Page 25 of The Girlfriend Game
Her frown turns into a wide smile, and she flaps a hand in the air. “Of course! Let me just get some from the back. How many would you like in the bouquet?”
“You’re the expert…” I squint to read her nametag that’s askew on her apron. “Denise. I’ll let you decide.”
She giggles and swivels around on her heels, pushing through a swinging door toward the back as I pace around the tiny shop. I can hear her singing to herself from the back and it lifts the weight of my indecision over this. I don’t want to come across as overly sentimental or too eager when I meet The Other Sister, but I want her to feel special. Because that’s how I feel about her. The same way she’s made me feel in the weeks we’ve been chatting.
A few minutes have gone by when Denise returns with a bouquet of pink and white flowers, which I gather are Stargazer lilies. The smell is lightly rich and fragrant and confirms my decision without question.
“Here you go, Zeke.” She hands me the bouquet, the stems sticking out from underneath some pink and clear cellophane tied up with a green ribbon. “Is this what you had in mind?”
“They are perfect, Denise. Thank you so much.” I push my nose into the flowers and inhale. “Wow, they do smell delicious. No wonder she loves them.”
I say this more to myself, but Denise quirks an eyebrow. “Ooh, a lucky lady, huh?”
I laugh, hoping to pass it off with a nonchalant nod. “Just a friend. How much do I owe you?”
Pulling out my wallet from my pocket, I open it up to extract my credit card, but Denise waves her hand back and forth over the counter.
“No, no. Please, it’s my treat. But my son Jered would die to have a picture and your autograph, instead. He’d think that was the coolest. Could I be so bold to ask?”
I lift my gaze from the bouquet to find her blushing, batting her eyes bashfully, and holding her phone in her hand.
“How can I say no to that?” I chuckle, taking the phone she holds in my hand and throwing an arm around her shoulder. With an outstretched arm, I position the camera in front of us and smile.
“Say Pilots.”
I snap a few and hand back her phone, as she inspects the photos. And then she hands me a pen and receipt pad to autograph.
“How do you spell his name?”
She spells it out for me, and I scribble my name before sliding it back to her.
“You just made Jered’s summer. He is going to be so excited.”
“Glad to help out.” I pick up the bouquet I’d set on the counter and lift it in thanks. “Tell Jered I hope to see him at a game next season. And thanks, Denise. Have a good one.”
She waves eagerly as I turn and exit the shop, taking a left out the door and heading down the steep hill toward Belltown.
With an excitement in my step that I haven’t felt in months, I practically skip the remaining two blocks to the coffee shop, anxious and eager to finally meet this woman in person.
And hoping it goes smoothly when she finally learns who I am.
