Amanda: Hurry!!! Or I’m going to start my own rumors.
Jason: They’re probably true.
Amanda: You were mauled by bears?
Jason: Innuendo?
Amanda: Slut! Spill. I’m adding Jon.
I rolled my eyes. Amanda and Jon were going to unleash a formal inquisition. One at a time, I might resist. When they combined their powers, I either answered or suffered the consequences.
Amanda: Jon! Jason went on a date.
Jon: Who? Club bear? Did you see him naked?
It had started. I stood outside the flower store, debating if I should continue texting or go inside. Therewere rows of flowers on either side of the door. I couldn’t tell which ones created the sweet scent, but I breathed deeply. The smile couldn’t be stopped, but it had little to do with the floral scents.
Jason: Club bear. It was a fun date. Quarry.
Amanda: Fun? They banged.
Jon: They so banged.
Amanda: Not their first time. You two ever going to do it in a bed?
Jon: Not first? You’re holding out on me.
Amanda: Jon, I’m calling. We’ll plan his next date.
A photo of Amanda making a kissy face popped up on the screen. Seconds later, one of Jon appeared. I loved them both. Mostly. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the last I heard of it. Amanda would want to know all the cheesy lines I said. Jon would want a blow-by-blow playback.
I pocketed my phone when voices inside the florist grew louder. For a second, I thought a fight had broken out. I had never heard Marigold raise her voice. She was one of the most even-tempered women I had ever met.
I opened the door to her, pointing a finger at her husband. “Peter, so help me. If you do it, I’ll divorce you.”
The couple had opened the flower store when I was in high school. Everybody in Firefly had heard the story of their first date. Marigold had been the head cheerleader for Firefly High and when Peter ran onto the basketball court, it was love at first sight. Of course, people whispered abouther dating a boy from the rival team, but they were the pinnacle of a cute relationship. Shouting? That was unheard of.
“Well, if you’re going to divorce me, it’ll make all the more sense.”
“Peter! Don’t you dare.”
Inside the shop, Marigold stood behind the counter while Peter was near a cooler filled with roses. I almost chuckled at the aprons they wore. Each had several flowers stitched across the top with text that read, “Flowers Know No Gender.” When their son came out of the closet, they had been the ones who pushed for the school to create a Gay-Straight Alliance. And yes, they had already tried to set us up.
“Marigold, is everything okay?” I didn’t want to get in the middle of a domestic dispute, but something felt off. Peter cackled as he waved his phone about in the air. Had he lost his mind?
She crossed her arms across her chest. “My husband is being a ninny.”
Ninny. It couldn’t bethatserious. “What’s he done now?”
Peter clutched his phone as he pressed the screen. “Too late. You can’t stop me. It’s all been put into motion.” If this had been a comic book, his speech would precede the apocalypse. Unfortunately, Peter’s slender frame, graying hair, and thick glasses wouldn’t quite cut it as a horseman.
“That fool thinks spending a week in a bathing suit is a vacation.”
Were they arguing over vacation plans? This made more sense. Their version of a fight came down to deciding where to spend their days off. I wouldn’t say it out loud, but the fight bordered on adorable.
“Mari, think of the beaches.” He had a point.
“Too much sun,” she replied.
