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Dani
After assuring my brother at least four times that I’m absolutely fine, he leaves me to get on with my day.
I switch on the radio and try to sing away the blues.
I have a few customers to serve. One small flower box for two cute little girls. Accompanied by their huge but cute daddy. They drag me out of my gloom for a few precious minutes.
I didn’t tell Parker who my date is. Usually, we tell each other everything. But it was like I threw a wall up between us. I didn’t want him to know how disappointed I was. What a loser I felt like.
I call Shaye for some girl chat. I can talk to her about being a loser.
“Yo,” she croaks.
“Can you talk?”
“No. Heavy night. You talk, I’ll listen,” she says, yawning loudly.
“I’ve got a little problem I need your help with.” Who am I kidding? I have a big problem...
“Okay, hit me with it.”
“Remember the guy who came into my shop and bought me flowers on launch day?”
“Yeah.”
“He asked me on a date tonight. At a French restaurant.”
“He gotyouto agree to a date? He must be a seriously cool dude.”I choke back a sob. If only Prince Charming had been genuine. I was so looking forward to that date.“So, what’s the problem, then?”
“I found out from Parker that he’s bought up the whole block of shops here, and I think the date is his way of doing business. He wants to buy my shop, Shaye.” Fat tears fill my eyes and start to drip. I choke and dry sob, trying to hold it back and failing.
“What atotal dick,” she snarls. “Hold on, hun, be there in fifteen.” She ends the call without another word.
While I wait the longest fifteen minutes of my life, I sip at my anti-anxiety tea, feeling more and more antsy each passing moment. The stupid tea isn’t working at all.
I drag down the door blind, turning the open sign to closed in the narrow window next to it. I’m not in a fit state to do business.
I pace the floor, back and forth past the window.Where the hell is she?
Finally, her red Mini Cooper arrives outside. “Okay, I’m here, babe,” she says, flying in the door. “Sorry it took a while—traffic was a bitch.”
I rush to her, and she hugs me like a bear. Everything about her feels comforting. From the big pillows of her breasts to her luxuriant afro hair.
I love Shaye. “Life is so unfair sometimes!” The tears roll down my cheeks unchecked.
“Aww, shush, shush,” she murmurs, stroking my head and patting my back. It only makes me worse.
It’s a while later before I’m able to speak.
She leads me to the flower couch and drags me down, still hugging me like a mama bear. “D’you call the asshole out?”
“No, he doesn’t know I know.”
“Ohhh, so he doesn’t know you know?” she says in a tone I don’t like.
“What difference does it make?”
“You have the upper hand, girl. And you are gonna use it.”
