“Allysa? Why do you work here?”
She stops what she’s doing and takes in a slow breath like maybe
she’s contemplating being honest with me. She walks back to the
counter and leans against it, crossing her feet at her ankles.
“Because,” she says, looking down at her feet. “I can’t get pregnant.
We’ve been trying for two years but nothing has worked. I was tired of
sitting at home crying all the time, so I decided I should find
something to keep my mind busy.” She stands up straight and wipes
her hands across her jeans. “And you, Lily Bloom, are keeping me very
busy.” She turns and starts messing with the same bouquet of flowers
again. She’s been perfecting them for half an hour. She picks up a
card and stuffs it in the flowers, and then turns around and hands me
the vase. “These are for you, by the way.”
It’s obvious Allysa wants to change the subject, so I take the flowers
from her. “What do you mean?”
She rolls her eyes and waves me off to my office. “It’s on the card.
Go read it.”
I can tell by her annoyed reaction that they’re from Ryle. I grin
and run to my office. I take a seat at my desk and pull out the card.
Lily,
I’m having serious withdrawals.
—Ryle
I smile and put the card back in the envelope. I grab my phone
and snap a picture of me holding the flowers with my tongue sticking
out. I text it to Ryle.
Me: I tried to warn you.
He immediately starts texting me back. I watch anxiously as the
dots on my phone move back and forth.
Ryle: I need my next fix. I’ll be finished here in about thirty minutes. Can I
take you to dinner?
Me: Can’t. Mom wants me to try a new restaurant with her tonight. She’s an
obnoxious foodie. : (
Ryle: I like food. I eat food. Where are you taking her?
Me: A place called Bib’s on Marketson.
Ryle: Is there room for one more?