Chapter 19 Every Time I See You
EVERY TIME I SEE YOU
Ember
Every single day for the last week, there have been flowers outside of the bakery. Every morning like clockwork, someone left a bouquet of something different. Carnations were the first ones to show up. The card was simple—
“Carnations for fascination, for that is what you bring to me every time I see you. Pure fascination. Soon, yours.”
I’d immediately looked it up and, lo and behold, in the language of flowers, carnations were the sign of fascination, and now the word wouldn’t leave my mind.
It played over and over again on repeat.
The next day, it was a bouquet of Daisies. The card read—
“Though Daisies are meant to show innocence and purity, there is truly nothing innocent about my feelings towards you. They grow more desperate and ravenous by the day. Soon, yours.”
Then it was Chrysanthemums with a note that read—
“Loyalty and devotion shall never be anything you don’t fully receive from me. Soon, yours.”
Every day since, it had been a bouquet of vibrant red roses with one word on the card—
“Soon.”
The first person I’d thought of was Drew, but then I began to overthink it.
What if it wasn’t him? What if someone was stalking me?
I thought about just asking Aspen who he was since he was at her party, but it felt like cheating the system.
We’d agreed to be anonymous, and I didn’t want to ruin a good thing.
What if he didn’t want to know who I was?
I could’ve asked him myself when I’d seen him Wednesday night for our meetup, but I chickened out when he’d tied me to the bed and had me coming four times in the first hour we were together.
I knew I should’ve been frightened by the anonymous gifts. I should be calling the police or telling someone, but I’d said nothing. Honestly, a small part of me I’d never shown to anyone—not even myself—was enjoying this little mystery.
I genuinely enjoyed what I had with Drew. It was simple, fun, yet intimate. It felt as if he knew me in a way that no one else ever had, yet it never felt invasive. I didn’t want to ruin that, so I just left it alone and tried to enjoy my pretty flowers on my doorstep every morning.
The gifts had started moving inside of the bakery, and I was spiraling.
I felt like I didn’t have anyone to actually talk to about my current predicament.
I’d walked downstairs to open up, and the bouquet of roses were sitting on the front countertop.
And all I could think was that I needed to tell someone about this before I ended up as some dead girl on the news.
So as I pulled out a tray of jalapeno bagels, I thought of the only two people in my life I may be able to talk to about this without being ridiculed and judged.
Setting the tray down, I pulled my phone out to send a text to our group chat.
Me: Would you two be down for a girls’ night? You can come here, and I’ll provide your favorite pastries and alcoholic drinks.
I slid my phone back into the back pocket of my jeans, figuring they’d be busy at work or with life in general, but twenty minutes passed, the door chime rang, and I turned around to two bright, smiling faces.
“Oh pretty flowers!” Ivy said as she looked at the roses behind me. I’d been so startled to see them inside, I hadn’t had a chance to take them upstairs yet.
“Oh, thanks. They’re from my stalker,” I replied back casually as I started Aspen’s coffee order.
Aspen and Ivy looked at each other and then back towards me, Aspen opening her mouth first. “So, wow. Okay, so we’re going to my house then. Got it? Cool.”
I felt my shoulders sag. “It’s not as bad as it—”
“No,” Aspen interrupted. “Ivy may be into the crazy alpha male dark romance vibes, but I’m not taking chances.
You’re both coming to my house, I’ll kick Rowan out, and you’re going to tell us what’s going on.
No secrets allowed in this friendship triangle we’re building.
” She let out a huffed breath, and Ivy covered her mouth to suppress the giggle that escaped.
“Yes ma’am,” I said as I bit my bottom lip to keep my own smile from forming.
“Ugh you two, I want extra whipped cream today, Ember. Don’t skimp out on me. Friendship triangle rules.”
“As if I’d ever do such a thing. Also, we need a different name. That one is horrible.” I turned and finished getting the rest of their typical order together before handing it over.
“Agreed. So tonight? You’re off tomorrow, so we can stay up late, and you can tell us everything. We’re off at ten, so I’ll text you when we leave, and you can head over. Rowan already knows.”
I nodded. “Thank you, Aspen. Seriously.”
