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“Good luck,” Naomi said, waving as I walked out the door. “We’ve got faith in you.”
When I had walked into the coffee shop a few minutes earlier, I’d felt alone. Defeated. Hopeless.
And now I was walking out the door with the realization that there were people all around me who cared about me, who wished me well, who genuinely wanted to see me succeed.
It was a strange feeling, but a good one. Areallygood one, and it warmed my insides more than the cup of coffee in my hands ever could have.
I was walking toward my truck, still smiling, ready to go directly to Joanne’s house and win her back, when I heard my name.
Except it wasn’t Naomi’s voice this time, or Luca’s. It was Mike, the corporate guy.
“I was just about to call you, Brady.” Mike was walking toward me, brow furrowed. “The door to the flower shop was locked, and the lights were off. I thought for a minute you’d had second thoughts.”
I could feel the corners of my lips turn up, even though Mike was definitely not going to see the humor in what I had to say. “It’s funny you should mention that…” I gave an apologetic half-shrug as I reopened the shop and flipped on the lights.
Mike followed me inside, but it couldn’t be helped. The man’s presence had reminded me of something, and it was that flowers reallydidhelp make every occasion better.
“Brady?” he prompted, sounding concerned.
I headed to the back, putting together a bouquet that might, if I was lucky, tip the odds in my favor. That might show Joanne Imeantit.
“I’m sorry for wasting your time, Mike,” I said, a little amazed at how confidently my hands were putting together something so beautiful. Something forJoanne. “But I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’m not going to sell.”
“You don’t mean that, Brady,” he said, his voice hardening. “Surely. Let’s talk about it. What are your reservations? Is it not enough money? What’s your final number?”
Mike’s voice may have tried to convey that he was ready to play hardball, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, too. Uncertainty and fear of letting a sure thing slip through his hands.
I knew both feelings all too well.
“It’s not about the money. It’s not about anything like that.”
And even though in the back of my mind, I knew moneywasstill a factor—was definitely going to be a problem when it came time to pay down Dad’s debt—it just didn’t matter. Not compared to what I needed to do.
“But it really is time to go, for both of us.”
Mike’s brow furrowed instantly. “Where are we going?”
I laughed for the first time in days, the relief and excitement for what I was about to do bubbling over inside of me. “I’d imagine you’re going back to New York, buddy. And I’m going to do something I should’ve done before I made that phone call to you yesterday.”
The look of confusion was still present on Mike’s face as I quickly ushered him through the store and out the front door, pausing only to grab an extra bouquet for Tammy on my way.
Only after I pulled out my keys to lock up again did it seem to sink in that I wasn’t joking.
“You can’t be serious, Brady. Please. It’s not too late to fix this. Whatever the problem is, I’ll fix it.”
“I am serious. And I’m going to fix the problem. Right now, if you’ll excuse me.”
I started to turn and walk to my truck, but Mike’s hand on my arm made me stop. My eyes flicked from his hand up to meet his gaze, and Mike loosened his grip, but didn’t let go.
“Wait, please. Can I at least ask what made you change your mind? Did you decide to go with someone else? I’ll match any offer.”
I easily shrugged his hand off, a grin spreading across my lips as I nodded. “Yeah, I guess you could say I decided to go with someone else. But there’s no way you can match what she has to offer.”
“I will, though! Who is it?”
Mike raised his voice, but I didn’t care. I was already crossing the parking lot to my truck. I turned when I got there, half-expecting to see him still standing right behind me.
But he was still back in front of the door, where I had left him, looking lost and alone. Defeated.
