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Carrie takes the bouquet from the kid before she places something in his hand that she plucked out of the back pocket of her jeans.
Naturally, he’s the type to unveil the tip in front of everyone. He turns the twenty dollar bill over once and then again before he holds it up as if he’s checking if it’s counterfeit.
“You can go,” I tell him, pointing toward the door.
“I’m in no hurry, man.” He looks at the roses that I’m still holding. “Bigger isn’t always better, dude.”
“Ah, yes, it is,” Elio chimes in, crossing his arms over his chest.
What the fuck is up with this midday circus?
Not only do I feel like I’m in the middle of a flower pissing match with the delivery guy, but I swear to fuck, I smell pizza.
I glance at Elio. Is it him? Does he always smell this good?
“I had these delivered for you.” Carrie hands off the wildflowers to Posey. “It’s a small thank you for the mural.”
Posey tears up. “For me? Really, Carrie? You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to,” she says, her voice soft and comforting as she rubs a hand over Posey’s shoulder. “I know my sister, and I can tell you that when she gets home and sees what you’ve done, she’ll be so touched.”
Posey lowers her head to smell the wildflowers. “That’s more than I can hope for. Abby has been good to me. I’m honored that I can be a part of this.”
“So…” The delivery kid breaks into the tender moment. “Are either of you hotties single?”
That’s enough bullshit for one day, so I level my gaze on him again and add to it with a step toward him. I’m all for intimidation if it gets this joker out of here. “You’re leaving now.”
“Fine.” He darts both hands in the air. “I was just trying to be friendly. No harm. No foul.”
“Go,” I reiterate my point with another step toward him.
He walks backward toward the door, shifting his gaze to Carrie. “Thanks for the tip, darling. If you need more flowers, you know right where to find me.”
“I won’t.” Carrie shakes her head. “I will never need to find you. Ever. Shut the door on your way out.”
I bow my head to hide a smile. That’s one down and one to go. Two, if I count Posey.
I want this apartment cleared out so I can finally get that moment alone with Carrie that I’ve been craving since the wedding.
Despite my best efforts, Posey wouldn’t leave Declan and Abby’s apartment. Her commitment to getting the mural done before the newlyweds set foot back on American soil is unwavering.
Shortly after the delivery kid took off, Elio said he needed to head back to Franzini’s. I encouraged his sister to tagalong but she tossed me a look I’d classify as somewhere between confusion and shock.
“I don’t have time for that, boss,” she said as she flung her arms into the air.
After a quick hug goodbye between the siblings, Elio was out of the apartment door, and Posey was back in the guestroom that will soon be completely transformed into a nursery.
That left Carrie and me alone for less than two minutes before she shot out of the main living area like a dart, claiming she needed to find a vase for the flowers.
She’s been out of my sight for almost five minutes. I know for a fact that her treasure hunt shouldn’t have lasted more than ninety seconds since there’s a large vase on the kitchen counter.
Abby keeps it at the ready because her husband brings her a fresh flowers every week.
I finally hear the tap running. I take that to mean that she’s filling the vase.
Not more than twenty-seconds later, she appears with it in her hands.
I stalk toward her to take it from her, but she hurries to the dining room table to place it down gently.
