Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
I run my hand through my hair in frustration. Something must cause Lexi to take pity on me because she finally gives me something. “She’s out on deliveries. She wasn’t in the right frame of mind to be in the shop.” She blows out a breath. “She’s really upset.”
I let my head fall back and groan. I hate to think that Tara is upset and she’s out there alone. Lexi’s cell phone rings, and she pulls it from her apron. “It’s Tara.”
I huddle close to my sister, just wanting to hear Tara’s voice.
My sister pushes me away. “Oh no… where are you?”
“What is it?” I ask as my sister kicks me in the shin.
All I can hear is Lexi’s side of the conversation. “Oh, sorry, no it’s just busy in here. Tell me where you are, and I’ll send reinforcements.”
Another pause. “It’s okay. Don’t worry, everything is going to get delivered. Sit tight.”
She hangs up the phone and starts pushing me from the room. As we walk through the store and outside, I stop next to my SUV. “Where is she?”
She looks back at the full shop and then back at me. “The van broke down. You could fit most of the flowers in your SUV, but you may have to make a few trips to restock.”
“It’s fine. Where is she?”
I get into the driver's seat, but she still doesn’t tell me. “Bub, she’s my best friend. Please don’t make me regret this.”
“I promise you won’t… now where is she?”
She points toward the north side of town. “Out by the distillery. She’s parked on the side of the road. She’s going to be stubborn.”
I laugh. “Oh, I’m sure of it.”
She leans in and kisses my cheek. “Be safe.”
As soon as Lexi clears the car, I take off driving too fast through town. I feel like I don’t take a breath the ten minutes it takes me to get to her, but when I see her pacing beside the van and I know she’s okay, I can finally breathe easily.
I pull up behind her, and she’s staring at me in shock. “What are you doing here?”
I open the back of her van, hoping that she’s not going to refuse my help. “Do you want me to just load everything in my car?”
“Did Lexi call and ask you to come here?”
I shake my head and pick up a box holding flowers. It’s either that or I’m going to take her in my arms. “No, I was at the shop looking for you when you called.”
She groans and throws her head back. “Oh my God, I bet you wish you never met me.”
I lean toward her and look into her eyes. “And you would lose that bet.”
I walk away and put the box into my trunk. When I go back to the van, she’s picking up more flowers. She’s all business as we move back and forth, stacking her deliveries into my SUV. When I close the doors, I hold out the keys to her. “Do you want to drive?”
She blinks, surprised. “You’d let me drive your car?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I think you’re used to being in control, and if you feel better driving, I’m fine with it.”
She reaches for the keys and then stops, letting her hand drop to her side. She looks exhausted. “Ya know, I would love to let someone else be in control for awhile. Do you mind driving?”
I put my hand on her lower back. “Not at all.” I steer her to the passenger side of the car and open the front door. “Just tell me where, and I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”
I drive us through town, making stops. Tara is smiling as she leaves each house and business, but I know she’s still upset by what happened today. We’re all business as we make each of the deliveries, and when we drop off the last bouquet, Tara slouches in the passenger seat, head back, eyes closed.
I have one arm over the steering wheel, watching her. “Now what?”
She huffs, “I need to call a tow truck for the van and then I need to go and help at the store. We’re open late today, so I have a few more hours to go and then I can hopefully forget this day.”
I put the car into gear and drive us across town. “I called the tow truck earlier. Your van is at Dom’s garage, and he said he’d have it fixed by tomorrow.”
She sits up a little higher, and I thought she would be relieved that I took care of it, but it seems like it’s stressed her out a little more. “Oh my God, I’m never going to be able to pay you back for all you’ve done for me.”
I’m not sure she’s ready to hear what I have to say, so I’m quiet as I pull into the open spot in front of her shop. I get out and go around to help her out. Instead of walking to the store, she stops, crossing her arms over her chest. “Thank you again.”