“No. Not even a little bit. I mean, I’m sorry we won’t get to hang out at the festival, but this whole photo shoot and interview sounds fantastic. Of course you need to go.”
I smiled with relief. “Yeah. Iamsorry, though.”
“It’s fine.” Juniper smiled. “Maybe we can enter the Bloom together next year.”
That wasn’t likely. I needed a fashion internship next summer, according to the Plan. “You’re way too nice, Juniper. What about Leanne? You okay with her on the team?”
Juniper nodded. I tried to read her expression, but I couldn’t figure it out. “Totally fine,” she said. “I realized something Tuesday. Leanne’s always been so great to me, and like a stupid kid, I just saw more in that than what there was. I’m over it.”
I watched her closely. I couldn’t forget that Leanne had planned to drive all the way into the city just to get June a book. “She gave you flowers. I think there’s something more there, June.”
“No. Absolutely not. She’s leaving in, like, a week. The flower thing is because she knows I love them. She wants to make sure there are no hard feelings between us before she leaves. Anyway,” Juniper said, waving her hand, “I’ve figured out that if you remind yourself over and over that you’re not into someone, you will eventually start to believe it.”
I blew out a puff of air. I might need that trick when I left Bakewell. Because everything would be much easier without these pesky feelings for Rowan Johnston.
Juniper’s face was full of concern. “Are you okay, Tahira?”
I chuckled, looking down. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m just annoyed I have to leave the Bloom. I’ll be back, though. I’m not giving up my last week in Bakewell for anything.”
“We’ll stay in touch after you leave for good, right?”
I nodded. “Absolutely.” I meant it.
We were all packed and ready to go by 1:30, and Gia and I were sitting on Shar’s front porch waiting for Matteo. We needed to get on the road as soon as he got here because Gia had made an appointment in Toronto to get her roots done. I was checking my Insta when I heard a car turn onto the street.
Good. Matteo was early.
But instead of the blue Mustang, Rowan’s Subaru pulled up. What was he doing home? He didn’t even park in his own driveway, instead stopping in front of Shar’s house, and he got out. He was carrying a bundle of flowers in one hand.
“Ooh, nice,” Gia said. “Why doesn’t Cameron ever bring me flowers? He works at the nursery, too.”
I stopped listening to Gia, though. I was watching the most beautiful guy in the world come straight for me with a bouquet of flowers. I met him at the bottom of the stairs.
“These are for you.” He handed me the flowers. “‘I’m on lunch...can we talk for a few minutes?” I couldn’t read his expression.
I nodded. “Yeah, but my ride will be here soon.”
He took my hand and pulled me over to an ornate garden bench near the Bloom bunny in the middle of his yard. We sat.
“I didn’t want you to leave without seeing you,” he said.
I squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you came.”
“I should apologize.” He took his hand back and ran it over his head. Icouldread his expression now. Still sadness.
I looked at the bouquet, and noticed the sunflowers first. Small ones, brightly colored and contrasting against the blue and purple of the other flowers in the bundle. Heather and hydrangea. I knew exactly why he picked these flowers. The sunflowers were for our first kiss. The hydrangeas for the day we met, and the day we painted that mural together at Lilybuds. And the heather? The heather was because he was a designer down to the bone—big blooms like hydrangeas and sunflowers needed something tall and slender for balance.
I understood him. He understood me.
“Last night my mom really laid into me. She said I was being selfish,” he said. “She said I needed to let you shine. It’s a big deal, this photo shoot; I get that. I’m sorry I didn’t support you.”
“That sounds more like your mother’s words than your own.”
He squeezed his lips together. “I do mean them, though. I told you I can be tunnel minded, and maybe I needed her kick in the ass to see your perspective. This is yourdream. Your life is out there, not hanging out in gardens and greenhouses with me.”
I blinked. There was a lot of finality in his voice. “I’m only leaving for two days,” I said. “When I come back on Sunday, we’ll still have a whole week left in Bakewell to hang out in the garden.” I wanted that. I wanted to lie on the grass and stare at the stars. I wanted to go hang out in flower fields and maybe finally try the marshmallow ice cream on Main Street. I wanted to talk for hours about art and design and flowers and beauty. I wasn’t ready for all this to end.
Rowan smiled small. “I know.” He pointed over to Shar’s driveway. “Your ride is waiting.” Sure enough, the blue Mustang was there.
