Hearts and Flowers (Hearts Series Book 2)

by A. M. Brooks

  I see the bubbles pop up then disappear. My heart stops when this happens three more times. What are you thinking, baby?

  Nora: K. And should be fine. Can I let you know tomorrow?

  So fucking distant. My jaw clenches, which does nothing for my headache. I take three deep breaths and remind myself why she’s being this way. I can’t expect her to forget. Hopefully after tomorrow night, things will go back to normal.

  Darrian: Sounds good. I’ll text you. Sleep good. I love you.

  Nora: You too.

  Yup. Her mind is working overtime on the negative tonight. I sigh and lie back on my bed. I should get up and shower now so I don’t have to tomorrow, but it feels too nice. I set my alarm extra early so I can snooze it a few times. My mind runs through my checklist again while I breathe in and out, feeling the throb in my head start to subside. I think about Nora and the first time I laid my eyes on her. The way the fire bounced off her skin. She was hesitant to get close to anyone and yet I saw the small hint of desperation in her eyes to finally belong somewhere. It was a look I’d seen in my own reflection at times. She smiled sweetly and boldly called out a tradition that had been in our families for years. I was hooked right then even though her words made me angry. She didn’t know anything yet about the situation, but her words echoed the feelings in my soul. She was perfect and I was terrified of losing control. Memories from that night pull me under into sleep. Nora’s smile is on repeat in my dreams.

  I wait at her front door at six-thirty as promised. Raising my hand to knock, I’m surprised when the door swings open and Jodi is standing there.

  “She’s almost ready,” Jodi states and ushers me in. Since the twins’ aunt has been in the home, I’ve noticed a drastic change in the atmosphere. It feels like people actually live here. It’s a home rather than a rental spot until something better comes along. Nora has mentioned before that she feels the same and gives all the credit to Jodi. When Mr. Sutton enters the room and shakes my hand, I notice the change in him as well. The credit doesn’t belong all to Jodi. It’s clear that Mr. Sutton is putting the energy into creating a stable place for Nora.

  “What’s your plan tonight, Darrian?” Mr. Sutton asks while wrapping his arm around Jodi’s shoulder.

  “Just dinner, sir,” I tell him. I’m sure he’s seen the flyers for Tilly’s Café at this point like everyone else in town. I want to downplay it though in case Nora hasn’t seen it yet. He’s about to ask me more when Nora comes bounding down the stairs.

  “We should go to Tilly’s!” she says enthusiastically. I grip the back of my neck and force a smile. Pretending like it’s her idea.

  “I would be okay with that,” I agree.

  “Or did you want to go somewhere else?” she asks, her eyes big as they study me. I wonder if she can sense the nervous anxiety like a tornado in my gut.

  “No, I didn’t really have a plan,” I tell her, wincing at yet another lie. I can’t wait to come clean. Even surprise lies are gnawing at my conscience. She studies me for a minute like she can read my thoughts.

  “Okay.” She shrugs. “Let’s go then.” She hugs her dad and Jodi who both wish us a good night and tell me to drive safe.

  When we’re finally on the road, I start to relax more knowing we are almost there, and all this weird tension can go away. Nora is uncharacteristically quiet while we drive. I’m trying to let her have time and process her emotions, but it’s killing me. I slide my finger over the dial and hit play on my new playlist. Trey Songz’s “Nobody Else But You” plays through the speakers. She shifts in her seat. I smirk knowing each song on this playlist is more meaningful then the next. Music is a good way to communicate feelings that can’t always be expressed in words. When the air clears tonight, I’ll make sure to send her the playlist to her phone titled Bouquet of Flowers.

  Sure enough, Tilly’s Café is holding its own like I had convinced her it would. Tilly’s is usually only open on the weekends in the offseason, but with a down payment and some serious pouring out of feelings from me, Tilly finally caved. I knew she was a romantic at heart. I open Nora’s door for her and tangle my fingers with hers.

  “Good evening, just the two of you?” The hostess smiles and looks between us. It’s a perfect act because I know Lily already squared it away with the staff to bring us to our table. The table we sat at on our first date here.

