He laughed, dark and disbelieving, then jogged back to the stairs. “Jesus Christ. Just go home.”
“Aiden, wait.”
He didn’t.
Laying the paper down, I placed the tied arrangement of wildflowers, daisies, and petunias in the center, then carefully started wrapping them.
“You’re hiding today.” Gloria leaned against the doorframe to the back room. “You should’ve seen the way Mr. Ross’s face fell. You know he comes in specifically on the days you work.”
I snorted. “Yeah, to buy flowers for his wife.”
“Doesn’t matter. Sometimes, a smile from a pretty youth is enough to liven the weirdest of souls.”
I smiled at that. “Is Sabrina back yet?”
“Nah. My money’s on her stopping by the bakery to nab a donut.”
“Diet’s not going so well?”
Gloria laughed, a warm, scratchy sound. “She’s been on a diet since I met her, but only when people are looking.”
I loved the way they loved one another. “Has it always been this easy with you two?”
“No way, honey. You’ve caught us in our prime.” Gloria hummed, and I set the flowers in the stand, moving on to wrap a cluster of multicolored dyed roses. “This got anything to do with a certain dark-haired fellow who hasn’t stopped by with coffee for you this week?”
Aiden’s blond friend, the salty taste of his lone tear, and the words he’d said to me hadn’t left me alone for a minute. “Can I tell you something?”
“Let me flip the back in fifteen sign.”
I trimmed the stems and laid out fresh paper, then she was back. “You know how my brother’s in a band?” When she nodded, I continued, “The boy I love happens to be in it too. His best friend.”
Gloria grabbed a stool, tugging it closer to the wooden bench. She adjusted her bright pink sweater dress over her gray tights, crossing her leather booted feet, then nodded. “Tell me everything, honey.”
By the time I finished, her skin had paled, and her hand was at her chest. “There’s something wrong with him,” she said after a few minutes of staring into space while I finished another arrangement. “More than what you must be seeing.”
“I’m pretty sure his parents are drunks and just horrible people. He had a younger brother. He, um, he died before they moved to Plume Grove.”
Gloria made a sound of anguish. “He lost the only person who loved him unconditionally.”
I didn’t think it was possible to cry any more tears over Everett, but there I was, brushing more away. “He’s so broken and lost, and I can’t figure out how or where I fit among those cracks.” I sniffed. “What’s more, he continually pushes me away, and I just… I can’t do it anymore.”
Gloria got up and walked over with her arms out.
I went to them, letting the scent of incense and her fruity perfume calm my cresting emotions. “So you don’t do it anymore. You can’t squeeze your way into someplace that’s not ready to make enough room for you. All that’ll do is hurt.” Her hand swept over my hair, and my arms tightened around her plump waist. “If it doesn’t feel good, you let it go, and you find something that does.”
Aiden was already in class on Thursday, and I hesitated, unsure whether I should take my usual seat beside him or move to an empty one on the other side of the room.
I stood on the stairs and let students pass me as indecision and fear had my heart tapping fast.
I’d seen him on campus on Monday with some of his teammates, walking to the cafeteria, but if he saw me, he didn’t let on. I could only stare then, just as I did now.
When I noticed I was one of the only people still standing, I collapsed into the closest seat, thankful no one was near me, even if that meant I was sitting right by the doors.
The professor arrived, and as he scrawled over the board, Aiden spun around, searching.
I ducked lower in my seat, forcing my eyes to my desk as I opened my book and clicked my pen into action.
“Mr. Prince, is there a reason you’ve decided to play musical chairs today?”
Looking up, my face flamed when I saw Aiden approach with his book and pen. “Yes, sir. It seems my girl forgot where we usually sit in your class and instead, sat someplace else.” He dumped himself into the seat next to me, opened his book, and held his pen at