I wondered how happy he and his little cheerleader were now. Were they married, living in a happy home, did they have kids?
I shook the thoughts from my mind, I didn't want to care. I couldn't.
I pulled into the empty parking space behind the flower shop, thankful for my tiny car, but already knowing it would be pointless once the snow comes. Grabbing my bag, I climbed out and walked toward the back entrance.
The lights inside were already on and I could hear the faint sound of soft music playing.
As I emerged from the back, I stepped out into the main lobby and felt instant joy. My mother was amazing, she'd always had a knack for taking something plain and making it beautiful. The designs, by using an assortment of flowers, placed in the perfect vase were mesmerizing. Throw on some glitter and ribbon and you've got a masterpiece.
"Hello," I jumped at the sound of a soft-spoken voice, just before a petite girl stepped out from behind the countertop. She looked like she was twelve, so tiny and sweet looking. Her long golden blond hair was in a side braid, laying over her left shoulder. "You must be Sadie, I'm Miley,” she looked a little timid. "I've heard so much about you. I've been so worried about your mom, but she is stubborn, she won't take help from anyone."
I placed my purse on the counter and reached out to offer her hand a gentle shake.
"You've got that right. But since she refuses to allow us to help her physically, we are left with the only other way we can offer assistance." I looked around the room and a warm remembrance of my childhood washed over me. No cares, no worries, just happiness and the smell of fresh flowers.
I spotted the winding staircase that led upstairs to a small nook and balcony overlooking the showroom below. That was the place I would spend hours, just reading and listening to music while enjoying the scent of all the fresh flowers. I’d watch as men would walk in ordering arrangements to be delivered to the woman they loved, or a blushing bride that would work with my mother and express the vision she’d had for her perfect day.
“I’m a bit rusty,” I admitted, still looking over the space. “But I think with your help,” and turned my attention back to Miley, “you and I can keep this place going. Maybe not as perfect as my mom does, but enough that when she returns, she doesn't want to strangle us."
"I've only been here a month," Miley looked a little worried while she twisted her hands together in front of her. "I've paid attention but—"
"Don't worry,” I said, reaching out and placing my hand on her shoulder to offer her a gentle squeeze. “Like I said, I'm rusty but when I was younger I practically lived here. It will all come back to me quickly.”
The poor girl looked like she was about to pass out from fear. Honestly, I kind of wanted to hug her, but we’d just met so that could have been a little awkward. “We got this."
Chapter Five
Wyatt
* * *
"Hey, Jessie." I stood at the counter inside Java Jitters feeling like a tool. What in the hell was I doing?
"Wyatt." Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared at me and waited. Quickly I’d realized she had no plan to make this easy on me. Did all the ladies band together to torture me?
"Um," I mumbled. I looked behind me and saw that there was no one else waiting when I turned back to face her. "Yesterday there was a girl in here." Jessie arched her brow. "Brunette, she was with Anna and she got a—"
"Are you talking about Sadie?"
Nodding I felt even more ridiculous.
"I managed to—"
"Make her wear her drink." Jessie grinned and I realized right then that most likely the entire town was already talking about how I'd smashed Sadie's drink into her chest, and she stomped away from me in a pissed off state. Not much was missed in this town. Hell, it was probably on some gossip blog with pictures to prove it.
The Mason Creek Scoop had already shared my humiliation.
Unless you want to be sticky ladies, and I don’t mean the good kind of sticky, you might want to run if you see our kind officer walking in your direction. Especially if you’re carrying a fresh brewed treat from Java Jitters. Things got a little messy yesterday for our small town hero and the recently returning city girl. From what I’d witnessed, the only sparks that flew were those burning out of Ms. Michaels ears when she stormed off.
Stay tuned!
That was this morning’s addition, and the minute I read it, I felt my stomach hollow out. Nothing happened in this town that didn’t get back to Tate Michale, she had no shame, she threw everything out there. The girl went over the top with her little column and I had half the mind to make a stop at her place but knew that it’d only make things worse.
Shaking off the sick feeling the article gave me, I turned back to Jessie.
"Do you remember what she got?"
She nodded.
"Can you make another one please, and a coffee, with two creams?" Backing up with a smile, I waited, refusing to look behind me feeling like I was already on display. One thing about people in this town, they had amazing hearing skills. Everyone heard everything, even when you were trying your damndest to be discrete.
After Jessie placed my coffee and the other, topped with whipped cream and caramel on the counter, I paid and grabbed them both. Turning around, I began walking toward the front door when she hollered out behind me.
"You'll find Sadie over at Blossom's." I froze and took in a slow deep breath. "She'll be running the place while her mom recovers from her broken hip. Try not to spill this one all over her shirt."
I don't look back, instead, I pushed through the front door and stepped out onto the street. My police cruiser was parked right out front and I looked to my left through the front windows of the florist shop across the street. The nervous energy I felt earlier had nothing on what I felt now.
What was I thinking, that I'd buy her a coffee, and then she'd forget about yesterday and the way I humiliated her in high school? As if standing her up wasn’t bad enough, the teasing and humiliation continued. My friends, and even Karlie, would sit around and make fun of Sadie after they'd found out what took place. Comments about her being delusional to think a guy like me would fall for a girl like her. I was an asshole and said nothing, I just let it all unfold. Too worried about my reputation to correct them. The truth was I did like Sadie, she was sweet and didn't care about all the annoying shit most girls did.
Squaring my shoulders, I stepped up to the curb and waited for the car to pass before crossing the road. The lights were on inside the shop, and I could see movement. As I got closer, I noticed Sadie immediately, wearing a pair of heeled boots that I don't see many of the local ladies wearing. They looked uncomfortable.
Moving around the space with ease, she'd pick up a large display of flowers and move them from one cooler to the next. I don't know how long I stood there watching her but when she turned around with her hands on her hips scanning over the area, her gaze locked with mine through the large front windows.
I didn't miss the way her eyes widened, and her body tensed.
Slowly, I lifted the caramel drink so she could see it and offered her a smile she didn't return. This was a mistake, the woman hated me.