  “Yes, two,” Nora says, smiling back at the friendly hostess. Grabbing some menus, the girl ushers us to the back and stops at the only empty table. I sit down where I sat a year ago across from a girl who was throwing my world upside down in a night. As she sits across from me over a year later, I thank the universe for keeping her in my life.

  Nora sits down and looks around. I can see the recognition on her face when she realizes where we’re sitting. I cock my head to the side, wondering what other pieces of the puzzle she is putting together. Purple roses sit in a vase in front of us. The only table with a centerpiece tonight. She won’t meet my gaze and looks everywhere but at me. I bite my lip before unzipping my sport jacket and hanging it on my chair behind me. My new Gonzaga t-shirt stretches across my chest. I feel her gaze on my chest, reading the words.

  “Your order.” A waitress appears and sets down identical orders from our first time. Raspberry French toast and bacon for her and pesto eggs benedict for me. Nora’s eyes widen,

  “Darrian.” Her voice catches and I know she’s close to losing it. I press further.

  “Ask me,” I tell her. I want to force her to have the same deep conversation we had that first morning. Only this time, my answers are all different. She shakes her head, scared to hear where this is going. “Ask me.” My voice is gentle, but she’s fighting it. “Trust me,” I whisper loud enough for only her to hear. Her gaze travels up until we collide. Naked vulnerability paints her face. I hope she can read the determination and love on mine.

  “I’m hoping I’ll get drafted right out of college then I won’t have to take over the business right away,” I say, repeating the words I’d always told myself. The only truth I had ever had.

  Her lips part silently. The tip of her tongue glides over the bottom one before she inhales shakily. “Do you want to take over the business at all?”

  “I want to take you to your senior prom tomorrow. Then in a few weeks, I’m leaving for college with another second chance I never believed I could have. I want you to visit me when you can, to call me when you miss me. I want to visit you every free moment I have. I hope I’ll be drafted and that I’ll see you at all my home games front row. I want to be committed to you forever someday. When I can’t play anymore or when I lose passion for the game, I’ll either take over King Corp. and make it my own or I’ll work on my own venture. I want you to be part of that too. I want you to succeed in everything you do and accomplish all your dreams. Let me love you unconditionally, without fear or hesitancy. I want us to trust each other and these memories we’re making right now. But first, let’s start small. Baby steps and shit. Let me be your date tomorrow. I will make everything right again.” My voice cracks by the time I finish.

  Her head lowers, with her chin to her chest I can’t read her expression. I see her shoulders shake and dread starts to tickle my insides. Don’t leave me hanging here, baby. I just poured my heart and soul all over the table. Take them both. I mentally plead with her. My lip ring is squeezed between my teeth.

  Nora lifts her head and I almost stop breathing when I see the tears streaming down her cheeks. Her smile is small and watery, but her words are clear. “I hope you get what you want most.”

  I don’t wait. I launch out of my chair and pull her into my arms, lifting her off the ground. A few flashes go off around us and the entire room is clapping. I don’t even give a fuck that the whole town heard me. Nora is squeezing me around the neck and laughing when I spin us in a circle. I set her back to her feet and the clapping dies down.

  “I’m happy for you both!” Lily exclaims before almost tackling h
er best friend.

  “Did you help?” Nora says, looking surprisingly stunned to see her.

  “Of course,” Lily replies, nudging my ribs, I grunt. “Like he could pull this off without me. Oh and by the way, we have hair appointments at nine tomorrow morning and your dress is at my house.”

  Nora’s mouth drops open before she closes it and starts laughing. I smile at her losing control. “You both are crazy.” She points between the both of us and I shrug my shoulders.

  “Enjoy the rest of the night,” Lily says, hugging Nora one more time and sending me a wink.

  “I’m starving now,” I confess. Until that was all over, there was no way I was eating.

  “Me too.” Nora sits back down when I do and cuts her French toast in half before sliding it onto my plate. I watch her, fascinated. “Didn’t think I would remember, did you?”

  I shrug. “More like hoping you weren’t trying to forget.”

  “I can’t believe you did all this,” she whispers.

  “I love you,” I tell her. “No other reason is needed. I meant every word I said.”

