The phone started to ring and Hank winked and hurried back around the counter.
I waited for a few minutes for Emily to finish walking around the aisles.
The floral shop was the biggest I’d ever seen.
The place came recommended from someone at the office.
Just like the catering.
Just like… everything else…
Everything I was doing on my own.
I looked at my list.
Was I the only one who wanted to get married?
Even then… did I…
“I’m finished,” Emily announced.
I looked up and smiled.
“Where are your flowers?” I asked.
“You heard Hank. No peeking and cheating.”
She stuck her tongue out at me.
I let out a ha ha sound.
I didn’t know what to say.
It wasn’t the first time Emily left me speechless either.
Hank had tissue paper over both of our flower choices.
“Now I want to ask you something, Liam,” Hank said. “Have you ever picked out flowers before?”
“Like this?” I asked. “No.”
“I knew it. You’re doing this just for the wedding. Damn shame. Too big and buff for your own good I bet.”
“He’s like a meathead,” Emily said. “I can’t wait to see a pile of roses.”
“Roses?” I asked.
“That’s the only flower guys know,” she said as she looked at me.
“I know more than roses,” I said.
“Meaning you searched online for flowers.”
“Is that so wrong?” I asked.
Hank clapped his hands. “Okay, you two. You can argue and have makeup sex later. Right now, let’s see what I’m working with. I’m going to pull the tissue paper off both at the same time. Ready?”
I smiled. “I’m ready.”
“I bet this isn’t the most manly moment of your life, Liam,” Hank said.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” I said.
“Want to do some pushups first?” Hank offered. “Get that chest pump going?”
Emily giggled.
“You’re a prick, Hank, you know that?” I asked.
Emily gasped.
“Don’t worry, Emily,” Hank said. “He’s not the first guy to call me names. I’m short but I can probably take you on, Liam.”
“I’m not fighting a florist.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Hank asked.
“Nothing,” I said. “You’re something else, Hank.”
“Never forget it,” he said. “Now… here we go…”
He grabbed the tissue paper and ripped it away.
My plan was kind of simple.
Whatever Emily chose was the choice.
I knew nothing about flowers or designing…
“They’re the same thing,” Emily said.
“Well, son of a bitch,” Hank said.
“Wait a second,” I said.
“Let’s see what we have here,” Hank said. “Some rich, purple calla lilies. Oh, some lily of the valley. Then orchids. Very nice. Very expensive too.” Hank looked at me. “You’ve got money?”
“Lots of it,” I said.
“And you’re willing to spoil Emily?” he asked.
“Of course,” I said.
“This is simple yet elegant,” Hank said. “Now, Emily has some sweet peas in hers. A little bit of different color purple than the calla lilies. But it works. This is… you two are just meant to be.”
I laughed again.
I look at Emily.
Her cheeks were a little bit red.
“We just know each other really well,” she said.
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, we do.”
“Okay, so here’s what I’m going to do,” Hank said. “I’ll take this and make something up and give you a call. Then we can figure full arrangements and all that… are you two even listening to me?”
“I’m listening,” I said.
“Me too,” Emily said.
We were still staring at each other.
“Hank, how much for the flowers Emily just picked out?”
“For you two lovebirds, nothing,” he said. “Take them and leave.”
“I’ll be in touch,” I said as I reached for the flowers without breaking my gaze from Emily.
“No, I’ll be in touch with you,” Hank said.
“Sure thing,” I said.
Emily turned from the counter and walked toward the door.
I went after her and touched her arm. “Hey. That was your choice for real?”
“Yeah,” she said.
“That’s what you would want at your wedding?”
She looked at me. “I think I’m as far from getting married as someone could be. I don’t think it matters what flowers I chose today. Do you?”
She tighten her lips and looked like she was fighting off frowning.
She walked away in a hurry but didn’t go to my car.
I stood with the bouquet of flowers she picked out.
The same ones I picked out.
Not that it mattered.
It was just flowers.
And we were just…
Again, I didn’t know what the hell was happening.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Emily
I slept through my alarm because I had a sleepless night.
Each time my eyes shut, I was hit with the same dream of Liam and I holding hands, running from the cops through a dark forest only to have the trees open up at Paragen’s, complete with lights, food, wine, and music playing, but nobody else around.
Somehow in the dream, I managed to wake myself up before things got crazier.
You mean crazier than the last one where Liam leans over the table and grabs you by the face and kisses you?
That was the one.
I tripped over air while trying to get dressed.
When I brushed my teeth and spit into the sink, the toothpaste splashed to my shirt, leaving me with a few white stains that would definitely be questioned by both Lucy and Ember.
Which meant I had to change my shirt.
It was just one of those mornings where my head was scrambled.
And I convinced myself that the scrambled was only in my head. Due to lack of sleep. No other reason whatsoever. The Liam thing… that was nothing. A dream was a dream. Nothing more or less.
Whatever thoughts that were lingering were just that.
Silly thoughts.
It was like having a bad dream that hung around in your head for a little while.
No big deal at all.
I stormed through the bakery like a madwoman, keeping myself as busy as possible.
I helped Lucy run the register and complete orders.
I helped Ember organize orders ready for pickup.
I cleaned the office.
I made sure every chair out front was pushed in at the right angle.
I touched every picture frame on the wall, just to say that I did it.
From there, I stood at the front door and
