Page 13 of It's Not Home Without You

When a goofy smile broke across his handsome face, Icould tell it made him happy because he missed a step and almost tripped.

My grandpa stood by my side as we watched him drive away. “What are you going to do with all the flowers?”

“I’ll think of something,” I responded with a silly smile on my face.

The next morning, I called Rusty bright and early. He was a little grumpy that I woke him before ten in the morning, but I couldn’t help it. I barely got any sleep last night, and it wasn’t just because I was excited to see Max. I also couldn’t sleep because of all those damn flowers. When Rusty made it over, he helped me put all the flowers in Bow’s bed.

“I’m keeping three sets of the dozen roses. There are a few girls who are still mad at me.”

I turned to glare at Rusty. The bad thing about being best friends with a guy who was a player was that you constantly felt like you were violating the girl code or something, but since I had no girlfriends, I had a guilt-free conscience.

“You know, I bet we can sell them back to Mrs. Riordan. We’ll go fifty-fifty,” he added.

“But they aremyflowers.”

“It’smytruck.”

“Just help me hand them out,” I retorted as we got at the assisted living apartments. Just because I didn’t like flowers, didn’t mean it wouldn’t make other people happy, and they would appreciate them more than I ever would.

It was late by the time Rusty and I got done deliveringflowers. Between chatting up the elderly and eating baked goods, I lost track of time. Shit. I had Rust floor it home, not knowing what time Max would call. I didn’t have a cell phone, and Grandpa never answered the house phone.

“Oh crap,” I muttered when we pulled up to my house and found Max sitting on the hood of his car looking at the flowerless space. Rusty left with a nod in Max’s direction while I slowly made my way to him.

“Hey,” I said, not knowing how to start this conversation.

“Were those the flowers I got you in the dash of Russell’s car?”

“They were.” I could tell he didn’t like my answer. His eyes flashed with pain, but he quickly masked it. He was a nice guy, and he wouldn’t go off on me, that much I was sure of.

“I should get going; it’s getting late. I’ll see you around, Freya.”

“I was almost five when my mom died,” I said as he walked to his car, my voice halting him. "I didn’t understand what was happening or why my grandma and my grandpa were crying. I sat between both of them in the funeral home, my mother in a casket a few feet away from me. ‘She’s sleeping with the angels,’my grandmother told me. She always slept with me at night, except on her last night, and I figured she liked sleeping with the angels more than she did with me, because why else would she leave me, right? I was sitting between my grandparents, and I couldn’t look at where my mother was sleeping because it hurt to know shepreferred to sleep with the angels more than with me. Her daughter. I don’t remember much, but I remember the pretty flowers all around her. I had never seen so many flowers at once… and I never wanted to again.”

My voice was breaking. I hated to show weakness, especially in front of someone who had it all.

“I don’t like flowers. They remind me of my mother’s funeral.”

“Shit… I’m sorry, Freya.” Max took a step toward me.

“That being said, it doesn’t mean I didn’t think what you did was sweet.” I gave him a small smile to put him at ease, but I had a feeling he was beating himself up over it. I held my hand out to him, a part of me scared he wouldn’t take it. I led us to his car to make it harder for my grandpa to spy on us. We both sat on the hood and looked at the stars, not talking much, but our hands remained entwined the whole time. It felt nice having him hold my hand; it was better than talking, because words wouldn’t do justice to the strength and peace I found in his warmth.

For a moment, I wasn’t alone anymore.

“I’ll have you know that your flowers made all the ladies over at the nursing home happy.” Max made one of those manly chuckles, and I felt my stomach dip at the sound. “Oh, and you probably helped Rusty get three girlfriends.”

“Not to sound presumptuous, but did I get myself a girlfriend?” he asked teasingly, causing my heart to almost stop beating.

Narrowing my eyes at him, I smiled. “You want me to be your girlfriend?” My voice was hesitant. I was scared I mighthave heard him wrong. Abruptly, Max jumped off the car, making my heart sink for a second. He faced me and put both of his hands on my cheeks, making me look into his green eyes.

“I wouldn’t have bought all the flowers in town just for anyone,” he whispered. “Say yes, Freya.”

“Yes,” I whispered.

Max’s face broke into a grin before he gave me a kiss full of promise and hope.

CHAPTER NINE

The windows were open;I was speeding through town like a madman, yet I felt like I was suffocating. I loosened my tie to relieve the pressure, but that didn’t seem to help. At this rate, even if I crashed and wrapped myself around a tree, I didn’t think I’d be able to feel it.

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