Page 124 of Be Your Anything
That’s when I see them on my desk. The flowers. It’s a moderately sized bouquet, full of tulips in a blend of purples and pinks and whites. They’re seated on the center of my desk, and when I sit down in my chair, I see the note tucked between a few of the flowers.
“You’ll never believe who delivered those!” Diana says, practically prancing into my office with a massive grin on her face. “Lucas. Pearson!”
I chew on the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.
“Thank you, Diana.”
She hovers at the door, watching me.
“Thank you, Diana,” I say again.
“Oh! Right.” And then she spins around and heads back out to her desk.
Leaving me alone with a bouquet of tulips and a note.
I open it up, seeing Lucas’ chicken-scratch handwriting scrawled across the paper. It almost makes me laugh, but it’s the sentiment that has me clutching at the necklace hanging around my chest.
Lennon, I read online that tulips are a declaration of love. I hope you’ll accept these from me as the first of many attempts to prove to you I am worthy of yours. Lucas.
I get another bouquet the following day, sunflowers this time.
Lennon, sunflowers represent dedication and adoration. These represent how I feel about you, as well as the commitment I am bringing to this joyful task of wooing your heart. Lucas.
On Thursday, it’s hydrangeas.
You fill my heart with emotion, with a feeling I didn’t understand until it was given a name.
And on Friday, roses.
I hope one day, you’ll believe me when I tell you I love you and you’ll know in your heart how I feel for you.
Paige tells me I should call him and say thank you, but I’m not ready to give in so easily.
Part of me feels like a bitch for not giving Lucas what he wants when it’s something I want, too. Us. Together.
But at the same time, I’m not playing games with him. I’m not leading him on or stringing him along. Hehurtme. Wounded me with a deepness I didn’t know I could experience.
So heshouldhave to work his ass off to prove I won’t get hurt again if I give him another chance. Heshouldhave to grovel a bit, “woo” me, earn the queen he wants to stand at his side. So I wait.
The flowers don’t stop over the weekend. Red chrysanthemums.Hope.And a small cactus.Endurance.
I have to admit, I love the way the cactus looks sitting on the mantel above my fireplace. The way the rest of the flowers have kept, scattered around my living room and bedroom. The way the smell makes me feel.
Lucas calls me on Sunday evening.
I briefly consider letting it go to voicemail, but I change my mind at the last second.
If I’m giving him a chance to prove something, I have to give him the actual chance to prove it.
“Are you enjoying the flowers?” he asks, his voice sending a warmth racing through me.
“I am. Especially the fact that you’ve been managing to hand-deliver them every day without me seeing you.” I chuckle. “I would have assumed your plan towoome would at some point include seeing you face to face.”
Lucas laughs, but when it dies off, I hear the seriousness in his tone. “You know, this whole thing I’m doing right now? Wooing you? It’s about proving something to you. It’s aboutyou, and getting to see you? Getting to be near you? That feels selfish, like I’m getting something out of it other than the simple satisfaction of knowing there’s a smile on your face.”
My hand comes to my mouth at his words.
“I also know you have a tendency to lose yourself around me. A lesser man might take advantage of that, try to use your body against you and to his own gain, but I’m not in this for a short-term anything. This is the long haul. So, if all I’m lucky enough to get right now is you being willing to answer my phone call?” He hums, sounding pleased. “I’ll take it.”
