“For that much, we could be looking at anywhere between five and ten thousand dollars; that dependshighly on what flowers she wants. I can give you a breakdown of my starting costs.”
“No need,” she waves me off. “So she wants peonies, eucalyptus, and lily of the valley, but then she is open to other fillers.”
“Peonies are one of the more expensive choices, as well as lily of the valley,” I advise. “Is it just for the bouquet or for the whole arrangement?”
“The whole arrangement.”
This is easily going to be ten thousand, if not more. Holy shit.
It’s my biggest order yet.
If I adjusted my hours around the week of the wedding, worked later and started earlier, I could totally make it work.
“Alright,” I agree, “I can fit you in. I will need a full consultation with the bride, any inspiration pictures or color schemes, and a twenty-five percent deposit up front. It will be deducted from the final cost, but it is non-refundable.”
“Got it,” she grins, and I hand her over the forms to fill in.
“I’m Sidney, by the way,” I fidget as I wait for her to complete the paperwork.
“Betty,” the woman smiles just as the little bell above the door jingles. Noah strolls in, dressed impeccably in his work suit, his dark hair styled. It’s a contrast to how I left him yesterday morning, still in his boxers with his hair sticking up in all sorts of directions. After that late-night chat in front of the windows, we both passed out on the couch, and I left in the morning tocatch up on some life admin. I hadn’t seen him since. Not until now.
“Hey cricket,” his smile never fails to catch me off guard. He’s so damn beautiful it actually pisses me off.
“Hey,” I swallow, my mind immediately going back to his offer.
He would make such beautiful babies…
No.
Bad Sidney.
“Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes,” Betty practically swoons.
I mean, I get it becausesame. Noah has that effect on women; he always has, even back in high school when he was the bad boy with a chip on his shoulder. I’ve always felt a little smug about having him asmybest friend, like I have some weird claim on him.
Newsflash, I don’t, and Noah’s been with plenty of beautiful women. Granted, it never moves past a single date or hookup, and I haven’t seen him with a woman for quite a long time.
I shake my head to clear that train of thought and look to my best friend as he offers his hand to Betty and gives her a charming smile. “Noah.”
Betty flutters her lashes and introduces herself back before he places a brown paper bag on the counter and gives me his attention.
“I figured you skipped lunch.” He says by way of explanation, “I had a meeting this way, so thought I’d drop it off for you.”
I melt, “Thank you.”
“Always,” he leans over the counter and presses a kiss to my cheek, “See you later?”
“Scotty’s?”
“Where else?” he smirks, walking backwards before he turns and leaves the shop.
Betty is still staring after him long after the door has closed.
“So, when’s the wedding?” She asks after a beat.
“Uh?” I glance at the paperwork and read the date she gave, “November fourteenth?”
“Not that one!” She shakes her head, “Yours.”
