Page 132 of All Too Well
“I think that roses are a lot like people. They don’t all look the same, smell the same, or grow the same. They’re unique and beautiful. They start as a bud that doesn’t look like it can open because it’s so tight, but then, as time goes, it gains its strength and opens layer by layer, until it shows you every glorious part of itself. It has thorns to protect itself when someone tries to steal it.”
I chuckle once. “I feel like you’re trying to teach me more than just roses.”
“Remember I said I know this type of art?” she asks, but she doesn’t seem to want an answer. “I’ve seen this canvas before. A man in love, knowing he’s going to lose, but doesn’t know where to go from here.”
Sounds about right. “And what would you advise that man?”
She turns, grabs a flower from another rack, and hands it to me. “Buy her the Juliet rose when you’re willing to give her your heart. Until then, give her the carnation.”
“Ainsley?” I call her name as I open the door.
“She’s going to love the flowers,” Rose whispers as she holdsthem.
“I’m back here!” Ainsley replies from the rear of the house. We make our way to her, and she comes out of her room, pulling the door shut. “Hey.”
Rose, who has zero patience, extends her hands with the bouquet of flowers. “We got you these!”
Ainsley drops down, squatting in front of her. “Oh, wow. Rose! These are so pretty.”
They’re your basic bouquet with a stupid carnation in the middle because Janelle had to make her point. The rest of the flowers Rose picked out, which means it’s like a box of Skittles.
“I made it with Ms. Janelle. She let me go in the back and put them all together!” Rose explains.
“Well, you just did the best job I’ve ever seen. These flowers are the most stunning. Can I have a hug?” Ainsley asks.
Rose launches herself into her arms. “I love you, Ainsley! I wish you could stay forever.”
“Aww, I love you too, Rose.” Ainsley smiles up at me as she hugs Rose tighter.
Seeing the two of them like this makes me hate this all the more. There’s this tightness in my chest that won’t go away.
I place my hand on Rose’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go change for dinner?”
Rose releases Ainsley and rushes off.
I help Ainsley back up, and she looks down at the flowers. “They really are beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you are.”
Her cheeks redden, and she shakes her head before leaning in to kiss me quickly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
She sighs heavily. “Look, I ... I don’t know how to say this, so I’m going to just blurt it out before I get too nervous and ramble. Which I tend to do. I don’t really know why I do it because when I write it doesn’t really go in circles, at least not when I’m in the zone, you know? It drives everyone crazy, so I try really hard not to ramble.”
“Ainsley, you’re doing it now,” I say, cutting heroff.
“Oh. Right.” Her nervous laugh makes me brace myself for something I’m not going to like. “When we get back from dinner, I’m going to need to finish up.”
“Finish what?”
Her story? I thought she had another week or two to do that.
“Packing. I got an email from my boss, and he’s being incredibly rigid about it. I have to go back to New York for a meeting tomorrow.”
Relief hits me hard for a minute. I thought she was leaving for good. “So when will you be back?”
She blinks and then shifts her weight. “That kind of depends on a few things.”
