AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Both Linley and Em would probably tell me I was worrying about nothing, but Esme was still so hard to read. I couldn’t make sense of her. I couldn’t tell if she was just being nice, or if she was really into me. I needed more signals! Things had been so easy with Wyatt, and most of the other people I’d dated. They’d taken the lead because I guess I was kind of oblivious. Me being the pursuer was something new and I basically didn’t know what I was doing.
Get it together, Paige.
Yeah, I’ll be there around 1:15, is that good?
That gave me a half hour to do another sweep of the house, put on my outfit, and make sure I looked good. I actually put on foundation and filled in my brows and clipped part of my hair back. I had to admit, I looked cute as hell. I just hoped that Esme liked cute.
I fiddled with my t-shirt for at least ten minutes before there was a knock at the door.
Potato ran into the bedroom to look at me and then back out to the living room to see what was going on.
“We’ve got a visitor. She’s here to see you just as much as she’s here to see me.”
I opened the door and forgot how to speak.
“Hey,” she said, standing there wearing a pair of black jeans that were ripped to hell and a purple crop top. Her hair was down, as usual, and it glowed in the sunshine, showing the subtle dark red highlights. She held out a bouquet of flowers to me.
She looked fucking incredible and I wanted to crawl under the couch.
“Wow,” I said, before I could stop myself. “Sorry, hi.” All of the blood in my body rushed immediately to my face. I was doing great so far.
“Dad lets Dora Mimms set up her flower cart in the parking lot every week, so I grabbed these for you.”
I somehow made my arms move and take the bouquet of delicate baby pink roses from her.
It took me another two seconds at least to realize that I had to move aside to let her in. I was still dying a little when Potato ran over to see what the ruckus was about.
“Oh, hello pretty boy.” Esme leaned down and held out her hand to him. He ran right up to her, gave her hand a few sniffs and then bonked it with his head.
“Yes, you’re a sweetheart. You would never bite anyone,” she crooned at him as he purred so loudly I bet the neighbors could hear. Esme found the special spot under his chin that he really loved and then he was rolling on the ground and begging for belly rubs.
“I think I’ve been replaced,” I said, and sneakily tried to sniff the flowers, even though I knew they probably didn’t smell like anything. “I should get these in some water. Come on in.”
Esme followed me into the kitchen where I found one of my cut glass vases that I’d gotten at an estate sale ages ago. I almost forgot to trim the stems before adding them to the water.
“They’re beautiful, thank you so much,” I said.
“You’re welcome.”
No romantic partner had ever gotten me flowers before. Not even Wyatt on Valentine’s Day. He’d claimed that big displays like flowers and candy was for losers, and instead gave me mind-blowing sex. Sure, the sex was great, but I also would have liked some flowers and a heart-shaped box of chocolates.
“Can I get you anything? I have snacks and stuff.” That was putting it mildly. I had a whole ass charcuterie plate wrapped up in the fridge that I’d painstakingly arranged. I’d thought about buying one but decided to give it a try myself and I’d had a little too much fun making it.
“Yeah, sure, whatever you have. I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing, I invited you over.” I went to the fridge and pulled out a few different drink options, including beer. She took a can of seltzer water and I copied her.
“Thanks.”
Potato meowed and wound himself around her legs, begging for treats.
“Don’t worry, I brought something for you,” Esme said, pulling a bag of his favorite treats from her back pocket. Potato was instantly on the alert at the telltale crinkle of the bag and put his paws on Esme’s legs to try and reach to bat the bag out of her hand.
“Silly boy,” I said. “Be good.”
She pulled out two treats and handed me the bag.
Potato wailed and rolled on the floor dramatically.
