“Did you really just snort?” Johnny shot her a look.
“Sorry about that. You caught me off guard.” She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks from laughing so hard.
“Thanks for the offer, Johnny. I do appreciate it. But seeing as you’re in high school and I’m a grown woman, I’m going to have to decline.” I patted him on the shoulder. The boy had been asking me out every time I ran into him in town ever since I returned home from college and took over the wedding business from Loraine Applebee who’d owned it for the past few decades.
“Age is just a number. My mama says I’m an old soul,” Johnny argued, and his eyes ping-ponged between me and Kathleen.
“Oh, you sweet boy. I’m sure you’re breaking a lot of hearts at Willow Springs High.” Kathleen patted his cheek, and he groaned because the act only made him appear younger. She may as well have pinched his cheeks.
“Those girls have nothing on you, Ivy.” He winked.
I chuckled. “Well, thanks for that. Have a great day.”
Kathleen shoved at his shoulder, and he waved at me one last time before he took the hint and walked back toward the reception area. I shut the door and headed to my desk, reaching for the card.
Hey Ive,
It’s been five years. Can you please unblock my number from your phone? Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Love, Ty
I dropped to sit in my desk chair and read it over a few times before picking up the phone and sending a group text to my girls.
Me ~ I just received a floral arrangement from the devil. Sending you a screenshot of the card. What am I supposed to make of this? Is it too late to leave town and bail on this wedding?
I sent them a photo of the card. My phone started dinging with messages immediately.
Coco ~ Holy shit balls. Ty Greene. I’m heading to Willow Springs in an hour for that summer fashion photo shoot we’re doing for the magazine. You, me, and Addy can discuss this over lunch tomorrow. Clear your schedules for a lengthy one.
Addy and I were the only ones that lived back in Willow Springs. Coco lived with her husband Roman and little Tino in Houston. Maura and Crew were in Dallas, and Gigi and Gray lived in Austin while he finished up his last year in law school. We all met here in Willow Springs at least once a month, sometimes more.
Addy ~ Are you going to unblock him? Can’t wait for lunch!
Gigi ~ I swear every song he writes is for you. I vote for unblocking him.
Maura ~ It’s time to get some closure, girl. Unblock him.
Me ~ Why is no one on my side? He’s enemy number one. I will not be unblocking him. Nor will I listen to his music. He can kiss my ass.
Coco ~ You need to play it cool. Act unaffected.
Addy ~ Yes. Act unbothered, but hear him out. Maybe he wants to apologize. Jett says he’s always asking about you in a roundabout way.
We’d all grown up together and Jett and Ty had grown close our senior year in high school when Addy and Jett started dating.
Gigi ~ I agree. You’ve known him your entire life. Time to get some answers.
Maura ~ I support whatever you want to do. Play it cool and talk to him, and I think that will give you the closure you need.
I set my cell down when my office phone rang, and Kathleen let me know that Talia Greene was holding for me. Ty’s sister was getting married in two weeks, and her wedding was large. She had spared no expense because apparently, her rich, successful brother was paying for the whole thing.
“Hi, Talia,” I said as I put her on speakerphone.
“Hey, Ivy. I just talked to Ty. He’s flying in first thing tomorrow morning.”
My mouth dropped open and I was thankful that she couldn’t see me. I figured the superstar would fly in the day before the wedding and leave shortly after.
“Okay,” I said, letting out a long breath I didn’t even realize I’d been holding.
“We wanted to set up a budget meeting. I’ve told him all the numbers thus far, but he had a few questions and just wanted the three of us to go over everything. Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”
I fumbled over the papers on my desk. “Yes, that will work. How about two p.m.? I have a lunch meeting, and then I’m free.”
My lunch meeting was with Coco and Addy to discuss how to handle the Ty situation, but she didn’t need to know that.
“Perfect. I’ll let him know.” There was an awkward, long pause before she spoke again. “Is it going to be weird for you to see him again after all this time?”
I gasped. Chuckled. Shook my head and pushed to my feet, pacing in little circles in front of my desk. “What? No? Why would it? There’s nothing awkward about it.”
My nose was probably growing with every lie that escaped my mouth.
“Well, I know you guys dated for years, and, well, we all left town in such a rush. I don’t feel like you and Ty ever got to end things properly.”
That was an understatement. He’d cut me off cold turkey. He’d said goodbye and asked me not to contact him. To let him go.
And that was it.
“I hardly remember. It was a long time ago. We’ve all moved on.” I chewed on my thumbnail before walking over to the mirror hanging on the wall near my door to make sure my nose hadn’t exploded.
“All right. I know he’s looking forward to seeing you. He’s been asking about you since you came back home.”
I closed my eyes and fought the urge to tell her what a jackass her brother was. But Talia was my client now, and I needed to remain professional.
“Looking forward to our meeting tomorrow.” It’s the best I could do. We said our goodbyes, and I dropped down in my desk chair and tried to calm my nerves.
I buried myself in work the rest of the day, making a trip over to Violet’s Floral Shop to take a look at a mock design for the table arrangements that she’d come up with.
“I love it. The peaches and creams are perfect. Thank you,” I said, leaning forward to smell the beautiful blooms.
I’d learned in a short time that the details when planning a large event were very important. You needed to see mock bouquets and check the colors of the flowers as the shades changed with each passing season, and getting the color wrong on someone’s big day would be an epic fail. Brides had enough stress, so my job was to handle everything so that they could just be in the moment.
“I’m so pleased. The colors Talia chose are gorgeous.” She set the vase on the counter and cocked her head at me. “She told me Ty is coming home tomorrow. I didn’t think he’d come back this soon before the big day. That boy has never returned home since the day he left.”