Page 126 of Chasing Sparks

At the far end of the parking lot, a floral delivery truck pulls onto Main Street, and I smile, knowing Ori’s daily flower delivery has arrived.

Hey, I paid top dollar to make sure it reaches her first thing in the morning. Anything to make her smile, even though she hasn’t said a word about the other dozen I’ve sent.

Won’t stop me from trying. It’s not going to fix things, but it’s a start. Let the world know she’s loved.

Getting Ori to acknowledge it will be far more difficult.

Especially after last night.

“Whoa,” Lucille gasps, grabbing the hood of the truck as her feet threaten to slide out from under her.

“Hey, hang on.” I walk around the truck and grab her arm, steadying her as she catches her breath. “Are you okay?”

“I’m glad you were here.”

Lucille grips my arm tightly as we traverse the icy path.

It’s then I see Ori. She’s spreading deicer on her front stoop, her breath visible in the frigid air. Her movements are sharp and deliberate, her gaze cutting through me like the winter wind.

The worst part? I know how it looks to her. Lucille clinging to me, her protruding belly on full display as we walk together into Black Lotus after a ride in from our shared home.

Trust me, Iknowhow crappy it looks. And how shitty it’s making Ori feel.

But if we can just get through another couple of weeks, I’ll give her everything she’s ever wanted.

I raise a hand in a feeble wave, but Ori turns on her heel and stalks inside without a word.

The sharp slam of her door echoes through the cold morning air.

So much for a good morning.

“I can talk to her,” Lucille offers, her pace cautious as she navigates the walkway.

“Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to help.”

And I know I’m right.

Ori’s face burns in my mind—the way her eyes flicked to Lucille’s belly, the way she bolted from me last night like I was poison.

I know, in the long run, I’m doing the stand-up thing. But I’m not sure my heart—or my brain—can take much more.

Another two weeks feels like an eternity without the woman I love.

The word flashes in my mind, as it always does when I think of Ori. A word I swore I’d never use again for an emotion I didn’t dare feel.

But love doesn’t seem like a strong enough word for Oriana Thorne. She’s my entire universe.

And though she’s angry and hurt—rightfully so—she kissed me back last night.

There’s still hope. And that’s all I’m clinging to.

I shuffle intoBlack Lotus, muttering a grunted greeting at Zane and Braden.

Hey, it’s the best I can manage right now—not that Braden has been overly talkative since my ex took up residence at the farm.

I get it. He hates Lucille for what she did to me, and just like Ori, he’s in the damn dark about why this woman is suddenly back in my life.

I wouldn’t speak to me, either.

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