Flowers.
Colors schemes.
Seating charts.
The entire process sounded exhausting. But Monique had seemed happy. And seeing her happy made Raz happy. And that part, I could understand. Monique continued talking as we drove.
“Raz is unable to go shopping with me because he's busy handling board meetings. And Meka and Toya had things to do at our boutique.”
I nodded.
“And the floral shop has been busy. Today was the only day she could fit me in to show me an array of the things I wanted to see. So I couldn't cancel.”
“What is it you're wanting to see?” I asked, trying to sound engaged, because women liked that.
Monique immediately listed the things she wanted.
“I need to look at flowers, and I want to look around the shop to see if I can get any inspiration from the things they have in the store. But since I have you with me, I specifically want a man's perspective on boutonnières and floral details for the men in the wedding party.”
I didn’t know what the fuck a boutonnière was. But I was about to find out.
“I'll help in any way I can,” I told her.
Monique beamed. “Thank you.”
The smile on her face made me realize something. Making women happy wasn't always complicated. Sometimes they didn't want grand gestures. Sometimes they just wanted someone willing to show up and participate in the things that mattered to them.
Interesting.
I should remember that. Especially for when I finally entered Juliet's life. When that day came, I intended to pay attention to the things that mattered to her. From the smallest to the largest. Even if they made absolutely no sense to me.
Like buying flowers when they grew naturally outside. You could just find a field and pick some. Or watching anime to fall asleep. Watching anime would keep me awake, not put me to sleep.
But if it mattered to Juliet, then it would matter to me, too. That thought stayed with me as I followed the navigation toward the florist. All the while, I listened as Monique explained why she was having two weddings.
One was for our family, who wanted her to have a traditional wedding as the don’s wife. The beach wedding was for her, Raz, and their closest family and friends. It would be more of a celebration with the people they loved.
When she asked me if I needed a plus-one invitation, I nearly drove off the road. The question surprised me and made me think of Juliet. If I could convince her to trust me and let me in, yeah, I would need that plus-one.
If not, then I’d be there alone, watching my brother commit his life to the woman he adored. Since Monique was waiting for an answer, I simply told her to give me some time to think about it. That pacified her for now.
When we pulled up to our destination, I realized I’d passed this place many times. There was a sandwich shop around the corner that I liked. I exited the vehicle, then opened Monique’s door and helped her out.
As we walked to the shop, I caught a couple of guys staring at my brother’s fiancée. My glare made them look away. Perhaps this was the real reason Raz wanted me to accompany her today.
I opened the shop door and moved aside for her to enter as a bell chimed overhead, announcing our presence. The moment I stepped inside the floral shop, the scent of fresh flowers hit me, making my nose twitch.
The smell wasn’t bad, just something I wasn’t used to. It was actually kind of pleasant. My gaze moved around the establishment. The place was bigger than I'd expected. Bright. Warm. Inviting.
And pink. So much pink.
Monique moved further into the store just as a woman emerged from a door at the back of the shop. Her eyes went straight to Monique.
“Monique Rose?” the woman said, hesitant.
Monique nodded, moving forward. I told myself to follow, but my feet wouldn’t move. All I could do was stand there and stare at the woman holding a vase of pink and white flowers. The woman was smiling at Monique. And it was a smile that could light up a room.
Fuck.
