“Yeah, she’s in the workshop out back though, and we don’t disturb her when she’s in there.”
I push past him. “Hey, mister, you’re not allowed back there.”
I ignore him and keep walking. I’m not about to leave here without seeing her and saying what I need to.
I open the first door and close it, realizing it’s an office.
I open the second one and enter some kind of greenhouse; it must be the workshop.
“Hayley,” I shout and receive no reply. I walk into the warm glass room, with trees and plants of various kinds. I can hear someone at the back of the room and make my way through potted plants till I get to a workstation. She’s bent over it, pulling leaves off stems almost aggressively. I didn't quite imagine florists had that side to them, although this is Hayley, and she’s a force to be reckoned with.
I’d seen her at Erin’s funeral, and that sweet young girl I used to know was no more. She picks up a pair of shearing scissors, her back still to me.
“Come closer, and I’ll fucking cut you!”
She spins around, and the shears are at my throat. She stills when she realizes it’s me.
“Wyatt, what the fuck are you doing here? You scared the shit out of me.”
She pulls out her earphones and leans back against the counter, strands of gold hanging loose, her chest heaving. She’s wearing safety gloves and an apron over her white tank top and blue jeans. She’s still unbelievably sexy.
I clear my throat. “I tried calling out.”
She lifts the earplugs.
“What do you want?” She crosses her arms over her chest.
“The flowers. You’re still sending them.”
“If you must know” — she flares her nostrils — “your wife sent those.”
I frown at her. Well, that is a fucking cruel joke.
She lifts a finger to silence me. “She ordered them with Carl before she died, said he should send you one a month.”
“Why on earth would she do that? Neither of us like flowers.”
“Shows how little you know about people.” She turns back to her workstation, attacking the flowers more fiercely. That was an apparentdig at me.
“Would you just turn around so I can apologize?”
She turns and looks up at me, her blue orbs burning into mine.
“I— I didn't know that. I don’t know why Erin did it, but I don’t want them anymore. Just stop.”
“She was a paying customer, and we will deliver every last flower she paid and ordered,” she hisses. “So you better find a way to deal with that.”
“Why do you hate me so much, Hayley?” I shake my head. “It’s like whenever you see me, you can’t stand me.”
“It's because I can’t stand you. Just leave Wyatt. You’re not welcome here.” And with that, she turns to her task and leaves me reeling from her brashness. This is not the girl I used to know.
