Forget-Me-Nots and Apricots (Cozy Omegaverse Romance #2)
1. Chapter One
Chapter One
T he scent of dewy roses and rich, damp earth mingled in the cool morning air as I gently turned the key in the lock of Petal his head whipped around as panic flared in his eyes, and in a heartbeat, he bolted. The door slammed shut behind him with such force that the glass trembled once more, echoing his hasty departure.
Jamie emerged from the back of the shop, his brow furrowed with concern at the disruption. “What was that about?”
I exhaled slowly, trying to dispel the unsettling chill that crept up my spine. “I’m not entirely sure.”
Approaching the front window, I peered out into the empty street, searching for any sign of him. The corridor of pavement lay deserted; he had vanished without a trace. Yet, there was something haunting in the lingering intensity of his panicked gaze—a look that unsettled me far deeper than his sudden exit.
Jamie gave my shoulder a gentle nudge. “You okay Vivian?”
“Yeah,” I lied softly, turning back toward the comforting confines of the shop. “Let’s just get back to work.”
The day trudged on as routine, yet that brief encounter clung to my thoughts like a shadow. Even as I arranged bouquets and assisted customers with practiced ease, my eyes kept wandering to the door, half-expecting him to return.
Later that evening, after carefully locking up the shop, I stepped out into the crisp embrace of autumn. The city lights flickered in the distance like scattered stars, and with each step home—my apartment only a few blocks away, nestled quietly above a charming little tea shop—I tried to shake off the lingering unease. Climbing the stairs to my building, I released a long, pent-up breath as I reached my own door.
Just as I extended my hand to unlock it, a sudden, inexplicable prickle raced down my spine—a cold, insistent sensation that whispered of unseen eyes. Instinctively, I spun around, scanning the dimly lit street below. The sidewalk was deserted, and the parked cars lay silent in the night.
Yet, despite the apparent emptiness, I could sense it clearly: someone had been there. Someone had been watching.
Swallowing hard and summoning every ounce of determination, I squared my shoulders and forced my way inside, shutting the door firmly behind me. I wasn’t one to be frightened easily, but tonight, under the shroud of that inexplicable feeling, everything felt undeniably different.