Page 103 of He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

‘Today might be your lucky day then.’

‘Go!’ Brynn says, pointing at the room behind me. ‘If we make you lose the comp and the shop, I’d feel terrible. So, get back in there with your lady love and win this thing.’

If it weren’t for Brynn, I wouldn’t be doing any of this. I wouldn’t have the shop simmering on the back burner. I don’t know if Hollyn and I would have had as much time together as we have. I owe her a lot when I think about it.

‘Everything OK?’ Hols asks, brushing her hands off over a trash bucket as she cleans the table next to her.

I grab a flower from the table where I was working, walking past it to her. ‘I can’t show youhowOK everything is, so’ – I hand her the flower – ‘a hint.’

‘There’s that charming thing again.’

‘You bring it out in me.’

Her smile is intoxicating. I literally feel drunk in love around her.

‘Wow!’ Mercy’s voice carries through the room. ‘You two have outdone yourselves. This is beautiful! I think these arrangements are bigger than Hols.’

‘Some are,’ Hollyn says. ‘Totally Dax’s vision; flowers seem to be one of hismanysuperpowers,’ she jokes, biting her bottom lip, making damn sure I notice. She winks at me as I back away towards the arrangement I’m still working on. I like hearing her talk about me this way. ‘But I agree, they’re all gorgeous.’

‘No way you’re not in the top two this week. Just no way.’ Mercy walks the room, looking at all the arrangements. ‘I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but maybe you two should consider beingactualbusiness partners. I think Hols here has a flower power of her own that she never knew about.’

The idea of that makes me smile. My head hasn’t had the opportunity to think of anything beyond the show and where things are going with Hollyn. Maybe it’s not a bad idea?

‘I just wanted to come by and apologize for snooping through your phone.Again. We’re good?’ Mercy asks Hollyn.

‘I could never stay mad at you.’

‘Things went OK here?’ Mercy asks under her breath, obviously not intending for me to hear it.

Luckily, my back is to them, so she can’t see my face. That’d give me away.

‘Yeah,’ Hollyn says softly. ‘More than OK.’

‘McKenzie’s calling in ten,’ Ian announces.

Mercy takes that as her cue and cuts out, leaving Hollyn and me to quickly clean things up, prepping for her call.

‘Beautiful!’ she says through the iPad as Ian films near me. ‘You’re back on track, Dax. The arrangements are incredible.’

‘What do you think, Hollyn? Is he still as beautiful as he was on day one?’

She laughs, nodding her head. ‘More, if that’s possible?’ Her eyes meet mine, a sly smile on her face. Her calling me beautiful has been something McKenzie has enjoyed. She brings it up practically every time they talk and I don’t hate it.

‘Dax, how do you think Hollyn has improved?’

I reach down and envelop her hand with mine. ‘It’s like she’s done floristry her whole life.’

Mercy’s right: Hollyn has a talent neither of us knew she had. She’s picked up on this so fast. She even gives me ideas now. We seem to make a good team in more ways than one.

‘That’s the sign of a good teacher,’ McKenzie says. ‘Would you agree, Hollyn?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘You two have grown. The first time we did this, you were stumbling over your words. Something’s changed.’ She stares at us through the camera as though she’s trying to figure it out. ‘Well, I’ll see you two tomorrow. I’m excited to visit Portland!’ As soon as the words leave her lips, she taps out of the call.

This competition is anyone’s to win at this point. Bring it on.

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