Page 264 of 7+Us Makes Nine

Please, this doesn’t have to end.

He wasn’t mad. He was hurt. He didn’t chase women. I hated myself for driving him mad like this and I didn’t know how to fix it.

“Emilia, we have to be there in twenty minutes!”

Ivy had a key to my place and started letting herself in. I was going to an annual flower convention downtown. Its main purpose was to book companies like mine for different gigs. I hoped to build our clientele there. All the people Tristan sent me had started to die down.

“Coming!”

I covered my red eyes with eyeliner and fixed my dress. I forced myself to wear this bright green sundress when all I wanted was to wear sweats and eat ice cream. At first, I ate a bunch of junk food, now I just ate little to nothing. My clothes were fitting looser. I remembered how much Tristan loved my body, he would barely recognize me now.

“Okay, let’s go.” Ivy eyed me warily. She could tell I had been crying. She knew me well.

She drove us downtown and we started setting up. The tables were already there so all we had to do was decorate. She made a really nice tablecloth with my logo on it. The business cards and portfolio were set out and we sat behind the table, watching the room fill up with other vendors.

“You were crying this morning.” She commented. I shrugged.

“Yeah. As usual.”

“Honey, why don’t you call him? He isn’t mad. You can fix this.” She clasped my hand.

I shook my head, taking a deep breath to keep from crying.

“I can’t. There is nothing I can do without making a fool of myself. Let’s just focus on this, please.”

She nodded. “The flowers will be here soon.”

I nodded. I checked the ad I had put out on Facebook. It got a lot of likes, so I felt like a lot of people would show. But there was competition. Everyone in the room was just as good, if not better.

A few minutes later, a service trolley rolled in with a beautiful array of buttercups and baby’s breath. I smiled, my favorite. Then it headed right towards us.

“Are you Emilia Michelle?” The sweet old delivery man stopped in front of our table.

“Yes, but I ordered a tulip and rose arrangement.” It was my best arrangement, it always sold people on my work. But I didn’t order this.

“Well, I have your order here.” His graying brows rose as he handed me the tablet. Sure, enough the order was there with my name.

Ivy looked over my shoulder. “I made the order myself.” She said.

“It has this message with it.” The man leaned into one of the pots and handed me a card.

I opened the card.

Your mother would want you to be brave. You already have been, but now you need to take a chance. With me. Please call me. If you love me, you’ll call.

-Tristan.

My tears flowed hot and heavy. He was right. Mom would want me to go after love, and I did love him. I was barely aware of Ivy signing for the flowers and the delivery man leaving. I wiped my tears quickly, so I could look more presentable.

“Let me see.” I gave the card to her.

She read it and smiled.

“See? The man loves you to death Emilia. Stop hurting him.” Ivy said sternly.

She was right. I shouldn’t hurt him anymore.

But I couldn’t leave the event.

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