Page 7 of Hunters and Hydrangeas

“Maybe, especially if Cassian makes it known he doesn’t intend to back down.”

“Won’t that put Sophia in danger?” I ask, uneasy.

Noah sends the text. “That’s why we need to find her before the nominations are announced.”

2

Max’s truckis parked next to Olivia’s car in the drive of my house. I glance at the time, startled they’re still here even though it’s after ten.

“Were they waiting for us?” Noah asks.

“I don’t know. But the lights are on in the house, so they must be inside.”

Noah pulls around the back into his usual spot. As we’re heading to the mudroom entry, I notice the cellar door is ajar, and the light is on, too.

“They must have brought back the extra flowers,” I say to Noah before I step through the cellar door and onto the upper landing. I’m about to announce our presence, but I pause.

Max and Olivia are next to my workbench, talking. They’re standing close…closer than two people typically stand unless they want to stand even closer.

“Um, hey,” I call down, feeling awkward.

They both jump, taking intentional steps apart. Max recovers first. “Hey, Pip.”

We’re definitely interrupting something. My best friend’s fair cheeks are flushed pink, and her eyes are a little too sparkly. Maxis a little harder to read, but I’m getting vibes. He jabs his hands into his pockets, acting a little too nonchalant.

The two look good together—Olivia with her rose gold hair and mischievous pixie looks and Max with his dark hair and bad-boy persona.

Max likes her, and she likes him, but the timing has never been right. Maybe it finally is now.

Max has been hanging out with Emma, a woman who works as the receptionist at NIHA’s local administration office. But as far as I can tell, they’ve never gotten serious—which isn’t a surprise considering Max goes on dates, but he’s never dated one woman exclusively.

My eyes move from my brother and my friend to the empty buckets that are stacked in the corner. The leftover flowers are tucked toward the back—the coolest spot in the cellar.

I walk down the stairs to join them, pretending everything is business as usual. “How did the market go?”

“Not too bad.” Olivia shoves a strand of hair behind her ear and looks at my brother adoringly. “A little slower tonight, but that’s probably because Max’s band wasn’t playing.”

Noah catches my eye, looking a little nauseated.

I try not to laugh, taking pity on him and preparing to get out of here. “Some nights are like that.”

“Hey, wait,” Olivia says when she sees me edging toward the stairs, handing me the zippered money pouch.

I shake my head. “You keep tonight’s earnings. You did all the work.”

“They were your flowers.” She counts out several bills and shoves them into her shorts pocket, leaving the pouch on the workbench. “There. You paid me more per hour than I make at the studio. Thank you, benevolent boss.”

Olivia is stubborn. Since there’s no point arguing with her, I take the cash.

“Did you guys have a nice dinner?” Olivia asks before we can get away.

“I had chicken.” I force a smile. “With a side of more chicken.”

Olivia gives me a sympathetic frown.

“It’ll get better,” she says and then looks at Noah for confirmation. “Right?”

He nods.

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