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“That’s not how you felt when you were calling out to God, little liar.”
I release an incredulous breath and smack his shoulder. As much as I want to kick his ass, it might be a good idea to go to his place instead. I’ll keep up with Dimitri’s lie and tell my parents that I stayed over at Angelica’s. Besides, I’m not even sure if she’s still busy with Evander, and I don’t want to risk bothering them.
I make a show of exhaling dramatically. “Fine.” Dion smirks and turns on the engine.
I type out a quick reply to my brother.
Me: I owe you one.
With a wide smile on his face, Dion backs out of the parking lot.
The feeling of unease creeps back in, and I glance out the window, scanning our surroundings. Dion shoots me a curious look but keeps driving.
There’s nothing there—just an empty lot.
I tell myself it’s all in my head, but my skin still crawls as I settle into the passenger seat.
On the drive to Dion’s place, I shoot a text to Angelica to tell her I’m going home. I don’t want her to worry that I’m with a stranger, and I’d rather not be interrogated about this.
I slip my phone into my purse as we glide down a tree-lined street in a quaint neighborhood.
“We’re almost there,” Dion says, breaking the silence.
A short while later, he pulls up to a gate. My eyes settle on the house. Its charming exterior exudes warmth and character. It’s still dark, so I can’t see much, but I notice a large entrance and a neatly trimmed lawn with colorful blooms. Instantly, a wave of happiness washes over me. Flowers are my love language.
Dion notices my smile. “What is it?”
“Huh?” I turn to him. “Oh, nothing. I just saw your flowers.”
“Do you like them?”
I nod. “I’ve always loved flowers.”
He cracks a smile. “Tell me more.”
I hesitate. Do I really want to share something so personal? But when I look at him, an unexpected feeling of comfort fills me. I take a deep breath and start to speak, my voice growing more confident with each word.
“Well, it started when I was just a little girl. My housekeeper, Magdalena, used to take care of me most days. We’d spend hours in the yard, and she’d teach me about different plants and how to care for them,” I explain, grinning at the fond memories. I didn’t spend much time with my parents, but Magda made up for it by giving me my love for flowers.
“It became my sanctuary, a place where I felt calm and purposeful, especially when my parents were too preoccupied elsewhere. Seeing the results of my care and effort reminded me that I had the power to create beauty.”
I sigh in contentment, looking outside again.
“It’s been one of the few constants in my life.”
Dion lights up at my words as if I’ve just spoken the gospel. “Is that something that you’d like to do on a more professional level?” Was he actually listening to me? Other guys zone out when I talk about my passion.
“I’ve always dreamed of owning a flower shop,” I begin, my fingers finding the hem of my skirt. “A place where I could design arrangements all day, putting smiles on people’s faces. My way of sharing love with the world.”
Dion glances over at me, his eyebrow raised in curiosity. “Do you have a place where you work on your arrangements now?”
I nod, a small smile tugging at my lips. “I do. I turned our guest house into a makeshift studio. It’s like my own little paradise.”
“So why not make that dream a reality? Why not open your own shop?”
I let out a sigh, my smile fading. “You know that women in our world don’t really get to have careers. It’s always about what’s safe and manning the household. My family says it’s too dangerous for us to lead lives of our own.”
Dion shakes his head. “But what if your future husband—hypothetically—was supportive? What if he encouraged you to follow your dreams?”
