Page 12 of Broken Boss Daddy

It had been a few days since I surprised Jess at the school. I hadn’t seen her since. The silence and distance was bigger between us now than it was six years ago. How was that even possible?

Every time I thought about it, I had to remind myself that I couldn’t expect much else, as she didn’t have a way to contact me. It didn’t stop the hope that came whenever my phone rang.

Picking up a bunch of red roses, I considered them and the thought of following through with this ridiculous idea. Jess should like red roses.Right?

“Those are certainly beautiful.” I looked over at who I presumed was the owner, and she gave me a friendly smile.

“I’m hoping so,” I said, giving the bouquet another inspection.

“Are they for a special someone?”

“She’s certainly special.” I smiled over at her.

The woman was probably in her late forties with kind eyes and a smile that invited anyone to strike up a conversation with her. “I’m Mrs. White. Is there anything I can help you with?”

Gesturing to the bouquet in my hand, I embarrassingly chuckled and said, “Do you think these will get someone to at least talk to me?”

“I would say it depends on the situation.” She gave me a knowing look. “What’s your story, young man?”

I was reluctant to tell her, but her friendly demeanor made me realize just how much I wanted to tell someone about Jessica. I’d kept her to myself. She’d been my closely guarded secret for years.

I ran a hand down my face and considered what harm telling a stranger would do. I couldn’t think of a reason not to tell her.

Putting the roses back, I started, “There’s this girl. An amazingly beautiful woman who makes me feel all types of weird things.”

“Ah, the ways of the heart. So, what brought you here then?”

I followed her to the checkout counter and spilled out the story of Jessica and me. We’d met a couple of years ago. I’d had a terrible day and went to the bar at the hotel where I was staying. Without realizing it, I had sat down next to the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She physically took my breath away.

“One thing led to another, and we got drunk. She was having an identity crisis, and I was struggling with my future. During our short time together, she changed the way I viewed life, and made me realize what I actually wanted out of it. I’m sure you can guess what happened after that. However, after that night, she disappeared, and for years I haven’t seen her, yet never forgotten about her.”

“Did she leave you, or did you leave her?”

“I gave her my number, and she never called.”

“Interesting.” Mrs. White went about sorting some other arrangements.

I leaned against the counter. “Jumping to a few weeks ago, I ran into her at the hospital where I work, and I felt like I did the first night we met. I was blown away. I couldn’t believe that she was actually there, and that the intense connection I felt with her was still strong.”

“But?”

“But,” I sighed, “she wants absolutely nothing to do with me, and I don’t know why.”

“Have you asked her?”

“Not particularly, no. She hasn’t given me the chance to, and if I even mention something personal or our past, she shuts me down. I’m going out of my mind. I know there’s something between us, and I guess I just want the chance to explore whatever that is.”

Admitting that felt like someone had lifted a weight off my shoulders. Jessica turned me inside out, and I hadn’t been the same since.

“It seems like there’s a lot both you and your friend need to talk about.”

“You’re telling me.”

“I have just the thing for your friend.”

Mrs. White beckoned me to follow her into the back room where there were even more flowers and plants. I stood back toward the entrance while she walked around the small area, collecting bunches of flowers.

“Let us make you a signature bouquet. I’m going to put in yellow, not red, roses for friendship, happiness, and new beginnings. Then peonies for beauty and elegance, gardenias for hope and clarity, and daffodils for forgiveness and appreciation.”

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