Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Naomi grinned. “I came to see Luca. And to talk you out of selling the shop.” She took a step closer and lowered her voice a little, her bright smile replaced with a serious look. “I know that she loves you, too. I’ve seen it in her eyes, just like I can see it in yours.”
“Really?” I felt a pain in my heart as I thought about what a mess I’d made of things and how badly I’d hurt Joanne. “But what can I do now? I think it’s probably too late.”
“It’s never too late to do the right thing,” Naomi said.
“And it’s never too late for love,” Luca added with a wink.
“You know what you need to do, Brady,” Naomi said, raising her eyebrows. “Just do it. Go to her. Fix it.”
I nodded. Naomi was right, and so was Luca. For as complicated as I had been trying to make things, it really came down to something as simple as love. I loved Joanne, and that was worth fighting for, worth holding onto until I couldn’t hold on any longer. It didn’t matter if I didn’t know how, or if I’d already tried and failed. All that mattered, like Naomi had said, was that I just do it.
“Okay,” I said, nodding again, warming up to the idea. “O-kay. Yes. Thank you, both of you, for saving me from a decision that I would’ve regretted for the rest of my life.”
Luca smiled and handed me the coffee I’d long-since forgotten about. “That’s what friends are for, Brady. We help each other out around here, so you’re gonna have to get used to it.”
“Thank you,” I said again, grinning as I put down a ten dollar bill, then quickly walked toward the door before Luca could make me take it back.
The service at Castle Coffee was worth the tip any day, but this time? The pep-talk I’d just received was priceless. “I’ll let you guys know how things go with Joanne…”
“Good luck,” Naomi said, waving as I walked out the door. “We’ve got faith in you.”
When I had walked into the coffee shop a few minutes earlier, I’d felt alone. Defeated. Hopeless.
And now I was walking out the door with the realization that there were people all around me who cared about me, who wished me well, who genuinely wanted to see me succeed.
It was a strange feeling, but a good one. A really good one, and it warmed my insides more than the cup of coffee in my hands ever could have.
I was walking toward my truck, still smiling, ready to go directly to Joanne’s house and win her back, when I heard my name.
Except it wasn’t Naomi’s voice this time, or Luca’s. It was Mike, the corporate guy.
“I was just about to call you, Brady.” Mike was walking toward me, brow furrowed. “The door to the flower shop was locked, and the lights were off. I thought for a minute you’d had second thoughts.”
I could feel the corners of my lips turn up, even though Mike was definitely not going to see the humor in what I had to say. “It’s funny you should mention that…” I gave an apologetic half-shrug as I reopened the shop and flipped on the lights.
Mike followed me inside, but it couldn’t be helped. The man’s presence had reminded me of something, and it was that flowers really did help make every occasion better.
“Brady?” he prompted, sounding concerned.
I headed to the back, putting together a bouquet that might, if I was lucky, tip the odds in my favor. That might show Joanne I meant it.
“I’m sorry for wasting your time, Mike,” I said, a little amazed at how confidently my hands were putting together something so beautiful. Something for Joanne. “But I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I’m not going to sell.”
“You don’t mean that, Brady,” he said, his voice hardening. “Surely. Let’s talk about it. What are your reservations? Is it not enough money? What’s your final number?”
Mike’s voice may have tried to convey that he was ready to play hardball, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes, too. Uncertainty and fear of letting a sure thing slip through his hands.
I knew both feelings all too well.
“It’s not about the money. It’s not about anything like that.”
And even though in the back of my mind, I knew money was still a factor—was definitely going to be a problem when it came time to pay down Dad’s debt—it just didn’t matter. Not compared to what I needed to do.
“But it really is time to go, for both of us.”
Mike’s brow furrowed instantly. “Where are we going?”
I laughed for the first time in days, the relief and excitement for what I was about to do bubbling over inside of me. “I’d imagine you’re going back to New York, buddy. And I’m going to do something I should’ve done before I made that phone call to you yesterday.”