“I’m fine. Things got weird last night. It was a big day.” I wasn’t sure how to feel. The whole day had been a shit show, from the flowers being delivered to being grabbed to Catherine showing up. Honestly, I was a wreck.
Instead, I typed the text out resolutely.
It feels like unfinished business. What if she is right? What if you go back to her? What if she changes her mind and wants to be a mother?
I regretted it as soon as I hit send. If I could have hit my head on the dashboard, I would have. Geez, Rhodes didn’t need more baggage, and here I was sounding like some needy whiner. It wasn’t even my place to be putting those kinds of demands on him. He just got here.
Rhodes
Never will she and I be together. As for her being a mother … we can talk about this more in person, but that isn’t who she is. Trust me. Please.
Trust. That word hung heavy. I wanted to, but the back-and-forth in my head wouldn't quiet. Before I could respond, another buzz— this time from Lila.
Lila
Hey, you okay after yesterday? Coffee? Breakfast? I can make it happen. Phiny can drop some stuff over to you. East says you’re coming to the shop early.
Even though my bestie didn’t actually ask the whys and the what-fors in the text, I knew she wanted details. I never came in early, but she was kind enough not to press.
Yes and yes.
Lila
10-4
Bless her all the way down to her toes for not asking any questions.
Pocketing my phone, I let East walk me into the building before we said goodbye, staunchly ignoring Ellis as I unlocked the shop door, the bell chiming cheerfully as I stepped inside.
Cedric was actually scheduled today, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t check on everything here after the chaos of yesterday.
If I had been at home, I would have sat at my kitchen table and worked on some of my crafts, or gotten out my journal and tried to work through some of my feelings. That was not what I needed right now. Flipping on the lights, I started my morning tasks: trimming wilting leaves from the roses and arranging a new display for the window. While checking my online portal for orders, I printed them out and tried to staunchly ignore Ellis.
Today, he appeared less intimidating, and the scars didn’t surprise me like they did yesterday, but his eyes missed nothing. When East had stepped away from the shop, and Ellis took his place, they nodded at each other in that silly way men do to communicate all sorts of things with the grunt and the nod, like they were animals in a forest.
I glared at him and then felt pissed off at myself. It wasn’t his fault. “Good morning, Ellis.” I forced a smile. “Hope you slept well.”
"Morning, Ms. Holt," he said, nodding politely. “I slept fine.”
“You can call me Sage,” I offered. “I’d prefer that.”
He shrugged as if he couldn’t care less what he called me and set down what I assumed were the tools he needed for whatever he was going to install. “I brought the cameras and sensors today. If you have any thoughts on spots we need to cover, let us know. But I’ll stay out of your way, and I'm here if anything feels off."
"Thanks," I replied, forcing a smile. I wondered whether I should mention my ‘feelings’ to him. Instead, I said, “Appreciate it. Start wherever you need." He got to work immediately, climbing a ladder to mount a camera above the entrance, his movements efficient and quiet. It felt strange having someone his size in my little flower shop, but after yesterday's grab, I wasn't complaining. The shop felt extra small with him in it since it wasn’t very big, but I tried to focus on other things, blocking him out.
I was still trying to work out why someone would try to grab me or send me weird messages. It didn’t make any sense to me that someone would come after me. I wasn’t that interesting.
A knock sounded on the locked door, but Ellis had already moved over to it like we were going to get raided any second, his hand already going to his holster. I rolled my eyes since it was only Phiny, hopping from one foot to the other with both her hands full of what looked like coffee and a bakery box.
“That’s one of my sisters. Don’t shoot her.”
“I’m not going to shoot a chick.” Ellis unlocked the door and earned a box in the chest that he obviously wasn’t expecting. “Maybe I’ll change my mind. She seems like a psycho.”
“Take this,” Phiny ordered. “Don’tdrop it or I’m charging you.” She swept past him without a backward glance. “Why are you even here so early, babes? Could you not sleep in that place? I should have brought you your weighted blanket.”
She unpacked the coffee tray and pried off the lid, peering at it with consideration. “I’ve got new things to try today that Lila sent.” I perked up. “This one is for you.” She thrust a cup at me. “And this one can be for you.” She gave another one to Ellis who suddenly looked more docile than I’d seen him.
Sipping cautiously, I watched as she opened the box. There seemed to be a giant slab of chocolate cake and what looked like mini hand pies, all golden brown on the edges and delicious.
