risk he was taking was unfounded but knowing how I would react if he didn’t take this chance now and tried in the future and I found out, it would shatter me to the core. It would make him like the rest, just another guy I couldn’t fully trust, another splinter to my heart. The issue was I knew I wouldn’t have him to pick me up this time if I was to be hurt, therefore would I ever recover? He knew my beliefs on honesty and loyalty, and he was being true to everything I stood for. It was all I needed to know, so he deserved the chance to prove that he could be all my hopes and dreams.
With Annie needing to leave early, I got her support with the base of my plan creating a display to beat all others. Colour splashed lilies, ivy splutters intertwined with baby’s breath and of course, the dozen luxurious red roses associated with the iconic day all made a perfect backdrop in preparation, the colours screamed elegance and romance knowing it would draw customers in. I was elated with joy.
The day flew with a mix of emotions as my plan was pieced together item by item, just one missing part remained, Adam and to get the completion of my puzzle I needed Annie, as I checked the time and called her. “Annie, please, can you do me a massive favour? Just do anything you need to do to make sure he listens, just don’t tell him it’s me. Please, get him to the shop early tomorrow. I have everything else sorted.” Giddiness galore echoed down the line as she was finally stopped long enough to let me know she was happy to oblige. So with a large glass of bubbly and admiring each of my notes I had been sent with pure admiration, the next few hours I was able to unwind as tomorrow “Mr. Casanova” will hopefully have his “Miss” as I sighed in a dreamy haze.
Chapter Eighteen
Adam
Today hadn’t gone to plan at all, I just wanted to pull my hair out with the stress. Violet hadn’t been at the shop at all this morning yet which was unheard of as her business was her life, whilst Annie suggested maybe giving her space would be best to reduce suspicion of me constantly questioning her whereabouts. I knew in my heart I should not have listened as my day had been hell. I may have become obsessed and clingy to her whereabouts, but that was more to the panic radiating through my body rather than any underlying trust issue.
Every second filled throughout the day had been filled of her whereabouts and what she was doing now, especially her reaction to the envelope and gift. I kept questioning everything and it was driving me mad as to whether I had pushed a step too far and possibly even scared her away. She did say she was done with love. The fresh air didn’t help, a run and exerting myself to complete exhaustion could have ended in disastrous consequences when my concentration lapsed and nearly resulted in being hit by a car for not paying attention to the road, my judgement was haywire. No, my mind was consumed by one person and one person only, her.
My phone all of a sudden alerts me to an incoming call, Annie, knowing she could fill me in on the day’s events and Violet’s reactions didn’t even get a chance to ring fully as I jump to answer it. “Yep, everything okay?” No time for any of that cutesy talk, I wanted answers as Annie’s normal, bouncy chatter couldn’t be heard and the line was deathly quiet. “Annie, you there?”
Her voice wobbled as I listened on, in shock unnerved. “Err, can you come early tomorrow to the shop?”
She had dismissed my previous questions which was so unlike Annie, always someone who wanted a good catch up and chat, something weird was going on. “Yeah, of course, any reason?”
Her quiet silence and delayed reactions made me start to fidget. “Just we had a huge order last minute and we could do with a hand dealing with the rush in the morning preparing everything in ample time for the day.”
My gut screamed at me; I needed the answer to the question stuck on repeat. “Annie, just tell me please she knows, doesn’t she?” With the silence between us and the sudden cut of the connection I knew I had