Page 74 of Cocky Choices: Zoe Cocker

My heart caves in as I respect her wishes. Caleb walks right to her as Samantha and Lexi make a path for him. Why are they so ready to allow him in? Are they just curious about what’s going to happen next?

“Zoe, you okay?” Caleb includes the vast amount of bouquet-filled vases in his question, “Was it the stress of doing so many of these?”

“No. I mean…” Zoe glances to me, then to her cousins, then fixes her gaze on him, agony on her beautiful face. “Yes! With all that’s been going on, I was so stressed out I…fainted!”

“There’s beena lotgoing on, alright!” Perry mutters.

Amelia clears her throat and nods a flat, “Very stressful.”

Lexi and Samantha are staring from Caleb to me before finally landing on Zoe as she says, “But we’re almost done. And now that Tom’s here to help, we should be finished within the hour.”

“I can help, too,” Caleb offers, and I want to punch him again.

“No!” Zoe hurries to add, “It would take more time to teach you.”

“Well, I came by to take you to dinner, since you’re normally closed by this time. I checked the business hours online when you didn’t answer my text.”

“Oh!” Zoe blinks. “I had the ringer off so I wouldn’t be distracted.”

“What if a customer called?”

“I had an auto-reply set up.”

Caleb shakes his head. “I didn’t get one.”

Zoe wraps her arms around her head, covering her face in dismay, “I must’ve forgotten to set that!”

Lexi explodes with what she seems to think is a brilliant idea, “You know what?! You go to dinner, Zoe. We’ll stay here with your team and finish this up.”

My teeth grit together, and I shove my hands into my pockets.

Samantha frowns at her sister, but when she receives a go-with-it-and-don’t-argue look in return, smiles and agrees, “You probably passed out because your stomach is empty. Don’t worry. We can do this for you. We’ve helped before.”

Lexi adds, “Remember before you were able to hire Amelia and Perry? When it was just you working seven days straight and Tom delivering for you?” Lexi glances to me with a look that makes me wonder what she’s up to. To Zoe she says, “Besides, don’t forget I was almost a florist, so I’ve got mad skills.”

Samantha smiles encouragingly at Zoe.

Caleb offers Zoe his arm. “Let’s get some vitamins into you. I’ll take you anywhere you want. Tell me your favorite place.”

She frowns at her cousins, but both Lexi and Sam emphatically nod. I exhale frustration through my nose. Zoe’s not telling him I kissed her, or what I said, and I can’t see howmy declaring it does any good right now. If she goes with him, that says a lot to me.

What’s she gonna do?

“Okay, I’ll go.” Zoe takes his arm, and won’t look at me as the two of them head to the door. “I can do any final touches in the morning.”

Amelia runs behind the counter. “Wait! Your phone!” and runs it over, throwing me an apologetic glance as she passes. “I’ll check for any new orders.”

“We can dothosein the morning, Amelia. You guys have been working all day. Promise me you’ll wait.”

“Promise.”

Lexi calls out, “Have a nice dinner!”

The sound of the bell mirrors my soul’s objection to them leaving together. Alone.

I stare at Lexi. “Why did you encourage that? Didn’t you see what a bad spot you put her in?”

Samantha stares at her sister, too. “Were you just trying to get them out of here, because it would be too awkward with CalebandTom here together, helping her with these arrangements?”

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