Page 29 of Stay

This is my fourth stop of the day. “Hi, is Tori here?”

“No, sorry, she’s not in at the moment,” says a young girl with bright blue hair. “Can I help you?”

“I absolutely love the pieces in the window. That blue and purple bouquet is giving big I’ll kill you while I kiss you vibes.” The navy-blue feathers look more like daggers poking out from the black dahlias. It’s stunning. The arrangement next to it has black, red, and white flowers in an anatomical heart vase.

“Thanks. Those are from our Dark and Moody Collection.” She beams proudly.

“I’m Haley.” I hold my hand out for her to shake. “I run Next Level Events and am new in town.”

“Well, we love working with other local business, especially women-owned ones.”

“Same.” I flash her a huge smile. “I’m actually planning a holiday party in mid-December.” She pulls a face that makes me think they’re already booked solid, but I keep talking and remain hopeful. “I don’t need anything too extravagant. Just some small centerpieces for tabletops. And I can pick them up if I have to, no biggie.”

The relief is plain as day on her face.

“I’m not picky about what flowers you use either,” I add. “But I’d love it if the arrangements were edgy, like what you have on display over there. Minus the anatomical heart vases for this time around.”

“That’s not a problem at all.”

Pro Tip: If you’re easy to work with the first time, they’re going to want to work with you again.

“I’m going with this kind of aesthetic.” Pulling out my cell, I show her the inspirational photos I’ve saved for Cole’s corporate party. It’s going to be a showstopper.

I’ve hyper-focused on it all week because I want it perfect for him.

Sam pulls a pad of paper out from behind her desk and starts spouting out names of flowers and plants while she sketches a design. “Something like this work?”

My heart literally skips a beat when I see what she’s drawn. “Perfect.”

Ten minutes later, I’ve finished filling out the forms and have paid for the deposit. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

Sam holds her hand out again. “It was nice meeting you. I’ll let Tori know you’re the new party girl in town.”

“Thanks. It was lovely meeting you, too. I can’t wait to work with the Metal Petal again in the future.” I hip bump the door and practically bounce out of there with a pep in my step.

I really like Banner Bay. I adapt wherever I move, but this place is quickly becoming one of my favorites. It’s the first move that’s all my decision too. Growing up, I was dragged wherever my parents drifted next. We were always getting evicted. I lived in a tent for six months when I was ten, and the back of a car for a few weeks when I was fourteen. To say my childhood was hard is an understatement. I didn’t have friends. I didn’t have choices. I didn’t have shit.

The public library was always my safe space and there was one in every town I stayed in. Whenever I wasn’t working or at school, I’d go to the library to read, study, nap. Stay warm.

I ended up going to the college that offered me a full ride. I’m just happy it was a great one, and it was clean across the states so my parents couldn’t get to me. Meeting Cole there was a massive bonus. My internship in Boston was the only offer I had after graduation, and I took that too. My transfer to the New York office was strictly because I finally got a position that paid, thanks to the internship that didn’t.

All my life I’ve made do, sucked it up, gone with the flow, taken shit, worked my ass off, starved, climbed, and penny pinched to make ends meet.

Moving to Banner Bay is a fresh start. I’m living it on my terms, and only mine. I’ve dumped everything I have into my business. I’d call it a gamble if I wasn’t so confident in my skills. I’m damned good at my job and if I can show others that, then I’ll never struggle financially again.

My cell goes off and joy lights me up like a fucking Christmas tree when I see it’s Cole. “Hey.”

“How’s it going?”

“Oh, it’s going.” I smile, passing an older gentleman in a peacoat. “How’s it going with you?”

I keep getting awkward when we talk, because part of my heart feels like no time has passed since college because of how easy we click. But the other part of my heart still holds its breath, feeling guilty for leaving him behind.

I bet he thought he didn’t matter to me.

When the reality of it is, he means everything to me.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.” Cole’s voice is deep and playful. “Wanna see?”

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