The Romeo Effect by Lila Monroe

Author:Lila Monroe [Monroe, Lila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-01-28T06:00:00+00:00

Seth helps me gather the rest of my flowers and we head back to my shop. I expected him to take off, but he insists on helping me put everything away. It’s early, still too early for Remy to be here, so I appreciate the help.

“So, what are you dorky about?” I ask curiously, once everything’s unloaded and put away.

“Nothing,” Seth says. “I’m the epitome of cool. Not one dorky thing about me.” He says it with a straight face, but I can tell he’s teasing.

“Come on,” I say, hooking a finger into one of his belt loops to pull him close. “There has to be something. I don’t know anyone who isn’t dorky about something. If you’re hiding it, that just means it’s maximum dork.”

He looks down at me, searching my face for something. Maybe deciding if he can trust me. Does he have a weird fetish? Something he’s really ashamed of? I’m intrigued. And a little scared. But mostly intrigued.

The best way to get it out of him is to be reassuring. “If it’s D&D or other nerd stuff, you don’t have to worry,” I add. “I’ve seen it all. I once had to do a Star Wars-themed wedding where the bouquets were lightsabers. The men’s boutonnieres were these tiny action figures backed by baby’s breath. I’m not even kidding.”

He laughs. “Baby’s breath? That sounds so . . . I don’t know . . . wrong.”

It’s my turn to laugh. “Actually, baby’s breath is just a classic filler that goes into arrangements. It’s from the carnation family.”

“Sounds medieval,” Seth says.

“Anywaaaaayyyy,” I drawl. “Don’t change the subject. I want to hear about you. What gets you geeked up?”

He blows out a breath. “Fine. But I’ll have to show you. You have some time?”

I glance at the clock and nod. I have another hour before opening. “I need to eat, too, so if we can work that into going to the Death Star or crazy sex club or wherever, that would be good.”

He throws me a smirk as he grabs my hand, tugging me out of my shop.

We don’t go far. About ten blocks away, Seth leads me through a jingling door into a diner. And I’m not talking about one of those new, retro, hipster spots, either. It is legit old-school, complete with red leather booths (the duct tape on the fabric adds to the authenticity) and matching chrome and leather stools that seem to grow out of the floor. It smells like coffee and syrup and sounds just how you’d expect: the clinks and clatters of china mugs on saucers, the yelling of “Order up!” coming from the high window to the kitchen, and the chatter of the many patrons—most of whom seem to be well over seventy. In fact, as I look around I see we’re obviously the youngest people in here. Whatever, it smells great and these people all must know something—the place is bustling. Not to mention, I’m starving. It’s perfect.

Seth nods toward two empty stools at the counter so we sit.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.