Page 58 of Romeo

We said goodbye and ended the call. For a while, I just sat there with the phone in my hand. Sugar believed me. That should’ve made me feel better. Instead, her last warning stayed with me.

Still willing to trust people.

I’d been so focused on waiting for Fiona that I hadn’t spent much time questioning what waiting actually meant. It couldn’t just mean delaying everything I wanted until she gave in. That wasn’t patience. That was strategy. And Fiona deserved better than being maneuvered into anything.

The flowers weren’t supposed to be a trap. I wanted her to look at them and know somebody had listened. That was it. At least, it needed to be.

I opened our messages.

Me: How are the flowers holding up?

Her answer came almost immediately.

Ma Belle: Georgie says the flowers are suspicious

The image of Georgie glaring at the bouquet like it had personally offended him pulled a smile from me.

Me: Georgie sounds suspicious.

Ma Belle: He says no man sends flowers without wanting something.

My fingers stopped. Smart bastard.

Me: I do want something.

Ma Belle: I knew it

Me: I want you to smile when you look at them.

Her response took longer.

Ma Belle: That was smooth

Me: It was honest.

Ma Belle: Worse

I frowned at the screen.

Me: Why worse?

Ma Belle: Smooth lines are easier to ignore.

Well, damn. That might’ve been the most honest thing she’d ever said to me.

Me: Did you smile?

Ma Belle: Maybe

Me: Then I got what I wanted.

Ma Belle: You’re very pleased with yourself

Me: I made a beautiful girl smile from several states away.

Ma Belle: There it is

Me: What?