Page 11 of Love Me Forever

“Alright man, I’m off. Gabriella is craving a Philly cheesesteak, so I just stopped by while I wait for them to be finished at the diner.”

“Damn, cravings already?”

“Yea, but I’ll take the middle of the day cravings anytime. The two a.m. wake up cravings are the worst, man,” he says with a smile and we say goodbye.

Before I know it, it’s time to shut this shit down and go see the other woman in my life, my mom. I may be a momma’s boy but ask me if I give a fuck. The answer will always be no.

I’m at her house in a matter of twenty minutes. She chose to stay in the house her that dad had built when I was a child. I tried to get her to move into a beach side cottage and she said absolutely not. This was their home and it would be until the day she left the earth to be with Dad.

“Hello, Mom,” I say as I walk into her house, knowing if I tell her the front door should be locked at all times, she’d just tell me to knock it off.

“Hey, Honey. How are you?”

“I’m good Mom. I met someone and you’ll be meeting her and soon. She’s it for me.” I didn’t mean to, but I tell her right away, apparently having diarrhea of the mouth with my good news.

“I’m so happy for you.”

You can tell she truly means it with the smile shining on her face. We sit down and talk for the next couple of hours. I look down at my watch and see that I’ve been here for hours and it’s almost time for Amelia to be closing up the shop.

“Alright, I’m outta here. I have a woman to woo,” I say with a wink.

“Such a smooth man, just like your father.” She says wistfully.

“Love you, Mom. I’ll call you later on this weekend.” I drop a kiss on her cheek and walk out the door. Heading to the woman I can’t get off of my mind.

Chapter Twelve

Amelia

I’m sweeping the floors of the shop when the door chimes. I look up, about to tell them that we’re closed when I see it’s Damien.

“Hey there.” I go towards him without a thought and get on my tippy toes, opting for ballerina flats today with my dress.

“Hey, Gorgeous.” He bends down and our lips meet, I sigh as his tongue gains entrance and I swear if we weren’t in the front of the store I’d jump into his arms.

“That’s one hell of a hello,” he murmurs as we break apart.

“I kinda sorta missed you a little.” I smirk at him as I say this.

“Well, if that’s what I have to look forward to, I’ll be making sure you miss me, a lot.”

“You should do that,” I respond, my sassiness appearing. At first, with Damien, I was shy, but now that I’m getting used to being around him, the more my personality seems to shine through.

“Let’s get upstairs and get your bag packed for the weekend,” he says.

I stop and look back at him and say, “What do you mean pack?”

“I want you with me this weekend, none of this going back and forth. Just you, me, and the beach.”

I could argue, but I don’t want to. So, I give in easily with a smile.

“Okay, I won’t take too long. Promise.” I say and walk up the stairs that’s inside of the flower shop, thankful that my apartment has an inside entrance and outside entrance. It makes life easier when I work late at night.

I look back and he’s following me up the stairs. I think nothing of it, my apartment is more of a studio, it’s all one big room with a kitchen and a small bathroom. It’s not amazing, but it’s been my home since Grams passed. I could have kept the small home she had in town, but with it just being me, it didn’t seem like a smart choice, so I sold the house and used what was left of remaining money and put it into the flower shop. Now, it’s mine and there’s not a loan on it. I’m basically profiting a big portion after paying my vendors and my everyday expenses. Which means I now I have money put away for a rainy day.

When I open the door, the place is messy. My shop may be clean, but my apartment is not immaculate at all. I have clothes haphazardly thrown here and there, hair products cover my vanity, and there’s shoes in almost every corner. I don’t usually pick up until my day off, which is Sunday. I start to go to my closet which is over flowing with clothes. If I didn’t love flowers so much, my next calling would be fashion. Though, I’m a bargain hunter and have no qualms about purchasing things second hand.

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