“The fu—” I chuckle as Dax scoffs before he continues, “Goddamn Gen Z these days. Twenty-five?”
The kid scowls and starts walking off with his bike. “No deal.”
I stand back and watch Dax finally have to work for something in his life. “Are you kidding me. Kid, get your ass back here. I’ll go to forty, but I’m cutting you off, you greedy little shit.”
The kid grins wide, moving back to Dax and shaking his hand. “Deal. I would have done it for thirty, but no take-backs.” My eyes shoot open as the kid suddenly drops his bike to the ground, yanks the note from Dax, and takes off.
Dax turns to me, letting out a huff. “Do you believe that shit?”
I shrug, smirking. “Guess your charms don’t work on everyone.”
Dax groans, waving his hand through the air signaling for us to move into position. We rush around to the corner edge of the shop. We can see inside, but if she came outside, she wouldn’t see us. I watch as the kid hands her the note. My stomach twists and turns as she huffs while he runs back outside, his eyes searching for us.
“Pssst, kid,” Dax calls out.
I keep my eyes firmly placed on Lyric while Dax handles the payoff.
She opens the note, and I think about the message I inked to her, pretending I’m reading it from memory at the same time as she is.
Nothing could ever explain how monumentally sorry I am.
I never meant to hurt you. Please believe me.
I love you more than anything. More than this world.
And my world doesn’t revolve if you’re not in it.
Come back to me, Starlight. xo
Dax pays the kid, and he runs off as I watch Lyric place her hand to her chest. A tear forms in her eye and slowly makes its way down her cheek. I swear she looks right at me, but I know she can’t see me.
Lyric wipes the tear, then places the note in her pocket. Slowly, she walks toward the door of the florist and peers out. I take a step forward, but Dax dramatically pulls me back, stopping me from going to her. It takes every single ounce of strength I have not to push him to the ground and run to her. But I agree with Dax—I don’t want to ruin the progress I’ve made so far. I don’t want to fuck this up. So, I stand back, watching her,her lips turning up just the faintest of margins as she turns and heads back inside her shop.
Dax pats my shoulder and exhales. “Well, bro, I think you made an impression on her today. Now we need to leave one last note on her door for when she gets home.”
I inhale. “One last one to end the day off, so she knows I’ve been thinking of her.” I pull out the note and read it over to make sure the wording is perfect before we head over to her home.
Welcome home, Starlight.
I hope you’ve had a wonderful day,
and these notes have kept you in good spirits.
I just want you to know I’ll be dreaming of you tonight, as I do every night.
Wishing I were holding you instead.
Sweet dreams.
Always your Hallmark Hero. xo
The note says exactly what I want it to say. We have to tape it to Lyric’s door now, so when she arrives home, she knows the entire day has been about her.
Dax steadies his shoulders with a smirk. “We post the note on her door, then on to phase three.”
I furrow my brows. “Phase three?”
He opens his eyes wide like he’s annoyed by my lack of comprehension. “You said she loves animals, right?”
