My hands went into the pockets of my suit pants to avoid pulling at my hair. I wanted to scream Maryellen’s name from my lips.
“You’re going to keep it a secret, that’s OK. We can still come up with something amazing, even if you’re not quite sure what she likes.”
Harper flitted around the room, moving here and there like a hummingbird at its feeder. I couldn’t keep up with what she was doing. Her feet moved as fast as her hands, as flower after flower landed on the table. It was only then I realized every stem, every bloom, was white. I recognized some of them: roses, lilies, peonies. There were others I’d never seen before. But together with the greenery she was mixing in…it was perfect.
It was Maryellen.
It was as if she knew.
“Harper,” I said as she wrapped the bouquet in brown paper. “How do you do this? It’s gorgeous, and perfect. It’s like you knew.”
I stood next to her as she tied a wide, white silk ribbon around the bundle. Her eyes skirted mine at my words.
“I’m a girl, Chase, I know what we like.”
She fiddled with the bow but didn’t hand over the bouquet. Instead, she studied me.
“Would you like them delivered?” she asked with a smirk on her face.
My face fell at her question.
“You’re not as discreet about your feelings as you think you are,” she said.
Shit.
“Does Gage know?”
She shook her head. “He hasn’t said anything. I think he’s too busy with his own girlfriend to worry about your love life.” She laughed out loud.
I laughed as well because I was in on a little bit of their life. She had no idea we were most likely going to be family before long.
She turned and looked me square in the face.
“Listen, Maryellen is a special person to me, Chase. Did you know that she’s responsible for me and Gage being together?”
That both surprised me and didn’t. I continued to listen.
“She played matchmaker with us, so I don’t have a problem returning the favor. But listen here, you better not break her heart. I mean it, she’s too special.”
I agreed with her. I didn’t want to break her heart, but it was as if Harper knew my MO. I never stuck around long with anyone. She saw me with other women, she knew.
But Maryellen was different.
I was ready for the change. The initial urge earlier was to scroll through my phone, find someone to hook up with this weekend. Someone to help me forget.
But it didn’t feel right anymore.
It was only her now.
“I know she’s worth it,” I told her. “I just don’t know if she wants me as much as I want her.”
She handed me a small card and a pen.
“Well then, choose your words wisely,” she said, and started walking toward the back room. “They’ll be delivered to her home by the end of the day.”
I stared at the small rectangular card in front of me.
Harper was right. My words on this card were going to be important.
