Chapter Max Shadow Daddy
Max
Shadow Daddy
"Alright, everyone. Welcome to Zarichny’s Zinnia’s.
We are thrilled to have you all with us this morning.
" Zuri captures the attention of the room, taking her seat on a stool at the front table while Bridget slides onto the seat next to me. "I’m going to start by explaining the fresh flowers we have and how to build a perfect bouquet for any occasion, then we’ll do a tour. "
The room erupts with applause, particularly from what looks to be a bachelorette party up front that may have overindulged on mimosas this morning. This isn’t really my scene, but they seem enthused.
"We should have ridden on their party bus to get here," Bridget whispers, making Sadie giggle.
Zuri holds up a green flower with a long stem and bunches of leaves hanging off it.
"This is a Queen Lime. It’s the only variety of Zinnia that comes in this shade, and it’s perfect for filling in your bouquets as it creates depth amongst the brighter colored Benary’s Giants.
" Zuri waves her arm toward the buckets filled with purple, pink, crimson, and yellow flowers.
She continues telling the group about how the stems are grown, proper harvest techniques, and what a balanced arrangement looks like.
I’m sure it’s valuable information to have.
Heck, I’d consider giving the whole gardening thing a whirl if I planned to stay here.
But right now, the only thing on my mind is the woman seated next to me.
Sadie said she was worried they wouldn’t allow her to come back, and that gives me pause.
We’ve talked about this work thing before, about what happened.
But today feels different, like she finally fully admitted that she was actually scared.
Why would she assume anyone would consider losing her?
I’ve never seen her in action at work, but I know without a doubt she’s brilliant at what she does.
Sadie remembered wipes to clean off my dog for God’s sake—she’s three steps ahead at all times, which would be valuable to any boss.
People shuffle around the tables, making a neat line toward the front to grab flowers. Sadie and Bridget move to stand.
"I’ll just wait here." I nod toward a sleeping Benny, cozy in my arms. "Just grab me some of the pink ones."
Sadie smirks but nods in acknowledgment before leaving me at the table alone.
Watching her walk to the front with my sister feels right.
This is where I'm supposed to be, not chasing a fragment of my old dream. But there’s the rub.
My life recently has amounted to nothing more than glorified settling.
I wanted to play in the NHL and worked for it since I could barely tie my shoes.
Now, I’ll be sharpening skates and handing sticks to the players that actually get to.
I’ve spent most of my life looking at the love my parents shared, aspiring to find it.
And now I’m with a woman who checks all the boxes, but the timing is wrong.
It feels unfair, but… what in life isn’t?
My role here isn’t to fall for the girl—I know I don’t get her in the end.
But reminding my heart not to latch onto all the little things that make her so uniquely magnificent is a tall order.
Especially when the whole guise of this arrangement is to have fun.
It’s like being on one of those dating shows where everything seems perfect because real life doesn’t exist in our little summer bubble—I just need to remember that.
"I grabbed you a bunch of pink, but I threw a few green ones in there in case you wanted to create depth." Sadie sets what looks to be fifty flowers on the table in front of me. "It was a fight with the ladies up there, but when they saw you sitting with Benny they caved."
"I don’t think it was the dog that did it, as much as I hate admitting that," my sister chimes in, already arranging a bouquet next to me.
Sadie huffs, makes eye contact with a tall blonde staring in our direction, then plants one on me.
Her lips are commanding, like she’s asserting her ownership, and I can’t help but sink into it.
The fact that she so openly displays affection, that she stakes her claim, is beyond attractive.
Sadie wraps her hands in my hair, stroking her thumb along my cheek.
We break apart only when Bridget coughs dramatically.
"Seriously? Get a room, would ya?"
A laugh bubbles in my chest. "Sorry, Bridg. I can’t help it that the ladies love me."
That earns me a hit to the shoulder from the only woman in the room for whom I hope that’s true. But I wink at her, and she slips into the chair beside me, wrapping her arm around mine to pet Benny.
After some time has passed, the bouquets are finished, and the room is cleaned up, Zuri leads the group of us outside for the tour.
Because of the muddy terrain, most of the guests duck out early—including the bachelorette party who announce their next stop, Union Tavern—which allows for Zuri to pass off the tour to one of her sisters and for us to get a private experience on the way to our picnic.
