Page 29 of Petals of Blue: Part One
Nobody knows what I have in store this morning. Honestly, I'm not even quite sure what I have planned. I'm grasping at straws here. It's almost July. We've been here for like four weeks, and still we haven't made any progress with Blue.
Thankfully, nobody had to skip work today, except Declan, but he was already sitting at the wooden table with astack of papers anyway. I wonder if Blue knows he owns this café.
Jared doesn't start working at the high school for a while yet. With it being summer, he had a decent break from being a math teacher, but I know he plans to get a head start on the curriculum for his first year there.
Felix starts his new job tonight and I seriously cannotwaitto hear how it goes. I might stop by and await the explosion that is bound to happen.
I still haven't figured out how I’ll earn money. My passions are pretty limited, but I have some skills. I'm not interested in business like my younger brother and Felix. Math and school aren't my jam, but I can lift weights and help my friends gain some muscle.
Maybe I'll look into personal training opportunities.I did that for a bit right out of high school but fell in line with my parents’ pressure to get a degree.
"Hey, sorry." Declan sighs, collapsing into a wooden chair next to me. "I'm trying to understand their organization in the backroom, and it's not computing in my head."
Felix crosses his arms and leans back. "Why do you need to understand it? If it works for your staff, why does it matter?"
A flash ofsomethingflashes through Declan's eyes, and I can't help but wonder about my brother’s reactions to Felix lately. "Because I own this place, and I should know how my people work. I'm not looking to change it. I'm not a dick."
"I never said you were," Felix replies smoothly.
"Well, if Felix won't say it..." a soft, angry, and feminine tone says. I stiffen, knowing that voice anywhere. "I will. You're a dick, Declan."
Blue's floral scent wraps around me as she steps closer. No force in the world could stop me from dragging my gaze up her gorgeous body. Beside my right shoulder, Blue's dressedin cotton red shorts and a baggy white T-shirt tied in a knot over her belly button.
My dick takes notice immediately and my mouth waters. Holy shit.Has she been walking around Chicago like this?I can't even tell if she's wearing a bra.
"So are you Roman," she snaps, pulling me out of my lust-induced haze. I mean, my God, she's a fucking goddess. She's so close I could lick her belly button. "What is this? Some kind of intervention? Trick Blue into hanging out so we can show her we're not all bad?"
I feel the tension rise around the table making my heart thunder in my chest. Christ, I never used to have so many issues. In college with Felix, I was the life of the party. Since my parents dropped their toxic bomb, I haven't been able to pull myself out of this suffocating pit of depression.
There is no oxygen to give life to the fun, outgoing Roman I used to be. He's just lying there in a patch of wet dirt wondering how the hell he was so gullible and selfish to throw away this beautiful flower.
"Petal..."
Crystal blue eyes sharpen on mine. "Don't call me that. Your pretty flower is nothing but wilted petals, Roman."
My gut sinks. She can't mean that. The Erica I knew was bubbly and outgoing. I still see that in her. She's still my Petal.
But if I believe the old me is at the bottom of a moldy pit, why is it so hard to believe Blue when she tells me past Erica is dead? Is she really nothing more than a wilted flower?
Slowly, I begin to nod. "Okay, Blue. I hear you..."
She rolls her eyes. "Sure you do. So what is this? What's so important you dredged my number from the depths of your contact list after all this time?"
"Roman, you planned this?" Jared kicks my leg under the table, looking shocked and amused.
I nod, feeling guilty as hell even if he's excited.
Declan sucks in a breath and jumps up so fast his kneesbang into the table. "Here. Please sit. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"
Blue takes his seat easily and without hesitation, like she's claiming the treatment she's due. I'm applauding her in my head. She's become a strong woman in our absence.Maybe this wasn't a good idea...
"I—" Shit. What if we just make her life worse? Have we already? This feels like a step too far.
"Spit it out, Roman. Feel guilty for manipulating me later."
I seriously cannot express how happy I am to witness her strength. Whatever she went through didn't break her.Wedidn't break her.
I chance a look at the other guys who seem to be waiting for me as well. Which makes sense since I brought us all together under the guise of half-truths and zero plans.Fuck.
