Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 579(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
“You’re right.” I pushed up on one elbow and gazed down at my ratty shorts and the UNCC hoodie that Lew gave me when we first started dating. Well, he didn’t give it to me. It was more that I kept it because it was comfortable and never gave it back.
“Yeah?” Octavia’s sad brown eyes lit up as she grinned. She hopped off the bed and said, “Cool. I’ll get you some Advil.”
She hurried out of the room, and I hoisted myself up to rest my back against the headboard. I cradled my head in one of my hands, sighing.
When Octavia returned and passed me the ibuprofen and a bottle of water, the doorbell rang.
“Who is that?” I asked.
Octavia went to the window to peer out. “Not sure. There’s a white van with flowers on it.” She glanced at me before leaving the room again.
I heard some distant chatting after she answered the door, a laugh from Octavia, and then the door closing again.
When she returned, she said, “It was a flower delivery. Are you dating somebody and didn’t tell me?”
“What? No! What are you talking about? They’re probably from someone at work. The whole company knows I rescheduled the party so I could have time to myself.”
“Oh.” Octavia’s eyes bounced around. “Well, come on. Go shower, and I’ll make you a really late breakfast, lazy ass. Something greasy should get you back on your feet.”
I huffed a laugh, then palmed my head again. “Oh my gosh, Tavia. Don’t make me laugh right now, please.”
Octavia planted a hand on her hip. “No one told you to drink a whole bottle of wine last night. That was your grown-woman choice, and now you’re paying for it.”
Oh yeah. It was a full bottle, wasn’t it? I hadn’t drunk in months, but I went to the market last night and collected a bottle of my favorite red wine. I downed the whole thing like it was water. I wanted to avoid the emotion—to fight the ache. It didn’t help much.
I groaned on my way to the bathroom. When I shut the door behind me, I faced the mirror. I looked horrible. Absolutely horrible. My hair was sticking up all over the place and appeared matted in some areas. My skin was chalky and dry from so many tears, and my lips were chapped.
I dragged my hands down the length of my face before planting them on the countertop. I lowered my head, letting my eyes close for a second before drawing in a breath, exhaling, and opening them again.
My gaze flickered over the counter to Lew’s favorite hair pomade that I still didn’t have the balls to move or throw away. Some mornings, I liked to open it and smell it.
We used to spend so many mornings in this bathroom getting ready together. He’d be doing his weekly shave, and I’d be popping an earring in or applying makeup. We’d always been in each other’s way without fully being in the way, and I’d loved it. I would’ve given anything to have those days back.
I stood up straight and swiped at my eyes, turning for the shower to start it. But the shower was just another reminder of what we had. All the laughter, the making out, the sex.
I washed up and tossed a cotton robe on. I tied it at the waist, moisturized as much of my body as I could stand before my head started spinning, then left the bathroom.
Octavia was in the kitchen, scrambling eggs while bacon sizzled in a skillet. She peered over her shoulder when she heard me coming and said, “There she is! Don’t you feel better?”
“Don’t even.” I noticed a burst of color in my peripheral and turned my attention to the dining table. There was a large bouquet of pink, white, and yellow tulips with white carnations hugging them from the outside.
Tulips weren’t a common flower I’d received. Most people sent white roses and lilies—even gardenias. But tulips? That was different.
“I didn’t check, but who do you think those are from?” Octavia asked over her shoulder.
“I’m not sure,” I murmured, unable to take my eyes off the flowers. I spotted a white card on a pick in the center of the bouquet and plucked it off.
My first name was printed on the thick cream envelope. I flipped it open, took out the card, and read it.
Davina,
I am so sorry that I’m just now finding out about your loss. I know we just met, and I’m several months late, but I hope these flowers make up for my lack of awareness and can bring some light to your day. Here if you need me.
Deke
“Oh. Wow.”
Deke’s name was the last one I expected. He must’ve heard about Lew through Arnold. Tish did tell me she was going to reach out to him first about rescheduling the party to make sure Deke’s schedule aligned.