Sliding onto the back of a teal-painted golf cart, Sadie, Benny, and I settle in while Bridget and Zuri sit up front.
"How long have you owned this place?" I ask Zuri.
"I’m fourth generation. There wasn’t much of a choice growing up, we were raised to be flower farmers.
" My sister glances at me from the front, a look that tells me I shouldn’t announce how bad Bridget is at keeping plants alive.
"I love it. Getting to be in nature, seeing the literal fruits of your labor. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. "
Sadie pinches my thigh, and I yelp in response.
"What was that for?"
"Fix your face," she whispers.
I stick my tongue out at her instead.
We ride in silence for a few minutes, streaks of color passing us by as the cart carries us over a small hill and into a clearing.
There aren't any flowers planted in this spot, making it the perfect place to spread out, but it overlooks what Zuri refers to as "The Valley".
Neat rows of flowers line the field, sorted by color, making a pristine rainbow.
"It’s beautiful. Oh my gosh, Max, look." Sadie points to the flowers, her eyes lighting up in delight.
I drop a kiss on her forehead before placing Benny on the ground and moving to spread out a blanket I packed. The sun dried some of the dew from the grass while we were inside, but our butts still might end up wet. Bridget pulls out our sandwiches, some chips, and a baggie of food for Benny.
"Wait, Max, did you bring drinks?" My sister digs in the picnic basket, searching for the water I know I put in there.
"Yeah. I even threw in two extras. Did you check under the spare blanket?"
"It’s empty. There’s nothing in here." Bridget narrows her eyes at me, obviously annoyed, so I pop up and look myself.
"I swear I packed them. I left the bag out in front of the building. You don’t think someone would have taken it?"
Bridget places a hand on her hip. "Who would steal our water?"
"The leggy blonde—"
"The Bachelorette—"
Sadie and Zuri speak at the same time, tumbling into laughter.
"It’s okay, Bridg. Let’s just run back to the house real quick to grab some," Zuri says.
I shrug. "Yeah, you go. Sadie and I will stay here and save the spot."
We don’t really need to save it, as it’s not like anyone is flocking here to take it. But I wouldn’t mind a moment alone, and I’m sure my sister needs a little one-on-one time with her girl as well. They hastily agree, zooming away as we remain on the side of the hill.
"I have so many thoughts." Sadie slides down onto the blanket, and I take the seat next to her. "What an interesting job."
I slide my hand into hers, intertwining our fingers.
"I guess. It’s pretty cool though, having something guaranteed.
Bridget will never last out here… she’s killed every plant she’s ever been given.
" Benny slips between us, curling up in Sadie’s lap.
"Speaking of jobs though, why’d you think Levi wasn’t going to take you back? "
"That’s loaded." She blows a raspberry. "I guess I’ve never had anyone outside of my family and Beth that really cared if I stuck around. My dad abandoned us when the burden of his family became too great. I think a part of me assumed that since I had a panic attack, since I’d sort of become the burden, that he'd think it was easier to replace me. "
My heart breaks for her. No one should have to wonder if they are enough, if one singular trait is enough to categorize them as unworthy, unlovable.
Scooping Benny from her lap, I settle him on the blanket and pull Sadie in between my legs so her back is leaning against my chest. Resting my chin on her head, I stroke my hands up and down her arms as tenderly as I can.
"We promised to be honest, right?" I ask, waiting for her nod. "We haven’t known each other that long, especially if you don’t count the tutoring days.
But I know one thing as firmly as I know my own name.
You are worthy of every dream you have, Sade, of everything you could ever want.
Anyone who would even consider replacing you is an idiot. "
"Why? Everyone is replaceable, Max, especially at work."
"Not you." I kiss her neck. "You’re a unicorn, a breath of fresh air, a rare work of art that’s so beautiful to look at it almost hurts. There isn’t a single other person on this planet who comes remotely close to being you.
And the fact that I get to spend time with you, that you’d even consider being in my life, or working for Levi…
that’s a gift that neither of us could ever repay. "
"So are you—a cocky, funny-ass unicorn, but a unicorn, no less." Sadie turns in my arms, kissing me.