
You are the only one I have eyes for. We’ve spent too much time arguing already. I can think of better things for our lips to do.
Cooper
The message was suggestive enough to worry any parent.
I sighed happily and laid the card on the table so my father could give in to his curiosity later and read it. “They’re so beautiful. Cooper really shouldn’t have, but I’m glad he did.”
“Cooper sent them?” my father asked.
“Don’t sound so surprised. Some guys know how to beromantic. He even remembered that my favorite flowers are peonies.”
That’s when the doorbell rang for the second time. “That must be Cooper now,” I said. “Let me get it. I want to thank him.” I wanted to warn him.
I swept out of the room, noting that my father did indeed stop to glance at the card on the counter. Good. I went to the front entry and flung open the door, all smiles.
Ms. Nash waited on the doorstep with Cooper standing a little ways behind her, looking at me with firm resolve.
“Guess what just came?” I exclaimed and opened the door wider for them. “Thanks so much for the ...” My voice trailed off when I saw what he held.
For a reason I couldn’t fathom, he carried a dozen red roses.
He stepped forward and cleared his throat. “Here.” With a forced smile, he shoved them into my hands. “These are for you.”
I gaped at them in stunned silence, and a desperate giggle escaped my lips. “Even more flowers? I just got the bouquet you sent.”
He looked at me in confusion, which fortunately his mother didn’t see because she was also looking at me in confusion. “The peonies,” I gestured vaguely in the direction of the kitchen. “You didn’t have to get me a bouquet of roses too.”
“Apparently not,” Cooper agreed. His eyes were wide and his voice sounded tight.
This explained my father’s earlier confusion when the deliveryman showed up. Ms. Nash must’ve told him Cooper was coming here with flowers.
