Page 32 of Wild Tides
I hid a smile. “Someonestole my laptop and is ransoming it back to me with dares.”
“Who’d you piss off?”
“Guess.”
Zach frowned. “Now I’m not sure I should help you. Family loyalty and all. What exactly did you do?”
“Helpyou, so I’m going to say you owe me.”
“This is about high school?” Zach asked.
“Your sister holds a mean grudge.” I shrugged. “But it’s one of the things I like about her.”
Zach rubbed the back of his neck. “She was pretty good about immediate payback. Every time Drew and I see Jello shots, we have the vomit reflex to prove it. Our dear sister did not pull her punches when dosing us with Ipecac.” He shuddered. “Even pistachio ambrosia salads turn my stomach. Improbably green foods will be forever enshrined in my memory and associated with hurling my guts out.”
“Yeah, but she didn’t knowIwas involved back then.”
“Ooh…” Zach drew the word out, contorting his expression into a wince that clearly communicated he wouldn’t want to be in my shoes. Or boot.
“Yeah.” I kept my tone wry. “So, my jacket?”
He sketched a salute. “Got it. Where in your closet am I going to find it?”
“Beneath the box labeled, ‘Definitely Not Porn.’”
“I’m on it.”
Chapter 16 – Violet
Igrinned after hanging up on Lee. It had been a few days since he’d finally admitted he was part of the high school shenanigans, and I still wasn’t over it. He was about to learn that he should have treated me better in high school. Maybe it was petty and counterproductive to punish him now. But he hadn’t cried into his pillow after working up the courage to ask a guy to the school dance only to see the look of horror as my crush said, “Not with your brothers.”
I’d had plenty of time to strike back at Drew and Zach. Lee was fresh meat.
Restocking the shelves with the Island Salts savory blends took me the better part of the last hour of my day. I brewed tea and sold the last of my pastries in between opening cases.
The bell over the door tinkled, and I looked up from my spot on the floor.
“Be just a sec,” I called, not quite able to see. I pushed to my feet, popping up above the salted caramel display to find Joe from the local flower shop grinning at me over a bouquetof daffodils and narcissus. The perennial twinkle in his eye and a backward baseball cap made him look younger than his fifty-plus years.
“Delivery for Violet Fenwick. Where would you like me to put them?”
A pop of pleasure filled my lungs. Flowers were always welcome.
“Those are beautiful. Thanks, Joe. The counter would be great.”
“And what about the rest?”
I blinked. Therest?
“Who are they from? The flowers won’t fit on the counter?”
My birthday wasn’t for another week. It would be like my mom to send me a bouquet a week early, so I could enjoy them up to the day. It would be even more like Gran, who’d enjoy telling me I was fading like a flower on my actual birthday, then cackle like a madwoman.
Joe chuckled. Maybe not as maniacally as Gran, but his gentle chortle made me feel like I’d missed the punchline. “You’re going to need to make room.”
“Just bring them in, and I’ll find space. Thanks.”
I reached for the card nestled among the cheerful yellow blooms.Roses are red, violets are blue, this is a cliché, but I’m sorry I fucked up with you.
