Under an Endless Moon: Chapter 9

“You’re an angel on earth, Millie.” I scooped up the giant bundle of fresh-cut flowers and grinned at the woman across the counter from me.

She’d been a total savior since she’d started working on the weekends here at Moonflower. I loved owning the quaint little floral shop that was my pride and joy. Loved putting together bouquets and making people’s days brighter. But I also loved to be able to take some time off to spend with my family, as well.

Millie only wanted to work on the weekends, so it was a win-win.

She arched a penciled-in brow. “It is my job, and you’re here on a Sunday morning just after dawn taking care of a big part of it.”

“I have to pick up some treats for our family picnic today, so I was already in town. It’s no bother.”

Her scowl was full of affection. “I think you’re the one who’s the angel on earth.”

My chest expanded. God, I loved this woman. She was so kind and gentle and caring. The type of person I wished my mother would have been, which was probably why I’d adored her the second she’d walked through Moonflower’s door two months ago and I’d hired her on the spot.

She was in her sixties and had retired from her job at the bank. She’d said she needed something to keep her hands busy so she didn’t go stir crazy.

“Angel?” I would have waved her off if my arms weren’t loaded down with blooming stems. “Ha, you should have seen what I was wearing last weekend at Kane’s.”

I waggled my brows at her.

Her chuckle was low. “Oh, I can only imagine. I bet you were knocking them boys off their feet.”

Too bad there was only one boy that I wanted there.

Still, I played it up. “You should have seen it…men just falling all over the dance floor. Boom, boom, boom. One right after another. On their hands and knees as they crawled to me.”

She laughed outright. “Now that is a picture I would pay to see.”

I giggled. “All right, I need to get these over to the café so I can go home to get ready. Let me know if you have any issues today.”

“I’ll be just fine. You go on and have yourself some fun.”

“I plan to.” I gave her a little curtsy before I turned and started through my shop.

Happiness brimmed in my heart.

My store was adorable. Total country chic with a dash of whimsy. The floors were rustic wood, the same as the reclaimed countertops.

The middle was filled with two rows of every sort of fresh-cut flower, buckets holding each variety slotted into custom wooden frames that Otto had built for me.

Running the sides were refrigerated cases where we kept the premade bouquets, and the front was spinning card displays and a few racks for special gifts that sat in front of the windows that overlooked 9th Street.

Pride swelled. Sometimes I still couldn’t believe that I’d brought it to fruition.

It’d always been a dream, and for once, I’d gone for it.

Made something my own.

My spirit flailed and expanded, a need lighting inside me to finally claim that for other aspects in my life, too.

It was time.

I pushed open the glass door framed in white wood, and I crossed to the edge of the sidewalk. I glanced both ways before I darted across the street.

A brand-new café had opened directly on the other side, and they’d contracted with me to bring them fresh flowers to decorate their tables with every day.

I loved that a bit of Moonflower was getting splashed all over this town.

I whipped the door open to Sunrise to Sunset Café.

Inside, it was posh and trendy while somehow still managing to be comfy. The walls were done in rustic red bricks, and the floors were a dark-stained concrete. Booths that looked more like leather couches ran the length of the front windows and the back wall. Tables fronted them and regular chairs sat on the opposite side.

In the middle of the restaurant were high-top tables surrounded by stools.

A long counter ran the right side, and the kitchen was to the back.

I headed for the counter, grinning wide when I saw Sienna working the espresso machine with her back to me.

“Um, excuse me, can someone get a little service around here?” I had to lift my voice over the whirring of the machine, my words fully a tease, though she whipped around like she thought someone was actually complaining.

The irritation drained when she saw it was me, and she wadded up a hand towel and threw it at me.

I laughed as I dodged it.

“You brat. I thought I was going to have to deal with a disgruntled customer at six-thirty in the morning. On a Sunday, mind you.” She kept her voice low so the few tables already in the restaurant wouldn’t overhear, her brown ponytail swishing around her shoulders as she shook her head at my antics.

Sienna had moved to town about a month ago and had gotten a job here soon after the café had opened.

I was all about welcoming new friends.

I’d struggled with it for a long time.

