Page 31 of The Heir

“I’m sorry if I ever made you feel—”

He held up a hand to stop me. “Emma, please—you don’t—”

I looked down at the counter.

“Okay, then. Thanks. Well, I do have a lot of prep for tomorrow; it’s a big day, so I better get started,” I said, holding up my list to show him what I had to do.

He snatched it from me and leaned his back against the counter, releasing my hand.

“Hey!” I squealed playfully, trying to take it back. He held up a finger, gesturing to give him a minute. My insides buzzed as if electric, and I played the song I created just for him in my head, trying to calm my nerves down a bit.

“Don’t most of these need to be created the same day? You don't, after all, want to give anyone wilted flowers.” His eyes widened.

“Of course, I just make some of the baskets or vases up and soak the flowers and things—” I said, cutting myself off before I rambled again.

He nodded.

“I see,” he said as he handed the list back to me, and our fingers touched for just a few seconds before I pulled away. “Would you like some help?”

“Oh no, I’m okay,” I said quickly, knowing I’d hardly get anything done if he helped because all I’d do is be caught up in him.

“Okay. I’ll just be over there, making some tough decisions, all on my own, then.”

I rolled my eyes. “You didn't need my help for all those other flowers,” I said as I turned and walked toward the door to the backroom.

I couldn’t be sure, but I felt as if I heard him say something:Yes, you did.

I turned to look at him; his back was facing me as he perused the flowers before him. I quickly turned back around again and began preparing a couple vases for the next day.

“Emma?” Shad asked, after some time passed.

I looked up from the five vases I had prepared and labeled to see Shad standing in front of me with two roses—both orange.

“Orange is the color this time?”

He smiled as he laid them out on the counter.

“Two? Whytwo?” I asked as he pulled his wallet out of his pant’s pocket.

“Now, now, Emma, I cannot tell you all my secrets, can I? I don’t want to go on too much about how much of a nerd I am, after all. If I did tell you all of my secrets, I would not be so appealing to you, would I?”

I laughed, and it came out like a girlish giggle, and I wanted to slap myself, but I withstood the urge.

You don’t need to look even more crazy.

Shad held my gaze with a knowing look upon his face.

I cleared my throat, “I never said you were ‘appealing’ to me,” I added as I typed in the number on the register that displayed the price of the orange roses. “That will be fifteen dollars.”

“I do not need you to tell me that I am appealing to you. I already know,” he winked as he handed me a twenty, and I handed him back his change.

“Rather confident, are you?”

He smirked at me. “Sure, confident, observant—you decide.”

I gasped at him, and he chuckled.

“See you at school, Emma, and really, if you need to talk, I am a house away or a phone call away. My sister always used to tell me I was an excellent listener,” he said as he took the orange blossoms, turned, and walked out the door and into the night, taking the song I had made for him with him as he went.

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