Page 112 of From You to Me

I nodded, swallowing the heaviness down my throat. “I think it’s better if you leave. I’m going to sleep.”

He huffed out a heavy sigh. “Fine,” he mumbled. “When can I see you again?”

“I don’t know, Jay,” I answered honestly.

“Okay. And please lock the door behind me.” He brought my head to his chest, hugging me tight.

The softness of his shirt caressed my cheek as his scent invaded me. It was like being in the middle of a forest swathed by seawater. Unusual but home. It felt like home.

I separated my betraying body from him.

“Good night, Evelyn. Take care of yourself.” He stood by my doorway casting me a forlorn stare.

“I will,” I mumbled as I locked the door behind him.

That night’s sleep took me fast. I crashed into a deep slumber, dreaming of daisy fields, green grass, laughter, and a willow tree.

I didn’t know what it meant.

But it made me smile.

CHAPTER 26

“Is he going to keep sending you that?” Gabe inquired, a sly smile dancing on his face.

“Apparently so,” I mumbled as I carried the huge bouquet of pink peonies that I could barely lift to the kitchen while I tried to look for a place to set it.

The plain brown counters and my cream-colored kitchen and living room were now in shades of pink.

Pink peonies in various arrangements started arriving the day after he left. Each with its own personalized note.

Today’s one said.Flower 306 out of 2230, I like how you always lick your lips after each sip of your coffee. I’m mad I missed it for the past six years.

He was sending flowers for every single day he missed with me over the past six years, and although I appreciated the gesture, it was getting on my nerves.

I sighed, shooting him a text.

Evy–Stop sending me flowers. I have no space, and my apartment smells like a flower shop.

“Gabe, can you take some of these away?” I asked as I dropped myself on the couch by Lily’s feet. She was snoring face down, tired after a long day at work.

“Nope.” Gabe grinned, showing off his new teeth. “Those are for you.”

“At this point, I could start an online side business.” I squeezed my eyes as I leaned back on the couch. I’d been feeling melancholic since that night, like a watchtower on a lone cliff shrouded by a foggy mist that never seemed to go away. I couldn’t seem to shake it off.

“Emmie’s not going to stop,” Katy added softly, who has also been stuck in her own form of melancholy. The spark that always seemed present in her eyes has somehow faded.

She sobbed in my arms earlier this week, telling me how sorry she was despite me telling her it was never her fault. And it was my decision to go through with it.

She was also sad that she didn’t see White’s true colors early on and trusted her like a sister. She blamed herself and had been working nonstop since then.

Like now, she and Gabe had been brainstorming ideas for the launch event, and since Gabe’s dream was to become an event planner, he jumped on the opportunity. Gabe and Katy hit it off right away since they were like birds of a feather— both outspoken, loud, and social. Everything Lily and I were not.

“I hope he stops,” I muttered.

“Evy, come on, he’s so sweet. I wish someone would send me flowers like that. Oh, and what did today’s note say!?” Gabe chirped. I could hear the excitement in his voice.

“Nothing,” I groaned in sweet relief as I rolled my head on the couch cushion. I was sore everywhere, including my fucked-up knee, which was bothering me again.

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