Page 34 of Painted Truths

“I feel like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, girls.”

Nola snorts as Jo shouts down the line, “Except the whole hooker part, girl, unless you got a side hustle—”

My sudden burst of laughter cuts her off as we all break down, giggling uncontrollably.

There’s another loud rap on the apartment door as we’re recovering, with Nola and I shaking our heads at Alex and his over-the-top treatment. She rushes to answer it, returning with the most exquisite bouquet of dark blue roses I have ever seen.

“I didn’t even know blue roses were real!”

Nola, who has an issue remembering to replace coffee pods or buy loo roll but has the uncanniest ability to retain utterly useless information, shakes her head, all hints of mirth gone as she launches into what Jo playfully calls her “clever clogs” mode.

“Well, they’re engineered, not grown, Liv, but they’re mega expensive. They are known to signify an unfulfilled wish or, to some, love at first sight.”

Jo’s voice comes down the line, making me jump. I’d forgotten she was still there.

“Ooh, watch out, girl. Alex is making mooooooves.”

Both Nola and I burst into a fit of belly laughter, with Jo joining in a nanosecond later.

All three of us know, as surely as he’s one of the best people I’ve ever met, that Alex is far too much of a fuckboy to be making moves on anyone. In his own words, he’s a “one and done” kinda man.

Being the first to compose myself, I look to Nola. “Who sent it, then?”

Unease prickles forebodingly down my spine at her words when Nola speaks again.

“There’s another note. Want me to read it?”

“Um, thank you, but I think I’ll read it myself.” Handing it over reluctantly, she picks up the phone, removing Jo from the speakerphone and allowing me some privacy to see what the note reads:

A rare rose for a rare beauty.

They reminded me of your eyes.

Furrowing my brow, I hold the note out to Nola, who all but takes my hand off in her eagerness, and once she’s read the words aloud to Jo, she faces me, looking perplexed.

“Well, do you have a secret admirer we don’t know about, hmm?”

Green eyes, tanned skin, and a perfect broad smile flash across the front of my eyes before I shove the image to the extreme back of my mind, locking it in a little box and throwing away the key before I can dwell on it another second.

“No, not that I’m aware of! I don’t know—” I break off as the hairstylist puts her hands on either side of my head, stopping me from shaking my head vehemently, almost ruining her work. Instead, I mumble a quiet sorry and spend the remaining time as she finishes my hair, chewing my lip, deep in thought.

I am slipping on my gold heels to match my high-neck gold satin full-length dress with a completely open back and indecently high slit up to my thigh, when the doorbell rings. Adjusting the girls, I straighten up as I hear Nola let Alex in.

“You scrub up well, my friend. A tux really suits you!”

I can hear some loud cheek kisses and deep chuckles as they walk further into the apartment, past my door.

I step into the hallway as they reach the living area, catching sight of them just as Alex spots the two bunches of flowers side by side on the low coffee table.

“Wow. Who owns the roses?”

His words cause me to stop dead in my tracks. Nola spots me over Alex’s shoulder, her eyes widening as confirming realisation strikes.

If Alex truly didn’t send them, then who did?

I’m torn from my musing as Alex turns to face me and takes me in from top to toe.

My blonde hair has been pulled back in a simplistic updo with loose wisps softly sitting on the nape of my neck. My makeup is minimal, and instead of the office red lip that I usually opt for, I’ve gone with a soft blush pink and smoky brown eye Nola had insisted would be perfect on me.