Page 5 of Until We Weren't

“How many do you want?”

“Let me have these,” Faith said, pulling four pots into the aisle.

“Come sign for your order and I’ll get a cart to load these,” Abel said.

Faith followed him over to the counter and looked over her order as Abel loaded the gardenias. She signed the receipt, turned around, and looked straight into the dark brown eyes that once made her melt with the slightest glance. For a moment everything stopped and she was whisked back to a happier time.

“I’ll be with you in a minute, Destiny,” Abel called from behind them.

Faith’s heart started to pound in her chest and she was instantly irate at her body’s betrayal.

Where was it, she wondered. She couldn’t see the slightest hint of guilt which should be shimmering in Destiny’s eyes. Instead, for just a flash, she saw softness, but then Destiny took a shaky breath and stood a little taller. The corner of Faith’s mouth slightly turned up from seeing Destiny falter somewhat before regaining her composure.

“I don’t guess you’re buying supplies for that Sims job,” Faith said with a smirk.

Destiny scoffed. “You didn’t get it either.”

Faith smiled. Lush Fields Landscaping may not have won the job, but knowing The Green Thumb didn’t get it either had eased the sting a little.

“At least they gave me a reason why they went with the other company,” Destiny said, looking into Faith’s eyes.

Faith could feel the heat of Destiny’s stare. Was that sadness in her eyes? Surely not.

“We’ve got plenty to do,” Destiny continued, looking away and shuffling her feet. “Besides, I've got my eye on something bigger.”

“Surely you don’t mean the business complex up the Interstate,” Faith said. “That’s more my size.”

Destiny huffed. “Oh yeah? Because you’re such a big player in the landscaping business in the Austin area?”

Faith furrowed her brow, set her feet and folded her arms across her chest. Destiny was a couple inches taller than Faith and heavier. Where Faith’s frame was slight and willowy, Destiny was muscular and athletic. Years of moving dirt and planting shrubs and flowers had made both women strong.

Faith remembered how Destiny once marveled at her body.

“You are such an enigma,” Destiny said. “Your beautiful, lithe body is so strong and powerful. People don’t see that by simply looking at you, but I know. I’ve felt your strength. I’ve experienced your power.” She ran her fingers through Faith’s light golden strands of brown hair.

They were naked in bed when Destiny had told her that. Faith had proceeded to give Destiny another taste of her strength and they’d made love late into the night.

But here they were about to face off—in what, Faith wasn’t sure.

“Oh, stop!” Destiny exclaimed. “You don’t have to get all big and bold with me, Faith.”

“You’ll find out how big and bold I can be if you fuck with my company, Green,” Faith said, venom in her voice.

“I’m not fucking with you or your company. Why would I do that?” Destiny shrugged and furrowed her brow.

“Why wouldn’t you?” Faith said. “It’s not like you haven’t done it before.”

“What?” Destiny exclaimed with a confused look on her face.

“Hey,” Mark said, walking up looking from one woman to the other. “Everything is loaded, Faith.” He looked at Destiny and smiled. “Abel is taking your order to your truck, Destiny.”

“Fine,” Faith said, walking past Destiny giving her shoulder the slightest nudge with her own.

Destiny closed her eyes and fisted her hands where they hung at her side. She tried to calm her pounding heart before she talked to Mark. It wasn’t his fault that his boss was such a bitch.

“You okay?” Mark asked quietly.

Destiny opened her eyes and smiled. “Hi, Mark. How’s it going?”

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