Page 38 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

“Have you ever let me pick one?”

She shakes her head and giggles.“I’ll see you after work.”

I get ready and head out.Seth’s waiting for me outside the office in a golf cart to bring me to Beverly’s to look at bouquets for the cabins and glamping tents.We drive over, and she meets us outside her house.The scent of flowers hangs everywhere.

Beverly hands us a small basket and waves toward the field.“Take a walk and bring me back the ones you like.I’ll put together some arrangements and send you pictures for approval.”

Seth leans over and gives the old woman a kiss.She blushes, and I wink at her.She’s always loved flirting with the Blackwood men.And I don’t blame her.

As we stroll through the picturesque flower farm, Seth and I are lost in a discussion about which blooms would look best in the cabins.My hand brushes against the petals of a purple hyacinth, its sweet aroma enveloping me.

“I’m telling you, sunflowers are the way to go,” Seth teases, playfully nudging my shoulder.I roll my eyes.

“Sunflowers don’t smell good.”I counter and cut one of the hyacinths and hand it to him.“See, these smell good.”

He brings his nose to the blooms, and his eyes widen a little.“Those do smell good.”He leans down and cuts a few more.

I steer Seth away from the sunflowers.Rick’s mom loves sunflowers, so that’s what he usually got me when he brought me flowers.I think it’s sweet he thinks of her, but they aren’t my favorite.

Seth picks a sprig of lavender and hands it to me.“What about this?Does it smell good enough for you?”

“Yep.” It’s the same color as the hyacinths we picked, and I wonder if he realizes that purple flowers are my favorite.We never talked about it before.But Seth’s always been observant.Even without me telling him, he seems to know the things I like.

We gather a few more flowers.Some that smell good and some that just look pretty.I make sure there’s a variety of colors that complement the purple flowers.Then we leave the basket with Beverly and head to our office.

The roses that Rick got me earlier sit in a vase by my computer.I glower at them.

Seth must have noticed my change in mood because he gently asks, “Is something wrong?”

“I just don’t really like red flowers.Or white ones.Or even yellow.”My mother loved roses, but she only ever planted red, white, and yellow ones.A year after she left, Dad and I tore the bushes out.I didn’t even realize how much I hated them until Rick got me those flowers on our second date.

* * *

Late that night, Abi and I spread out on the floor of Terry’s living room with cookie dough and a bowl of popcorn.Bisbee and Gilbert are cuddled up next to us, waiting for more dropped popcorn.We’ve just finished a silly rom-com, which is what she always picks, and now we’re startingPassengersfor the second.I still haven’t finished the book of the week, so Abi very nearly canceled the movies and made me read instead, but I promised her I’d finish it tomorrow.

It’s been good to take my mind off of things.Rick didn’t seem all that bothered when he found I was spending the evening with Abi instead of him.Normally he would’ve been.And I think he probably should’ve been.He’s only here for a few days, and I take one of those to hang out with a girl I see every day.But he just gave me a quick kiss and told me to have fun and that he’ll see me in the morning.Maybe he’s really trying to be a better person.

If that’s the case, then I need to try harder to make things work with him.Though I will admit that, halfway through the movie, I really wished it was Seth sitting next to me instead of Abi.

Shouts suddenly erupt outside our window, and Abi and I lock eyes for a split second before we jump up from the couch and sprint out the front door.In the middle of the yard is my dad, Todd, Rick, and the bride from hell.

My dad’s face twists with anger, his fists clenched at his sides as he glares at Rick.Todd stands between them, his arms outstretched, holding my dad back.

“Calm down, Keith.Fighting is never the answer.Let’s go.”Todd speaks in a calm but strong voice.

Dad shakes him off and gets in Rick’s face.“I took you in.Encouraged my daughter to give you another chance, and then I find you canoodling with this thing in the gazebo.”He waves his hand at the bride, who looks very hastily dressed.

Wait a second.What?

Canoodling?

Anger rises in my chest, and I march up to them.

“You slept with her?”I push myself between him and Dad.Rick’s face is beet red, and he takes a step back.

“Like you’re all innocent.Movies with Abi my ass.You just wanted to hook up with your boss.”

Abi runs over, fists clenched, the two dogs following.“I’m right here, asshole.And she was with me all night.”

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