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“And I know I’m being hypocritical about you being under someone’s watch again, but I’m scared, and I know you are too. I can’t believe I left the party and you ended up—” Becca started crying, and I wrapped her in my arms and cried with her. It had only been a month since I’d left Rich, and things kept changing back and forth from feeling safe to getting hurt. When was it going to end?
I turned to Damon and Brent and nodded my assent. Without a word, Damon turned to get the car while Brent came to stand near us, keeping us safe from the monster of an ex-boyfriend that wouldn’t go away.
They drove me to the florist, and Ray ran over to me as soon as she saw me.
It was then I realized I was still in my torn dress under my coat. “Ray, do you still have the change of clothes you keep in the back?”
“Of course! What in the world happened?”
Becca stepped in and said, “Jill, why don’t you go change? I’ll catch Ray up.”
“Okay.” I nodded and headed out to the back where there was a shower and some clean clothes. Ray had installed it in her store many years ago when she started running. She said she loved running in the morning but could never wake up early enough, so this allowed her to get to work on time while also fitting in something she loved. I was thankful she’d had the foresight to put it in.
After a quick shower, I headed out to the front of the shop again to find Becca now had a cup of coffee in one hand. I saw another one steaming away on the counter.
“Here you go, sweetheart, this one’s for you,” Ray said, handing me the hot cup of goodness.
“Thank you.” I took a long sip from the cup and didn’t care that it was burning my throat all the way down.
I looked over the rim of my cup to see Becca and Ray staring at me. “I’m totally fine,” I said firmly, then I pointed at Ray. “Don’t even think about telling me to go home. I’m not going anywhere. I need this. I need the distraction.”
Becca and Ray exchanged looks, and I didn’t let out my breath until I saw Becca sigh. “Fine,” she said. “But I’m going to stay here with you today. I already took the day off, so there’s nowhere else I need to be.”
I closed my mouth and smiled. “Well, let’s get to work. What big party needs floral arrangements done today?”
Ray took the cue and went behind the counter to pull out the planning binder. We set to work right after, and I spent the rest of the day chatting with my two friends while putting together beautiful arrangements for other peoples’ happily ever afters.
* * *
“You doing okay?” Becca asked, handing me a glass of wine.
Becca had insisted that she stay with me for the week. I didn't argue with her because I felt better with someone near me, and I’d take her over the burly men Luc had following me any day.
“I’m doing fine.” I held up the wine in thanks. “This helps.”
“Jill, I—”
“You do not need to say sorry again. I’m okay,” I said firmly. “You’re here with me when I need you, which is now.”
I was sinking lower into the sofa with each sip and could feel my eyes drooping, but then Becca said the one name that would wake me up. “So, Luc seems smitten with you.”
“What?” I said, jackknifing upright. I laughed. “He’s probably the least smitten with me out of anyone I know.” Then I paused, remembering how Becca collected me from his room today. “You stormed in and got mad at him too, remember? Now you’re defending him? What makes you think that he’s smitten with me?”
“Brandon was saying—”
“I think you and Brandon are smitten,” I said, cutting her off. “Where didyouhead off to last night, anyway?”
“Brandon was hungry, so we went out to eat. Work kept calling us, so we turned off our phones.” She looked down when she said this, and I smiled.
“There was more, wasn’t there?” I asked, stretching my leg out to give her a nudge.
Her head snapped up. “No, there wasn’t. There’s nothing going on there.” She stood up abruptly and marched into the kitchen to refill her glass.
I got up to follow. “I’m sorry, I just don’t get it. You two seem to be made for each other.”
“You’d think, but I’ve tried, and he refuses to go past friendship. I think there’s something wrong with me.”
“There is definitely nothing wrong with you!”
