“We’re not… there’s no…” But I could feel my face burning, giving me away.
“Honey, I’ve been arranging flowers for couples for years. Weddings, anniversaries, Valentine’s Days, the works.” She set down her shears and looked at us directly. “I know chemistry when I see it. And you two?” She whistled low. “You’re practically vibrating with it.”
Dex cleared his throat. “It’s complicated.”
“It always is.” Emma wiped her hands on her apron, completely unbothered by our panic. “But you should know. People around here will notice. These things don’t stay secret for long.”
My stomach dropped. “Notice what?”
“That there’s something between you two. The way you look at each other when you think no one’s watching. The way you’re so careful not to touch. The way you both tensed up when Tracesuggested you work together on the location scouting.” She smiled gently. “Subtlety isn’t your strong suit.”
“Have people been talking?” Dex asked, his voice tight.
“Not yet. Not really. But they will.” Emma moved to sit on her stool behind the counter. “Look, I’m not going to say anything. Your secret’s safe with me. But Willowbrook is a small town. People notice things. Patterns. And eventually, someone’s going to put two and two together. And you know how much they love to talk about secrets around here.”
“We’re being careful,” I said, though the words felt hollow.
“I’m sure you are. But careful only goes so far in a place where everyone knows everyone.” Emma’s expression softened. “I’m not trying to scare you. I’m giving you a heads up. If you want this to stay private, you might not have as much time as you think you do.”
I looked at Dex. He was staring at Emma, jaw tight, and I could see the wheels turning in his head.
“Thank you,” he said finally. “For the warning. And for keeping it quiet.”
“Of course. Like I said, you’re both adults. If you want to be together, that’s your business.” She paused. “But maybe consider telling the family before they hear it from someone else. It’s always better coming from you.”
After a few more minutes of awkward small talk about flower delivery timing, we left. Dex held the door for me, and we stepped out into the bright afternoon sun.
We walked toward our cars in silence.
“She’s right,” Dex said finally, his voice low. “People are going to figure it out.”
“I know.”
“Maybe we should tell them. The brothers. Get ahead of it.”
Panic fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird. “Not yet. Please. I just... I need more time to figure out how to explainthis. How to make them understand that this isn’t some huge dramatic thing that’s going to complicate the family.”
“Leigh…”
“Please, Dex. Just a little longer.”
He studied my face, and I could see the conflict there. The desire to protect me warring with his loyalty to his brothers. To my brothers. To the people I should want to build bridges with as well, not potentially tearing them down by sleeping with their best friend behind their backs.
“Okay,” he said finally. “A little longer. But we need to be more careful.”
“We will be. I promise.”
We stood there on the sidewalk, two feet of careful distance between us, and I wanted nothing more than to close that gap. To lean into him. To let him wrap his arms around me and tell me everything would be okay.
But people were walking by. Someone I didn’t recognize nodded hello, and then patted Dex on the shoulder as they passed.
Small town. Everyone watching.
“I should go,” I said.
“Yeah. Me too.”
Neither of us moved.
