Page 70 of Twist of Date

HIDING IN THE FLOWERS

LAYLA

The minuteI stepped foot in the door at my gram’s house, I felt off. Angry even. Which is so not like me.

For the first time in my entire life, I actually dreaded coming here today and that’s got everything to do with the sexy, charismatic restaurant owner who has somehow stolen my heart.

Cassie and Stella read my vibe the second they greeted me, but I blew off their concern, only to confuse Cassie even more.

The fact that Cole has continued to date the HEA matches hangs over my head and I’m a mess.

I tried to stop conversing with Cole when I found out he was going on a date with Mina. Well, I responded to a few texts, but I didn’t contribute to conversation or accept any phone or video calls. Just told him that I was super busy. Which was the truth, in a way.

Turns out halting communication with him didn’t exactly help me get over it. Clearly.

It takes me a solid twenty minutes to mentally shove my bad mood in a box to sort out for later. That’s when I realize that Cole isn’t here so that helps my overall vibe.

That was until I’m standing next to Stella at the dessert table and I hear her gasp.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking up at her, placing the tongs for the macaroons back on the platter.

Biting her lip, she looks at me with concern. “Cole, he’s here.” I start to look over my shoulder, but she hisses, “No, don’t look.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Because he’s with Mina.” And everything in her whole being pours out the pity I don’t want.

I close my eyes and steady my breathing. Then when I open them, I’ve set my shoulders and grab another pair of tongs to load up on more sweets.

“Are you going to ignore it?” she asks, following me.

“Yup. I think it’s for the best. He and I can break things off in private, later,” I tell her around the lump in my throat.

“Really? You’re going to end it? Without talking to him first?” she asks, her tone surprised.

“Yeah, I mean, we will talk about it and then end it.”

“If that’s what you want,” she offers.

“No, Stella, it’s not what I want, but clearly it’s what has to happen,” I snap.

Then I sigh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Girl, it’s fine. I get it. I’ll help you avoid him the best I can,” she says and I give her a thankful grin.

Somehow, I’m able to avoid both Cole and my grams for nearly two hours. Until the anger inside of me builds up so much that when I’m finally cornered by Dorthy and Grams, I nearly explode.

I’m standing near a small grove of Rose of Sharon. The plants are larger than my five-foot-four frame, standing each at about eight feet tall. It’s allowing me to somewhat hide but still look approachable if someone were to wander over. There’s a table and chairs set up here, so clearly it could happen.

“Darling, you haven’t said hello to Dorthy yet.” She places her hand on my shoulder. I was pending to admire the flowers, as I’ve done for years. Always opting to call them hibiscus flower even though they aren’t the same as the tropical plant.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, plastering on a fake as hell smile.

Dorthy, just as regal as my grams, but twenty times more dramatic, comes at me with all excited hems and haws about how beautiful I’ve gotten as she hugs me tight.

“You’re hiding in the flowers,” Grams says as she studies me, Dorthy finally letting me go.

“No, just mingling,” I tell her, looking around at the party.

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