  I watch her smile grow bigger and the hint of pink touches her cheeks. She’s so easily embarrassed.

  “I love you too,” she says and my heart races again.

  We eat the rest of our meals while I walk her through everything I had planned for tomorrow. Her eyes are shining by the time we leave, and she wraps her arms around my right arm, her head on my shoulder while I drive her home. Mr. Sutton and Jodi are still awake when I pull in her driveway, so I settle for a small press of my lips against hers before she darts up to her front door.

  “I’ll meet you at Lily’s at three,” I call to her and she nods while waving goodbye.

  “Thank fuck,” I mutter, laying my head back against the headrest. All my energy has been zapped. The anticipation all week was draining. I quickly send my ‘flowers’ to her before backing out her driveway. I hit play on the same playlist and head home. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.

  If someone had told me when I first arrived back in Araminta after last summer that I would be standing in front of Lily’s floor-length mirror ready for my senior prom and Darrian was my date I would have laughed in their face and probably throat punched them. Yet here I was, my hair curled, braided, and pinned at the nape of my neck, leaving the keyhole back of my periwinkle colored dress visible. Once again, I had to hand it to Lily for finding me something perfect. The top bodice had crystal and jewels scattered everywhere. The neckline plunged to where the skirt started but didn’t leave my breasts on display. The skirt flowed in tiers of soft tulle. It was sexy but tasteful.

  “You’re an evil genius,” I tell her, still studying my reflection. I had applied silver eye shadow and outlined my eyes in black eyeliner and mascara. A soft pink hue covered my lips.

  “I think Darrian will disagree,” she tells me while stabbing her dangling earrings into her ears. Her dress was long like mine but was A-line cut. The top half was gold and glittery while the skirt was pink with a slit up the middle. Her blonde hair was wound tight on her head in a bun.

  “Well, he’s one lucky guy to escort us tonight,” I tell her, giving her a wink. That had been the other part of their deal. Ethan had yet to apologize to Lily for the hurtful words he said to her last time. Darrian said Ethan had actually left town for a few days over prom weekend. Even though she didn’t voice it, I knew Lily was hurting. I knew she secretly had been hoping he would show up and ask her. Being the guy he was, Darrian offered to take us both to dinner then to the dance. He also promised Lily would get a picture with just me at the school and he wouldn’t occupy all my time on the dance floor. I cried a fresh new round of tears last night when she had told me this.

  At three o’clock exactly, Lily’s mother yelled up the stairs that Darrian was here. My heart fluttered and a small ball of anxiety ricochet in my stomach. I tried to just breathe and smile through it. Everyone was waiting for us outside for pictures. Dad, Jodi, Lily’s parents, Elijah and Tara, Olivia and Shea and their parents were all present. I felt him staring at me before our eyes met. The heat of his gaze trailing a path of fire in their wake. My skin flushed and I felt hot everywhere. Darrian’s black tux looked sharp with his white shirt and black tie. A purple and light pink rose sat on his lapel, one for me and one for Lily. My smile grew across my face. I launched myself at him and he caught me in a tight grip.

  “You look amazing. It hurts to breathe looking at you,” he whispers into my ear so only I can hear him. I hide my smile in his neck and quickly press my lips over the beating of his pulse before pulling away.

  “You clean up pretty nice, King,” I wink at him. My favorite crooked grin appears on his face.

  “Let’s get some pictures,” he says, pulling me over to where everyone is now waiting on us. I can tell they’re trying to give us our privacy by averting their gazes.

  “Do we have to?” I joke. I’d rather stay in his arms until we have to leave.

  He places a quick kiss to my temple. “Memories,” he says and tugs me along with him.

  After an hour we have enough memories, I’ve decided. I had pictures with the girls, with the guys, with my dad, with my dad and Jodi, me and Lily, and just Darrian and I. My lips burn from holding a smile.

  “And the ride is here!” Elijah calls from behind me. I turn to see a long black limo pulling into the driveway.

