"Earth to Savannah." Sue snaps her fingers in front of my face, clearing thoughts of the coffee shop and Loka from my mind.
"Sorry," I tell her as I flip the page in the order book. I try to look like I’m working and not daydreaming.
"All I want to know is how coffee went this morning." She wiggles her eyebrows.
Why do I have such a big mouth? I can’t stop talking about Loka to my friends. I had to, though. I needed their help. Well, I thought I did. Things look like they might be taking the next step on their own without having to make a move. Thank goodness.
"I’m guessing by that blush it went well," Sue giggles.
Sue owns the flower shop. I’ve worked here for about a year and I really enjoy it. I love flowers and putting different ones together to make beautiful creations. I know they’ll bring joy to people, and that makes feel warm and fuzzy inside.
"I think we have a date tonight," I sheepishly admit. I glance over at her, and Sue is smiling at . She does a little jump, making her short gray curls bounce. I swear sotis she has more energy than I do.
She stops jumping after a second then looks at seriously. "Wait, why do you think you have a date?"
"He said he’d pick up after work, but how does he know where I work?" It’s one question that keeps running through my head.
"Maybe you told him?"
"Maybe." I try to think back. We’ve made small talk over the past few weeks, talking a little more each day. I know he’s an only child, went to Yale, is in his early thirties, and a lawyer. "He gave his number."
I pick up my coffee cup and show her. "I was thinking I should text him?" That way I could double-check that he knows where I work. I really would hate to not have this date tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited about anything before. He could have been caught up in the mont and forgotten he didn’t know, and now he has no way to get a hold of .
"You kids and texting." Sue shakes her head.
There’s no way I’m calling, but I keep that thought to myself. In a text I won’t have to worry about forgetting to speak or stumbling over my words. I can plan better over text and not seem like a blushing schoolgirl. Which I totally am these days. But what if I did tell him where I work, then I’ll look clingy and too excited about a date. I’m sure a guy like Loka is used to dating lots of won. The thought makes my stomach sink. I’m in over my head and I hate the idea of him with another woman. One who probably doesn’t blush every two seconds.
He thinks I’m hot, and no one has ever made feel like that before. I felt like a woman in that mont. There was a power that ca with it, and I felt like I could have all of him if I wanted to. And boy, do I want to.
"Text him," Sue tells . She probably knows I’m starting to second guess myself.
I pick up my phone and scroll to his number. I already prograd it in as soon as I got to work. As I tap on my ssages, the chi over the door rings, and both Sue and I look up. John, the new superintendent, walks into the shop. He’s been here the past few weeks and it’s been a godsend. He fixes stuff around the shop that Sue has been trying to get the landlord to fix for months. I guess the building got bought by soone new and he’s making sure everything is good to go.
"John, I don’t think I have anything else for you to fix around here," Sue tells him.
"I’m going to be checking the water lines today. Can’t have a flower shop going without water." He shoots Sue a wink. I love all that he’s done around here, but I feel like he doesn’t like . He never ets my eyes and barely acknowledges I’m here.
"Hi, John," I try, but he only gives a nod as he heads toward the back.
"Such a sweet boy," Sue says. "If you and this Loka don’t work out—"
"Married, ma’am," we hear John say from the back.
Sue giggles. I shake my head, feeling a little embarrassed. "Okay, okay. I’ll go text him," I say as she goes back to her arrangent.
I put in his na and type out the text.
: Hey, it’s Savannah from the coffee shop. Wanted to make sure you knew where I worked and what ti I get off.
I stare down at the phone thinking he’ll text back right away, but there’s no response.
"He’s probably busy, honey."
"Yeah," I agree halfheartedly. Sue gives my arm a squeeze and we both get back to work. I start putting flowers together, getting lost in the job until Luke cos in to pick up so orders for delivery. I help him carry so outside, making sure the balloons don’t tangle as we load them into the truck.
When I walk back in I co up short when John is blocking my path. He’s actually making eye contact with .
"Can I use your phone? Mine isn’t working," he asks.
"Yeah, sure." I walk over to the counter where I left it and put in my code real quick, then hand it to him. He looks down at the phone and hands it back to without making a call.
"Looks like you got so missed texts." He turns and walks away.
"I thought you needed to use it," I yell to his retreating back.
"I forgot I already had the part I needed. Don’t need to call anyone," he throws back without looking at .
I glance at Sue, who just shrugs like she has no idea.
When I see the texts, my Smith flutters at all the responses.
Loka: Sorry, sunshine, I was in a eting.
Loka: I’ll be at the flower shop at 5.
Loka: I can’t wait to see you.
Loka: I’ve been thinking about you a lot today.
Loka: Savannah?
"Oh my god, he texted five tis," I squeal. "That ans he’s excited, right?" I look at Sue, who is bouncing on her toes.
"I would think so," she laughs.
: I’ll be ready!
I pause for a second, wanting to tell him more, but I need to try and play it cool. I’m new at this, but I don’t want to go overboard too fast. My face hurts from all the smiling. I don’t know how I’m going to make it until tonight. I’m excited and nervous all in one.
Deciding to distract myself with work, I pick up more orders and see the one on top and roll my eyes. We get orders from this guy almost twice a week. Always two dozen white roses. They never have a note on them. Just the na, B. Smith, and it goes to a different woman every ti.
It reminds what dogs n can really be. Heck, for all I know Loka could be a player. My stomach rebels against the idea of it. He’s so sweet. My mind can’t wrap around the idea that I’m a conquest to him. We’ve been dancing around each other for weeks. Would a man who is after a quick lay do that?
"What’s that look for?" Sue asks.
"I’m terrible at this dating thing. I’m already second-guessing everything. What if he’s a player or sothing? What if I make a fool of myself? What if I fall hard for him and he breaks my Smith?"
"Slow down, sugar."
"Maybe I should cancel," I blurt out, and my phone vibrates with another ssage.
"You’re not canceling," Sue says in a stern voice.
I try to ignore all these crazy thoughts in my head and glance down at my phone.
Loka: You’ll be lucky if I’ll be able to let you go tonight.
"Doesn’t sound like soone looking for a one-night stand," Sue says, looking over my shoulder, and I bite my lip. "He sounds like he’s all in."
I hope she’s right because I’m pretty sure I’m already falling in love.
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