Page 22 of Never Kiss and Tell

“Well, don’t cry about it,” I wince. “If you don’t like it, I’ll keep looking.”

She shakes her head vehemently, stepping up in front of me. “Mom loved lilies. Why didn’t I think of this before?”

I smile softly, holding the combo out for her. Over Andi’s shoulder, I can see Tamara relax visibly and look at me as if to tell me crying Andi was all my problem.

“Do we have a winner?” Tamara asks, hopeful.

Andi turns to her, holding out the two flowers. “We do. White lilies and light pink roses — the blush, not the pink lemonade.”

I hadn’t seen the difference in the two, but Tamara and Andi both swore it was huge.

My phone buzzes in my purse and I pull it out, anxiety pooling in my stomach. Savannah never calls me. In fact, Savannah never calls anyone.

Andi and Tamara are in the middle of ironing out wedding details, so I take the opportunity to step out onto the hot sidewalk and answer my phone.

“Hello?”

“Oh my God,” she squeals. “You should have seen Mom flip her shit.” I’ve never seen anything make Savannah veer from her aloof and icy exterior, except for pissing Mom off, which is ironic, considering she gets away with everything.

I chuckle and lean back against the brick building of the florist.

“She was pissed. She tried to send Christian down here. Like I need him following me around,” I scoff, picking at a loosethread on my shorts.

“How did you talk her out of it?”

I let out a deep breath. “Well, I told her I’m staying next to Charlie, so I’ll be safe.”

“Isn’t that the big, hot asshole?” Savannah asks, popping her gum into the receiver. I absolutely hate that sound and she knows it.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, though, he knows he’s hot, so it makes it worse.”

“Those are the best kind. They put out and you don’t have to deal with them after.”

I chuckle, my cheeks warming. “Trust me. He put out enough last night. I don’t need to fall in line behind whatever girl was screaming loud enough to break the fourth wall.”

Savannah snickers. “Tell me more. Did you get a look at her?”

“Gah . . . No. I wasn’t stalking them from my bedroom window.”

She lets out a dreamy sigh. “I would have. I like to know all the gory details. Plus, if you’re going to keep me up by shaking my walls, at least let me get a good look at the girl, first.”

“Trust me, I’m sure there will be another victim, tonight.”

“Could be you,” Savannah sing-songs.

“No. I’m here to plan a wedding. That’s it. Hot brothers are strictly off-limits.”

“Does that mean I can have him?”

Jealousy, but also protectiveness pangs me right in the chest. “No.” I’m not sure who I’m feeling protective over. It should be my sister, but I know better than anyone that she willtear you limb from limb and not think twice. She’s like a praying mantis.

Savannah laughs. “You were awfully quick to shut that down.” She pauses for a moment. “How is the wedding planning going, all jokes aside?”

“Good. We’re at the florist.”

“Mmm . . . I love the smell of flower shops. They remind me of Dad’s garden.”

Dad always had the most extravagant garden. He would spend days planting, then weeding.

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