Page 50 of I Never Stopped Loving You

I pass her the card so she can read it. She looks it over a few times before raising her eyebrow and looking at me.

“So, why does he think it’ll be your favorite because they’re his?” she asks.

“Because the burger he had me try last night was his favorite, and now it’s mine. Then, when we were at the arcade, he said it was his favorite, and he knew it would be mine too.”

“Aww. That’s cute. Already acting like a couple,” she laughs as she gets up and glances around the room, slowly counting. “So, any guesses on why fifteen?”

My stomach drops. Fifteen? Why would there be fifteen bouquets?

“I don’t know. Are you sure there’s fifteen?” I ask nervously.

“Yep.”

“Weird,” I say nervously.

It’s a coincidence. There was probably a miscommunication. He probably ordered a dozen or so lilies, and they thought he meant a dozen or so bouquets…There’s no way he knows…

“Willow?”

“Hmm?”

“Coffee’s ready.”

“Thank God.”

I set the envelope and card on the coffee table and glance around the room once more.

“Thirteen…Fourteen…Fuck.”

She’s not wrong. There are fifteen bouquets of my favorite flower.

It’s been fifteen years since it happened.

There’s no way he knows…Does he?

CHAPTER 24

WILLOW

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

“Do you have everything, sweetheart?” my mom whispers as she tosses my pillow into the back seat with me.

I quickly double-check all my things just to make sure, but something is missing.

“Mama, where’s Mr. Snuggles?”

“Didn’t you put him in the pillowcase?”

“I did,” my voice cracks, on the verge of tears. “He’s not here.”

“Okay. Don’t worry. I’ll go get him,” she says, glancing back at the dark house.

“I’ll be right back. Do not get out of this car. Do you hear me?”

I stare at her. She looks scared.

“Willow. I need you to stay in this car. Don’t get out no matter what.”