“You’re not fine. You can talk to me.”
Lips pressed together, she nods.
“I know.”
But she doesn’t say anything else.
“Okay,” I say. “As long as you know.”
We stand there for a moment, in the middle of Main Street as locals and tourists go about their day, but neither of us say another word.
We just stare at the other as if something new has happened and we can’t quite figure out what it was.
Slowly, Brooke smiles.
“We almost won back there.”
I nod.
“Just about.”
“Maybe next year, we can redeem ourselves.”
Next year.
I like the sound of that.
“It’s a deal.”
With that, she returns to the bakery and disappears inside.
I want to follow her, but if she’s brave enough to stand up to a town full of people, I should be too.
So instead, I move toward the flower shop.
The bell rings as I step inside, and Mrs. Buckley looks up from where she’s prepping an arrangement at a back table.
She narrows her gaze, turning to face me with crossed arms.
“I had a feeling you’d be coming in here soon.”
“A long overdue visit,” I reply.
She nods.
“I assume you’re here to buy some flowers.”
I look around at an overwhelming number of premade bouquets.
I hadn't planned to buy anything, but it would probably help my case.
I grab a vase of lilies and set them on the counter.
“Who are they for?” she asks.
“Brooke,” I say without missing a beat.
Her fingers pause over the credit card machine.
