Page 21 of Shadows in Bloom

I swat his arm. “Fuck off, Seb.”

He laughs as he straightens. “Gotta get my fun in somewhere. Everyone around here is so dull.”

“Jaxon isn’t.” My eyes flicker toward Wayne walking in from the back.

“Hmm, no. He’s fun—and he helps me give Leo shit, which is always entertaining, but I need to spice it up!”

“You really are the puppy they claim you to be,” I mutter, feigning exasperation.

“Hey!” He whirls around, finger pointed at me. “I resent that!”

“Why? It’s true,” Wayne says from directly behind Seb, who gasps as he whirls around. His eyes are comically wide as he steps to the side to let Wayne through. Their arms brush, and I’ve never seen someone look so fucking love-sick.

When Wayne’s fully distracted by a patron across the bar, I lean into Seb. “You need to get your shit together.” And then, I grab the clear vase holding my flowers and turn to leave, inhaling their scent as I walk.

“He’s just so… unbothered,” Seb mutters, looking offended and adorably confused. My eyes flick between the both of them before settling on Sebastian. He looks so pathetic, it’s adorable.

“Yeah, he is.”

A scoff. “Thank you, Fiona!” he shouts at my back. “Very fucking helpful.”

I throw my hand in the air. “Welcome!”

The car ride home is precarious as I try not to spill the vase, but I somehow manage to keep it upright, my smile never faltering, even as every muscle aches from months of disuse.

Balancing the vase in the crook of my arm, I nudge the door closed with my hip, my eyes on the horizon, watching the sky bleed into various shades of reddish-pinks and purples. The clouds are thick and folded with many different edges spread across the sky. The darkness beneath them adds a new hue to the colors, and it’s so breathtaking, I stop to take a picture.

My chest aches with elation—or something I assume must be akin to that. I’ve never experienced it before, but I imagine that’s what this is. And it’s… strange. To unwittingly feel this way when I know so much is still up in the air.

But it’s almost been a year. When is the right time to let some of it go?

I’ll never be able to forget… couldn’t even if I wanted to—and I do—but surely there comes a point when living on the edge and in fear has its breaking point. When one can no longer simply survive.

Being alone… denying myself of the most basic human intimacies has taken more of a toll than I realized, now that I have Jamie. And it’s all happened so quickly between—a deep dive right over the end. But I don’t want to slow down, and I don’t think she does either.

It feels good to forget. To let myself fall without fearing what lies on the ground below.

Because Jamie’s there, right alongside me.

My footsteps slow as I near my door, eyes catching on the single, white calla lily lying atop my door mat. I roll my eyes and huff a laugh as I maneuver the vase around to pull out my phone again.

The ringing is loud in my ear as I tuck my phone against my shoulder to find my house key. After turning the deadbolt, I find the key for the doorknob and slip it into the keyhole.

“Fiona,” Jamie answers, and I can hear the smile in her voice when she says my name. I curl my lips over my teeth, fighting back the sting of unexpected tears.

“Hey, little one,” I murmur, blinking rapidly as I stare at the dark brown wood of my door.

“Please,” she mutters softly. “I’m at work.”

I sniffle. “Oh? Does that turn you on, Jamie?”

“Shut up.” There’s a pause. “Not that I’m complaining, but why are you calling me again so soon?”

“It doesn’t suffice to say I just missed the sound of your voice?” I tell her as I bend down, setting the vase on the floor to grab the single lily. There’s a notecard taped to the step, which draws my brows together.

“I mean…” Jamie clears her throat. “Is that why?”

“Yes, but no,” I answer as I peel the tape off the cardstock. “I wanted to tell you that you didn’t have to flower bomb me at work and at home.” I flip the card open.

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