Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Athena
My afternoon flew by.
Once I was back at the shop after having lunch with Jeremy, I pitched in to help Leanna finish up our outstanding orders before Al showed up to handle the deliveries and to take his wife home.
A few walk-ins filled my time after that.
Some of the people who live in the neighborhood are becoming regulars. The moment they enter the store, I know what they’ll gravitate toward.
I’ve been adding extra flowers to the bouquets they order. One of the secrets to building my business is creating a foundation of loyal customers.
Word of mouth goes a long way in this city, and if I can create a positive buzz by spoiling a few familiar faces, I’ll do it.
One of those faces is in the store now.
Percy Royster comes by once every couple of weeks on his way home from volunteering in the gift shop at a hospital. He picks and chooses what he wants from the containers of flowers in the cooler.
I whip up a bouquet for his wife while we visit.
He’s one of my favorite people because he knew the previous owner and always has a gem of a story to tell about her.
Today it was about a morning ten years ago when the supplier delivered enough roses to fill the shop.
An extra zero was added to the order by mistake, so there was a one-day sale on white roses that brought people from all over Manhattan to this little flower shop.
“What do you think?” I hold up a bouquet of peonies.
Clapping his hands together, Percy slides off the stool he’s been perched on. “This one will get me an extra kiss tonight, Athena.”
I can’t contain a smile. “I’ll wrap them up.”
I glance to the left when the bell chimes over the door. Percy does the same.
Liam takes a step toward us before he stops in place. Adjusting the collar of his blue button-down shirt, he smiles at me before his attention shifts to Percy.
I watch as Liam approaches him from behind. Percy hasn’t yet turned his attention back to me.
“Mr. Royster?” Liam questions with a quirk of his lips.
“Yes?”
I stop wrapping the flowers. “You know Percy?”
“He was my fifth-grade history teacher.” Liam tilts his head as his gaze settles back on Percy. “You have no idea how much that class changed my life, sir.”
Percy looks to me before he turns back to Liam. “I’m sorry. I taught so many kids.”
Liam nods. “I don’t expect you to remember me, but on the last day of classes before summer, you gave me a book about the early days of New York. I still have it.”
“Wait.” Percy takes a measured step closer to Liam. Adjusting the glasses on his nose, he gazes up. “Is that Liam Wolf under that beard?”
Liam’s hand darts to his chin. “It’s me.”
Chuckling, Percy extends his hand. “You’ve changed, son. My, oh my, have you changed.”
Liam takes the offered hand and shakes it gently. “You haven’t changed at all, sir.”
“Bullshit.” Percy laughs. “I’m twenty years older. My eyesight isn’t as sharp as it once was, and unless you’re standing within ten feet of me, don’t expect me to hear a word you say.”
Liam smiles. “It’s good to see you again.”
“And you.” Percy turns back to me. “I’ll get out of the way so you can help this young man find the perfect flowers for his wife.”
“I’m not married,” Liam is quick to respond.
Our eyes lock for the briefest of moments.
I force myself not to think about what married life with Liam would be like.
We’re not even officially dating at this point.
“You’ll get there one day. No rush for that.” Percy crosses his arms over his chest. “It’s good to see you. Who would have thought that I’d run into one of my former students in a floral shop?”
“I’m here often,” Liam offers with a glance at me. “This is one of my favorite places in the city.”
Percy tosses me a knowing look. “I think I see why.”
I brush past Liam on my way back to my workstation. It’s a mess. Between my extended lunch break and the orders I’ve filled since Leanna left, it looks like a disaster.
“To what do I owe this surprise?” I toss him a smile.
The one he offers back is weak. The corners of his lips barely move. “My last appointment of the day canceled, so I thought I’d drop by to see how your day has been.”
“Busy.” I sum it up in one word.
Rubbing a hand over his jaw, he exhales. “Look, Athena. I’m just going to come right out and say this.”
My head pops up, and the scissors in my hand drop to the table with a thud.
He’s here to dump me.
Can you dump someone you’re only sleeping with? Is that a thing?
I steel myself for his next words. Pasting on a brave face, I stare him straight in the eye. “What is it?”
“I like you,” he begins, raking his hand through his hair. “You’re sweet, and you’re a lot of fun.”
I’m that and more, but maybe he hasn’t bothered to notice.
I don’t offer him back any compliments because I’ll reserve those for the next man I sleep with.
Who am I kidding? I don’t want there to be a next man, at least not yet.
I like Liam. Hanging out with him is fun, and the sex is incredible.
I’m not ready to lose all of that since it just started.
His phone dings. Fishing it out of his pocket, he holds up a finger. “Give me a minute. I need to check what this is.”
I’ll give him a minute or ten or twenty thousand. I’ll give him whatever he needs if it means I have extra time to brace myself for what is about to happen between us.
I watch as his fingers fly over the screen of his phone.
When my phone chimes, I drop my gaze to it hoping that he’s not dumping me via text when he’s standing less than three feet from where I am.
I open the text message from Jeremy and stare at the attached picture.
He’s got Cassidy in his lap, and she’s holding tightly to the small bouquet of pink roses I handed him earlier. I tucked a plastic unicorn figurine in the center of it because I knew she’d love the extra surprise.
Tears threaten to flood my eyes.
I love my family and regardless of what happens between Liam and me, I have them. I will always have them.
I rest my phone on the table.
“Who is that?”
I look up to find Liam craning his neck to get a better look at my phone’s screen.
I twist it around so he can see the picture. “My brother and my niece.”
He studies it carefully before he glances back at me. “That’s your brother?”
I nod. “One of them. He’s the oldest.”
“Your niece is adorable.” He swipes his fingers over the screen of his phone. When he turns it toward me, I’m greeted with a picture of two dark-haired little girls. “These are my nieces. Winter and Reese.”
I steal a fleeting glance, but I don’t want to know about his family. Why show me that when he’s on the precipice of walking out of my life forever?
“I’d say it’s a three-way tie for the cutest niece in the world.” He waves a hand. “I know you’re almost ready to shut down for the day, but can you toss together a couple of bouquets like that for them? Complete with a unicorn in each?”
What’s happening?
How did we go from serious Liam wanting to tell me something to smiling, happy Liam ordering unicorn bouquets for his nieces?
I feel like I’m dangling in the breeze waiting for the next hurricane wind to whip around the corner and knock me on my ass.
I steady my feet on the tile floor and look him straight in the eye. “What did you want to talk about?”
His gaze falls before he levels it back on my face. “We’re having fun, right? Do you like hanging out with me?”
Is that a trick question?
If he’s setting a trap, I’m about to step into the middle of it with both feet. “I’m having a lot of fun. I love hanging out with you.”
Relief softens his stance. Rubbing a hand over his beard, he cracks a wide smile. “Good. I just wanted to check-in and make sure we’re on the same page.”
Doubt tugs at me as I set to work making the bouquets for his nieces. I don’t know what the hell just happened between us, but I’ll take him at his word.
We’re lovers. Nothing more. If I can remember that, I’ll be just fine and my heart will be too.