“Don’t thank me, Ember, just get ready to divulge all the dirty details.”
I sighed. “I hope someone brings the popcorn. It’s about to be a long night.”
“Oh! I’ll bring it!” Ivy said with a knowing smile. “I love juicy gossip, and I have a feeling it’s going to be hawt!”
Aspen playfully smacked her. “Stop it. There is a man stalking her. This isn’t hot.”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Of course, because your fiancé didn’t stalk you for days before tying you up and forcing vibrators up your who-ha until you agreed to be his forever.”
Both mine and Aspen’s jaws dropped, and I was suddenly grateful it was a slow time of day. “Ivy! The other one stalked me and tried to kill me!” Aspen hollered with a laugh.
“Okay, so what? The hot one saved your life and let you shoot the asshole on the way out! If only we could all be as lucky. Right, Ember?” Ivy said as she commenced a little pout.
“Oh, for the love of the fates, don’t answer that, Ember. Ivy, you need to go see Harper,” Aspen muttered. “We’ll see you later, Em!”
Aspen pushed Ivy out of the door, the whole time muttering about how she was going to make Ivy an appointment with her therapist immediately.
Shaking my head, the permanent smile they caused started to make my face hurt. I turned to start the next batch of pastries when my phone vibrated. I pulled it out, my heart rate racing as I read the message.
ImVengecock: I’d like to take you out to dinner.
I stared down at the message and felt my rage boiling beneath my skin.
Scream-Pies: You’ve kept me at arm’s length for a week, sent me flowers with cryptic messages, break into my place of work, and now you suddenly have time for me?
Scream-Pies: Start with a name, Drew, and then MAYBE we’ll talk.
ImVengecock: We’ll talk soon, little flame.
ImVengecock: Also, I sent you another gift. Accept it, or we’ll be having more than words later.
I watched as his little green dot clicked offline, and I tossed my phone on the back counter. I wasn’t letting this man ruin my day. I was having a girls’ night tonight. Also, I realized that he didn’t deny that the flowers were from him. I wasn’t sure if that fact made me feel better or not.
Why be cryptic and secretive after everything we’d already been through? It didn’t make any sense.
But as soon as the thought hit me, the door chime rang and a stunning girl walked in, a bright smile on her face and a folder in her hand. As she approached the counter, I had a sinking feeling in my gut that this wasn’t what I thought it would be at all.
“Hello! Are you Ember?” she asked, her voice soft and melodic.
“I am. What can I get for you?” I replied, the uneasy feeling in my gut not dissipating one bit.
“Drew hired me! I’m supposed to start today at two and work until closing.
I know I’m a bit early, but I was kinda eager.
” Eager was putting it mildly. The girl couldn’t have been more than nineteen years old.
She was a bit taller than me—maybe by an inch or two.
She wore baggy jeans and a burnt yellow colored t-shirt that stopped just above her jeans, and all white Nikes on her feet.
Her skin was a deep umber tone that matched her dark brown eyes and her long, black hair.
She was stunning, and I was so jealous she was able to pull off that yellow color that it took me a moment to realize what she’d just said.
“I’m sorry, Drew hired you?” Her eyes widened, and her lips parted, but nothing came out for a moment.
Fuck me. “I’m sorry, I just didn’t realize he hired you.
I figured he’d let me meet you first, but I guess you made quite the impression.
Why don’t I grab us some coffee, and we can chat for a few minutes…
” I trailed off, hoping for some sort of introduction, but she just nodded and sat down at the table closest to the counter.
I glanced over to make sure she wasn’t watching me, and I grabbed my phone, opening our text thread.
“How do you like your coffee?” I asked carefully.
“Oh, just whatever is fine. Do you do iced coffee?”
“Of course.”
“Iced coffee, one cream and one sugar. Please.”
I nodded and typed him a message before getting our coffees together.
Scream-Pies: I’m going to actually kick your ass this time. Have you lost your mind?
ImVengecock: No, I haven’t actually. Now you’ll have more energy when it’s me that’s left behind instead of roses.
I swallowed roughly and locked my phone before I could say something insane like bring it on or I’ll be waiting. I had other things to worry about now—like an interview for my new employee.