Page 77 of Faking Romance

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The last customer walks out of the store and Jocelyn locks the door. We are the only two people here and it’s nearly eight. Seven long hours, but it was so worth it.

“We can clean up in the morning before we open. Clare said she could come by,” Jocelyn says as she powers down our tablet. I glance at my phone for the time in hours and see missed texts from some family and friends, including Tay, who I feel I’ve barely spoken to lately. I make a silent promise to do better with balancing my work and personal life. I set the phone back down.

“Great,” I say as I take off my heels and stretch my toes. “How in the hell do women wear these things all day every day?”

“They have a pain kink?” she replies with a laugh.

I giggle and shake my head at her.

I slip on some flats that are way more comfortable as I flit around the store and put things away. My mind cycles through the events of the day. It was so amazing. I can’t believe I had such a huge turnout. We had a local news crew cover it and two local papers had reporters stop by. I can’t believe how many people came today. It gives me hope that this silly, old dream of mine might just work out after all.

“Roxy?” Jocelyn’s voice breaks me away from my thoughts.

“Yes?”

“I think Gray is waiting for you,” she says as she points out the window. I walk over and peer out in the direction of the park. He’s sitting on the bench with the flowers, and I’m shocked to find the flowers still there next to him.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she says as she walks out of the store, leaving me looking down the street at Gray. I take a few deep breaths to calm myself, lock up the store, and walk down the street. The cool evening air has me hugging myself as I walk up to the edge of the park and take a seat next to the flowers.

“You left,” I say to him as I glance over to find him watching me.

“You were busy. I didn’t want to bother you,” he replies.

We sit in silence for a long minute. Eventually, I look down at the note on the flowers. It’s definitely the ones that are always here, but the note today is a little different.

They are red roses and peonies. And the note reads:

Today’s flowers represent love. Love isn’t easy. It is filled with difficult moments. But it endures nonetheless. It’s also fragile. Take care of it. Let the other person into your heart. You may regret many things in life, but you won’t regret that.

~The Guardian of Hearts Lane Park

I look up at him. “Did you leave these here?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No,” he says quietly.

I pick up the flowers and set them aside, scooting over to sit next to him. I can smell his cologne and feel the heat of his body. Something about that is immensely comforting.

“Thank you for bringing Licorice today, and for the flowers…and everything else,” I say. He searches my eyes. “I’m sorry, Gray. I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions. I…I’m sorry.”

His hand comes up to cup my cheek. “I’m sorry too. I was angry and I should have waited to speak to you. It wasn’t fair.”

I laugh as I feel my eyes well with tears. “We’re a mess.”

He smiles at me and my heart warms. “We’re definitely a mess.”

We sit there grinning at each other. Not speaking, not moving, just connecting in some strangely perfect way.

“For the love of God, will you two just kiss and finish making up already!” Hutch’s disembodied voice comes out of a nearby tree.

I jump back a bit and look around us. “Hutch?” I say as I frown in confusion.

“Seriously,” Gray mutters as he turns to the tree beside us and stands. I watch him rip a small camera off a branch. “No more spying.”

“Oh, come on. Yeah, things were just getting good,” I hear Cam’s voice.

“I vote for you to kiss her,” Al says.

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