Page 96 of Accidentally in Bloom

Rose bounded down to the kitchen and snatched one of the envelopes that Violet had kept in a pile from the debt collection agency.

She punched in the number emblazoned all over the envelope, and the greasy, hacky, coughing piece of scum answered. Rose was going to make a deal.

GRAY

Gray pulled the box truck to the side of the country road and caught his breath as the livestream of Rose’s podcast ended. She was staying. He was her…boyfriend?

Best news he’d heard all day.

And she took his advice and told her listeners everything. She was so fucking brave.

He looked down at his shaking hands. What the hell am I doing? My dream girl is staying and fighting for our business, and I’m driving across the state? How stupid could he be?

If Rose could ask for help, so could he. He dialed Nash’s number and held it to his ear, chewing on his lip. It wasn’t a handout if he asked a friend, right?

The phone rang and rang. Gray punched it in again, feeling more desperate by the ring. He couldn’t trust anyone to drop off tens of thousands of dollars of product across Pennsylvania in his work truck.

Pop’s voice echoed back through his head. What are you willing to risk for it?

He blew the strands of hair out of his eyes as he realized the only people he could think of who would drop everything at a moment’s notice. The people who he’d trust to not fuck it up. Despite the pit of dread in his stomach, he dialed a familiar number and picked up the phone.

“Hey, Mom. You and Dad busy today?”

An hour later, with a small detour to his parent’s house, the keys had been tossed to them. His mom looked happier than he’d seen her in a long time, and though his dad huffed and puffed like the self-important windbag he was, he seemed genuinely happy to get behind the wheel of the cab.

“I’m just so glad you called, Graham.” His mom ran her fingers through his hair and wiped off a speck of mud she found along his cheek. “Your father hasn’t been this excited in a long time. We’re going on a road trip for the first time in twenty years.” Her arms wiggled with excitement.

“Thanks. I know it’s inconvenient.”

“Nonsense,” she said, patting him on the arm. “That’s what we’re here for. All we wanted to do this whole time was help.”

Gray’s eyes hit the floor as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He nodded. All they wanted was to help.

Why did it feel so hard to let them?

“This woman you need to help. You love her?” His mom’s appraising eyes roamed his face.

“Very much so.” He hoped like hell she could love him back someday.

“Good.” His mom gave him a hug and walked to the truck. “It looks good on you.” She sent him a happy wave and got in.

He jogged over to his SUV as they pulled the truck out of the driveway.

Concern and turmoil rumbled through Gray’s stomach as he thought about how to protect Rose and how he could help.

A text came through on his phone in a group chat with Lily, Vi, and Rose with the details for an event they were throwing together that evening. Lenny had agreed to let up if they could prove they had over half the money in hand today.

He tapped Rose’s face and hit the call button. He needed to hear her voice.

“Hey,” she practically purred in his ear, and he felt a knot of tension relax between his shoulder blades.

“Is my girlfriend there? I heard my girlfriend on a podcast earlier, and I was hoping my girlfriend might be able to talk for a minute.” He had the widest shit-eating grin and thought he might burst from happiness as Rose’s laughter rolled through the speaker.

“Thanks for listening,” she said. Background voices came through, almost drowning out her voice. “Sorry, I can’t talk long. I know we’re partners, but I made a decision without you. I hope that’s okay.”

“Rose, I trust you. Here’s how I’m going to help, and I want to see if it works for you: I’m going to drive to every watering hole in the county and tell them about the event tonight and text all my floral contacts so they put in bulk orders.”

“That’s…perfect. Thank you.” She sounded happy, and Gray physically ached to see her face.

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