Chapter 7
450words
Under warm yellow lights, he carefully arranged roses. Looking up, his eyes brightened when he spotted me. He waved, and I found myself walking in.
"You're here!" He set down his work. "Look at these—just arrived today. Perfect condition... why not take some home? They'd look beautiful in your living room."
I opened my mouth, but swallowed back the words "I don't really like flowers."
He noticed my hesitation and quickly added, ears reddening: "These aren't leftovers... I saved them specially for you."
I could only nod. "Thank you."
Maybe some flowers would brighten my mood after all.
He reached under the counter and pulled out an elegant paper bag. "And these are cookies I baked. Try one..."
Just as I reached for one, a voice exploded behind me.
"Brooke Bailey! So this is why you were so quick to dump me—you already had someone else lined up!"
Gregory appeared from nowhere, face ashen, eyes shooting daggers at Lucas.
"Damn it, so it's you—the pretty boy florist! No wonder she was always buying flowers. You two have been screwing behind my back!"
Before he finished, he lunged forward, grabbing Lucas's collar, fist raised.
"Have you lost your mind?" I shoved between them, pushing Gregory back and standing protectively in front of Lucas.
Lucas's hand found my shoulder, gently pulling me back as he stepped forward to shield me.
"Have you no shame?" My voice shook with rage. "You cheated first, and now you blame others?"
Gregory's phone rang.
The moment it rang, Gregory transformed—his expression switching from rage to fawning smile in an instant.
"Sophia!" He answered with syrupy sweetness. "Gifts? I'm picking them out right now! I'll get something your parents will love! Got the money—thanks, baby, you're the best!"
Sophia's coquettish voice leaked from the speaker: "Budget's five thousand. Get something nice—don't make me look bad..."
Five thousand. I thought of those cheap health supplements he hadn't moved out yet—worthless garbage—and instantly understood why he'd returned.
What he didn't know was that those bargain-bin supplements and fake jade bracelets would look even more like trash to my father and stepmother. Yet apparently they were already meeting the parents.
Sophia had succeeded faster than I'd anticipated.
What about my patience, my planning, all the humiliation I'd endured alone—what was it all for?
Was it just a joke I'd written and performed for an audience of one—myself?
Gregory hung up, shot us a venomous glare, spat "You just wait," and hurried off.
I stood frozen, speechless.
Lucas quietly straightened his collar and draped a woolen shawl over my shoulders.
"It's getting late," he said softly. "Can I walk you home?"