  “Yes!” Lily exclaims and runs on over. We all join her and climb in. Darrian pulls me right next to him in the back, his grip on my hand not moving. He’s trying his best to correct everything from last year and it’s working. I lean over and touch my lips to his cheek. He turns and smiles at me.

  “What was that for?” he asks.

  I shrug. “No reason.”

  “I’m not complaining,” he laughs.

  We travel to a different restaurant than last year and fill up on food. Darrian is next to me, with a hand on my knee under the table the entire time. Somehow he manages to cut his steak with just the other hand. We laugh and no one mentions the elephant in the room that Ethan is not there. My smile falters when I think about Ethan and Trent missing such an important day. Like Darrian said, memories. It’s not about the dresses or the hair, or money spent. It’s the times like this, where everyone is laughing and joking. Talking about their plans after graduation.

  “You okay?” Darrian asks, angling my face so my eyes are held by his.

  My shoulders lift. “Ethan and Trent,” I reply. No other explanation is needed.

  “They’ll be okay,” he tells me and hugs my shoulders. I know he’s right. Everyone has their own path and things to do in life. I need to accept their decision. I need to just stay in this moment with these people and enjoy it.

  Our limo picked us up after dinner and drove the long way around town. The location had changed from last year last minute and now I was wondering if that had anything to do with Darrian. He shrugs and bites his lip ring as if he could read my thoughts. He’s too much. Even after witnessing what the school was capable of last year, I’m still surprised by their effort into this year’s decorations. Olivia had mentioned months ago the theme was Enchanted Forest. Fake trees, vines, and branch arches were scattered around the area. Soft yellow fairy lights twinkled from the hanging canopy and light pink and white rose petals covered every surface. I’d hate to be the cleaning crew who had to deal with this later. Darrian leads me into the space and doesn’t forget to move aside when it’s time for my picture with Lily. We both smile with a hand around each other’s waists.

  “Do you want to dance, or are you girls going to dance first?” Darrian leans close to my ear so I can hear him above the music and chatter. I look to Lily who is already pulling Olivia, Shea, and Tara to the dance floor.

  “Girls first, I guess,” I tell him, pointing at Lily’s antics. Instead of getting mad, he just fakes an exasperated sigh and gives me a little push toward my friends.

  “I’ll find you when there is a sl
ow song,” he whispers conspiratorially and I smile in answer.

  I rush to the dance floor in time for Tyga and Offset’s “Taste.” We dance through Bryce Fox’s “Horns” and Bazzi’s “3:15” before the lights change and the haunting opening lyrics to Freya Riding’s “Blackout” echoes in the room. I pause before I feel Darrian’s warm skin touch the exposed skin on my back. He pulls me into his chest, snaking both arms around my waist, and anchoring me to him. My arms wind around his neck. I run my fingers over where the edge of where his hair meets his skin while he sways us back and forth in our little circle.

  “Are you having fun?” he asks, letting his forehead fall to mine. I breathe in his mint and always present ocean air scent, closing my eyes.

  “Yes,” I tell him, opening my eyes and meeting his gaze. “Thank you for tonight.”

  “I’d do anything for you,” he responds and I believe him. My heart aches for him, filled to the brim with happiness and the love he gives me.

  “I love you,” I say, brushing my lips across his. His eyes close, savoring my words, knowing the depth of the meaning behind them. I lay my head against his chest, feeling the beat of his heart until the music stops.

  “Want to get out of here?” I ask him, pulling away when the song ends.

  He laughs. “Soon,” he says, his voice full of sexy promises. I fake an annoyed look and he laughs before releasing me to Lily and the girls again. I start dancing but keep watching my date until he reaches the edge of the dance floor. I admire him standing with his hands in his pockets, not a care in the world on his shoulders while he talks and jokes with the guys. We’re a million times removed from where we were last year.

  We stay until the dance is almost over. At the front doors, Lily asks if we’re going to the after-party and I shake my head no. “I think Darrian has something planned,” I tell her. She rolls her eyes knowingly, hugs me, then thanks Darrian again before getting into the limo with everyone else. When it’s just the two of us remaining on the sidewalk, he takes my hand and leads me over to the side parking lot. His Jeep sits alone a few rows back from the other cars. I laugh.