Rob's cheeks slightly blush, but before he can reply, Cee Cee turns back to me. “Speaking of, your boyfriend paid for your drink.”
“Really? What’d he get me?”
“He said to let you pick.” She walks around the counter.
I smile at the cute gesture, although Cee Cee and Rob rarely let me pay anyway.
“Well, in that case, I’ll take anything with pumpkin.” I also add Mel’s order and smile as she starts making my drink. Pumpkin isn’t in season, but they keep some for me since it’s one of my favorites. As Cee Cee is making my drink, she reminds Rob of a note Liam made him write.
“Oh, he just wanted us to make you buy something to eat.” He shrugs. “I told him I’d remember to tell you, but he didn’t believe me.”
I shake my head and get a croissant for the road.
“The note also says, ‘Do not let her just get a damn croissant’ so…”
I laugh as I imagine Liam’s grumpy tone and get a bagel instead. When I get my drink I bring it to my lips and let my eyes fall shut at the perfect taste.
“Hmm, you’re the best barista, Cee Cee.”
She flips her pink hair proudly, and I drop two hundred bills into their tip jar. They both start telling me to take it back, but that’s ridiculous, and I tell them so.
“Sorry, I have a delivery for Sage Loana?”
I turn on my heels and my eyes immediately land on ahugebasket of pink dahlias two men are struggling to carry. I tell them that’s me, and they put down the basket of flowers before having me sign.
I thank him with a smile, and when I look back down at the flowers, I notice an envelope with a cat paw print wax seal, and I gently break it open.
Thank you for being my break last night.
You’re far from exhausting, Dory. You're my sanctuary.
I look back over at the basket, and I’m honestly surprised he even remembered what flowers I said I liked since he was half asleep.
“He pays for your breakfastandbuys you flowers?”
I turn to Cee Cee, and she shakes her head with her arms crossed.
“Am I sensing some bare minimum groveling? Ugh, straight men.” She shakes her head, and I laugh at how disappointed she sounds.
“It’s cute, and this huge basket of flowers is barely the bare minimum.”
She shrugs before going back around the counter. “They’re flowers,” she says as if that proves her point.
I chew my lip as I look back at the flowers but don’t say anything. I take my bagel to go and, with Rob's help, take my flowers back up to my apartment before heading to work.
I find Mel in Quinn's room. After hugging both girls, I hand Mel her coffee.
“Did Jordan text you?”
She nods with a smile, and I feel myself getting excited. It’s barely been a day, so I don’t badger her for details and tell them I’ll see them later.
When I walk into my room, I freeze at the giant basket of hydrangeas near my desk. “What the heck?” I bite back my smile as I walk over to them. They’re freakinggorgeous.I touch them softly before leaning down to smell them, and they smell even better than I remember. When I see another envelope with the same wax seal, I quickly open it.
You were right. I never had a real girlfriend, but I’m glad you’re my first & you won’t have to “teach” me how to be a boyfriend. I know sex isn’t all a relationship is:
My favorite color is green. Emerald, like your couch.
My favorite food is New York $1 pizza.
