Enigma Rose: A Novel by SE Reynolds

Author:SE Reynolds [Reynolds, SE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-22T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27 – Stacie

"You better see who that is. It could be JJ."

Josh picks up his phone. Suddenly, his face turns grim as he reads his text message, so I quickly turn towards the TV. When he gets off the phone, I will say goodnight and excuse myself. My pathetic comment about flowers and his disturbing text has ruined the evening, and I'm pretty sure I will never see Josh in person again. Finally, Josh puts his phone.

"Why don't you think I would buy you flowers, Stacie? I'd buy you flowers any day of the week, and I would make sure there were no little stinging bees in them."

Something between us has changed. I'm trying to adjust to it as he takes my hand and holds it in his. I stare at my hand as his thumb rubs the top of my knuckles. I'm not sure what the rubbing means. I want to ask what it means, but I stay quiet because I don't want to change back to the way it was before he picked up his phone.

"How about that burger?" he asks.

"I think that would be very nice…the flowers would be very nice too," I say under my breath.

Joshua and I finish our dinner with very few words. Something is weighing on his mind, and I'm sure it has to do with the text he got. I let it be and allow the night to play out on its own. I cut him some slack and tell him I need to get home to prepare for a very important imaginary meeting the next day.

"I parked my car around back," I say as we approach the front of my office. The door looks bare. Something is off."

"What's that on the ground?" Josh asks.

"Oh no, look at that. Our sign fell off the door."

"What the heck?" Josh says as he bends down to pick it up, "That looks like spit!"

"More like phlegm, yuck."

"Great, someone decided to spit a big loogie on my sign. Couldn't they see it fell off? They didn't have to pick it up, but to just spit on it as they pass by, gross!"

"It didn't fall off the hangar, Stacie. It looks like it was yanked. See, the chain is broken."

"Why would someone do that?"

"It was probably some stupid kids. I wouldn't worry about it, but if it happens again, you may want to report it."

Joshua takes a tissue out of his pocket, wipes it off, and leans the sign up against the door.

"Thanks, Joshua; I'll take care of it on Monday."

Josh takes my hand and leads me back to my car. I feel like he's my dad leading me to safety, but I don't mind. I like holding his hand regardless of his intentions.

"Thanks for coming to hear my speech, Stacie."

"Oh sure, I mean, I was just coming in for some ice cream, and there you were."

"Stop it, Stacie."

Josh stops walking, grabs my shoulders, and turns me towards him like I'm a little girl getting ready to be scolded.

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