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CHAPTERTWENTY
SOPHIE
When I walk into the office the next morning the biggest bouquet of flowers I’ve ever seen is obscuring my computer screen. Lisa is standing in front of them, a white card in her hand.
“From L again,” she says, looking completely unembarrassed at the fact she opened the card intended for me. She lifts her brows. “From LaClasse.”
LaClasse is a gorgeous flower boutique in the historic district of Charleston. It’s hugely expensive which means I’ve never used it, but I’ve been to a few weddings where they’ve been responsible for the décor.
And they always hit it out of the park.
I pluck the card from Lisa’s fingers and lift a brow as I read the words there.
Sophie, I asked the shop to give you the most beautiful flowers they have. But they’ll still pale in comparison to you. Tonight. L.
“Can you imagine the shop owner having to write that out?” Lisa asks, amused. “They must be pissed, right? He’s dissing their flowers.”
I laugh, because I guess she’s right. “He’s just being sweet.”
“So are you going to tell us whoheis?” she asks.
I open my mouth but close it firmly again as Michael walks into the room. There’s no way I’m telling him anything about my private life.
“What are those flowers doing there?” he asks, his gaze flickering over to my desk.
“They’re from a friend.” My tone screams that I’m not interested in having a conversation about this.
“Oh.” Luckily he’s not interested either. To him I’m just the person he pushes all of his work onto. “How’s the submission going?” he asks and I try not to smirk because he really is that predictable.
“Fine. I worked on it all last night and I’ll do the same tonight.”
“We need to have it in by next Friday,” he reminds me, as if I don’t already know. “Donald already asked me to give him an update. He wants it done right.”
“It will be. I’ll have it ready.” It takes a lot of effort not to roll my eyes. Luckily he’s distracted by his phone pinging. Ignoring me completely, he pulls it out of his pocket.
“Gotta go,” Lisa says to me, shooting Michael’s back a murderous look. “Let’s grab a coffee after the lunchtime news? Catch up on things?”
“If I get the chance.” I look balefully at Michael.
“I’ll be in the café.” She winks. “In the back booth.” The one where other people can’t overhear. She wants to grill me about Liam, that much is obvious.
She lifts a hand to wave goodbye and I move the huge-ass bouquet of flowers onto the filing cabinet next to my desk so I can actually get some work done today. And I pocket the card because I don’t want Michael seeing it.
* * *
I arrive at the café a little late, because I had to stay behind to record a new forecast for the website. There’s a storm pattern forming and our viewers love it when we give them the heads up, so I tell them as though it’s a secret between us.
“It might or might not happen,” I tell them. “But as always, the weather team at WVFY will keep you updated with the latest developments. Keep checking the page and we’ll make sure you don’t get wet.”
People love a change in weather pattern, especially something disruptive like a storm. And the station loves it because it increases our viewership and our website visits – which increases the amount they can charge for advertising.
Lisa sees me as soon as I walk in and points at the table to let me know she’s already bought my coffee. As I walk over, I pull my phone out to check any missed messages. There’s a kiss from Liam in reply to my text thanking him for the flowers and giving him his daily forecast. After that is a message from Lauren asking why I’ve gone silent since Sunday, and one from Ava with an attachment of Charlie gurgling at a stuffie I bought him. I remind myself to message my friends later. I miss them. Ava’s hugely busy with work and Charlie, and Lauren’s always overrun at the bakery, but we’ve never not found time for each other.
I slide into the booth and smile at Lisa. “Thank you for the coffee.”
“I got you a pastry, too,” she says, sliding a Danish across to me. “Thought it might loosen your tongue.”
I laugh. “You don’t need to bribe me. There’s not that much to tell. He’s just a friend right now.”
