She smiles her ass off. “Well, I was with you until you busted my balls for leaving early.”
I nod, grinning. “I’ll definitely tell your boss.” I smile wider to let her know I’m just giving her shit. “Lengthy email is already writing itself in my mind.”
“I am the boss, smartass. Now, come in before I shut the door in your face.”
I don’t even think, just take off past her before she can lock me out. I have to move quickly, and truth-be-told, I should be nicer because I don’t even remember what orchids look like. I didn’t even glance at Mary’s earlier. Just grabbed what the other lady gave me at the florist by work, paid, and left.
I fumble around staring at a couple rows of flowers, then back at the lady for a second, trying to give her a hint.
She puts her hands on her hips again, clearly amused, then sighs and says, “Follow me.”
“About time.” I walk after her.
“Your date is in for a real treat tonight.” She smirks and leads us over to some purple flowers that look different from all the others.
“That’s what I keep telling her.”
She laughs this time, a genuine, real laugh. “How many for the lucky lady?”
“A hundred!”
She dies this time. “How about this arrangement with six? You might actually be able to carry it.” She holds it up and it looks better than all the other ones.
“Done.” I yank them out of her hand, toss a hundred-dollar bill on the counter, and haul ass out the door.
“Be on time if we do this again, asshole!”
I can’t stop laughing and throw up a middle finger as I run out of the store.
“Good luck!”
I smirk as I cross the street. I don’t need luck. I just need an opportunity. Just one foot in her door, so she can’t slam it in my face.
Thank God it’s nice outside, about seventy degrees. I’m still close to sweating my ass off as I make my way back to her building.
Luck is on my side once more, an additional sign of fate for Mary and me, as a couple come out the door when I need to go in. I trap it with my foot once they leave, then shimmy my way inside, without spilling any water out of the vase.
There’s a line at the elevator of people getting in from work. I glance around the lobby, then head for the stairs. I take them two at a time, all the way to the third floor.
The whole time I fly up them, I tell myself I can do this, over and over. We’re meant for each other. I don’t know why. I don’t know how. All I know is that I know. I’ve always known, from the first time I saw her. I’m not taking no for an answer. She’s going to be mine. That’s how it is. I don’t give a shit if I have to memorize the Bible and live in a damn church, as long as I’m with her, life will be right.
As I walk down her hallway, my shoes feel like they fill up with cement. My legs grow heavy, my heart thuds in my chest. I’ve never been this nervous in my life. Maybe because it’s all been a game so far. I’ve done what I always do, manipulate, use my skillset to get what I want, and been beyond obvious about it. Mary’s too good for that. She’s deserved this right here from the beginning, and I never gave it to her. Maybe it was out of fear, I don’t know. I don’t pretend to know what it is every time I look at her, but I want to find out. I will find out.
It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt.
There’s only one problem.
After I look down at the flowers, straighten my collar, take a deep breath, muster up every ounce of courage I have in my body—I ring the doorbell.
She doesn’t answer.
Mary Patrick
I watch Rick, standing in front of my door through the Ring camera app on my phone. I can’t believe he actually showed up, and only a few feet separate us right now. He’s holding the most gorgeous arrangement of orchids I’ve ever seen, even better than the ones at the office that now sit on my counter. I played it off as a coincidence that he guessed right earlier, but I was kidding myself. Of course he knows my favorite flowers. I have no