Even When It Wasn’t You by Kayla Tirrell

Author:Kayla Tirrell [Tirrell, Kayla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-23T00:00:00+00:00

11

THE PRESENT

THURSDAY

I’ve stopped jumping every time the bell above my door chimes and someone new walks into Oops a Daisy.

The store is officially closed for Evie and Matt’s wedding. I’m not taking on new projects, and I have a million things to do before the bachelorette party tomorrow, but I haven’t been able to focus because people keep coming through my front door. I keep thanking them for stopping in but have to keep telling them I’m not able to help them with any flowers today. The reactions range from confusion to frustration. I completely sympathize with each emotion because I’m all over the place this morning.

That’s what I get for agreeing to be friends with Nate. It was easy to agree when he was being all sweet and his niece was practically setting up a playdate for the two of us. Now, I have to deal with the consequences of my actions, which means working with my lights on and my door unlocked, even though I can’t help any customers.

It’s my fault for not setting up a specific time for him to come by. Now I have to make sure I’m here whenever he decides to show up—and I have to make it obvious that I’m inside. I don’t want him to make the effort to show up, see my lights dimmed, my door locked, and think I chickened out.

I almost chickened out.

But that will stay my dirty little secret. Nate might know I’m single, but I don’t want him to think I’ve been stuck in Belview pining after him for the last several years. It’s better to start our new friendship with him thinking that it is actually possible. As for me? I plan to fake it until I make it. If I tell myself that my feelings for him are simply platonic enough times, I might actually believe it. Eventually.

I’m prepping flowers when the bell above my door rings. I rest my hands on the counter and sigh. At this point, it’s getting ridiculous. I should have put a sign on the door that said we’re closed for everyone but Nate. I promise myself that I’ll do that as soon as I send this person away. But when I look up, it’s Nate standing in the doorway. He’s wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, with a duffel bag over his shoulder.

He lifts his hand in a small wave. “Hey.”

I stand up straight and rub my hands over my apron. I push my hair back from my face and smile. “Hey.”

“I heard I might be able to get flowers here.” He looks around the shop, which is sadly, wildly, underfilled at the moment. My floral fridges are filled with boxes of unprepped flowers and trimmed stems in five-gallon buckets, but there isn’t a bouquet in sight.

“I usually have a lot more,” I hurry to explain. “I just blocked off most of the week for Evie’s wedding.”

“I’m sure it’s beautiful.”

“It is.” I stand there with my arms awkwardly hanging down at my sides.

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