Friends.

Being confident enough to open myself up to new people.

Terrified of trusting.

A pang of grief nearly consumed me when I thought of what I’d lost. How closed off I’d been after I’d lost the first true friend I’d ever had. The one person I could confide in. Dream with and laugh with.

It’d all started when I’d taken a leap when Charleigh had come to town and had moved into the apartment above Moonflower. There’d been something about her that had made me do everything in my power to befriend her. It was the best thing I’d ever done, and now that I’d started, I didn’t intend on stopping.

“I’m sorry,” I said around my laughter.

“You are not.” Sienna gave me a death glare that was completely faked.

I shrugged. “I couldn’t help myself. You were ripe for the picking.”

“And here I thought you were one of the nice ones, and it turns out you are just plain mean.” She went back to prepping the gourmet coffee she’d been making, her voice light with the jest.

“What do you expect when I hang out with my brother and his friends all the time? Giving someone shit is our love language.”

“Aww, you love me?” Touching her chest, she set the cup on the counter so the server could pick it up.

“Of course, I do. Just like you love me. Adore me. Can’t live without me.”

I let my voice get more outrageous with each word that fell from my mouth.

“I told you that I was the best around and you absolutely had to be friends with me, didn’t I?” I laid it on thick.

“Only about thirteen times,” she deadpanned.

I laughed before I asked, “Speaking of, when are we hanging out next?”

We’d met a couple times, once to get coffee and another to grab a cocktail. She’s been super nice, and it was fun. She wasn’t afraid of getting giggly and goofy with me. It wasn’t like she was going to replace my Charleigh or anything. No one could slide into the spot reserved for my best friend who’d basically become my sister, but it was cool to have someone else to hang out with since Charleigh spent so much of her time with River and Nolan now.

I moved to the nook at the end of the counter where the owner, Neena, asked me to leave the flowers each day.

“Whenever it is, let’s make it soon. This girl needs a little bit of fun,” Sienna said.

“Then you’ve come to the right place,” I told her with a shimmy of my shoulders. Then my eyes went wide when the awesome idea occurred to me. “You should totally come to Otto’s birthday party in two weeks. It’s going to be at Kane’s, and everyone will be there. I’ve been wanting you to meet my family and friends.”

Excitement toppled around in my stomach. It was going to be a big bash. Dancing and drinking and celebrating the man who’d come to mean the most to me. Even our friends from Redemption Hills were going to be there.

Her expression turned conspiratorial. “If that means Theo is going to be there, then you can count me in.”

Theo had apparently come in one morning to have breakfast. She hadn’t stopped talking about him since.

“He’ll absolutely be there, but you probably shouldn’t count that as a bonus. That boy will chew you up and he won’t bother to spit you out…he’ll just swallow you whole,” I warned her, only half joking.

Because Theo would.

He totally would.

“I think I’ll be the one to swallow…especially with someone that looks like that.” She bit down on the tip of her tongue, obviously really proud of herself for making me choke and heave over the innuendo. “Eww.”

She cracked up, and I held up both hands in surrender. “Fine, I will gladly facilitate, but I cannot be held responsible for any breaking that comes your way.”

“Maybe I’m the one who’ll be doing the breaking.”

“I think I’m getting the picture that’s the way it’s going to be. And as long as you and I remain friends on the other side, then go for it.”

“You never know…I just might.”

“It’s a date, then.” I situated the flowers then brushed off my shirt where a few leaves had gotten stuck to it. “Before I go, I need to grab one of those chocolate lava cakes, and throw in a dozen lemon bars, too.”

So what if chocolate just so happened to be Otto’s favorite.

“Big family gathering?”

“We get together almost every Sunday,” I told her.

Sienna moved over to the display case where the treats were kept, and she loaded a big white box with the cake and another full of the treats. I paid, then she passed them over the counter. “Here you go.”

“Thanks so much, Sienna. Hope you have the best day.” I started toward the door, hollering over my shoulder, “Can’t wait to hang out.”

“Me, too! Have fun today.”

“I will!” I walked out of the café and into the breaking day, feeling light.

Because I could feel it.

My wings stretching. This chance of soaring free.