Page 59 of Until Joy

“We’re kind of backed up,” the young man said apologetically.

In my opinion he had nothing to apologize for. All three of our cars came out pretty damn quickly. But oh well.

“Well, don’t expect a tip after such lousy service,” Glenda growled as she snatched her keys out of his hand. I gave the kid who was opening the passenger side door for me an uneasy smile as I slid into my seat. He just shrugged and grinned, as if to say he’d seen it all.

It took us a little over a minute to get onto the main thoroughfare toward the bar, and at that point Glenda started talking. “You have to do that, you know.”

“Do what?”

“Hold people accountable. If somebody isn’t doing their job right, or is taking advantage of you, you can’t let them get away with it. You’re young, Joy, so let me tell you as someone a little older.” She flashed me a bright smile. “Just a little, mind you.” Then she laughed. “Don’t let people run roughshod over you. Push back. Make yourself heard. Make them see you.”

I frowned, trying to understand where this was coming from. “Who didn’t listen to you?” I asked softly.

We passed by two exits before Glenda answered. “Rob,” she said in a small voice. “He always expected me to do what he said. I hope you never find yourself in the same kind of situation I found myself with him. I know how attractive you are. He was smitten with you when we both listened to you sing. When a charismatic man starts out making suggestions, it doesn’t feel wrong. But it can escalate. Be careful, Joy. We’re a lot alike. Don’t let a man end up controlling you.”

I shifted in my seat and gripped my purse tighter. Rob sounded worse than a dick.

“Are you listening, Joy?”

“I’m hearing everything you’re saying.”

“Good.”

Two days later, when I arrived for my shift, July and Kayan were still giving me shit about mooning over Graham.

“You are so gone,” Kayan giggled. “What I want to know is if he has your heart or just your va-jay-jay.”

“Stop that, Kayan,” July protested. “You only have to look at her to see that she’s in lust…and love. But the good thing is, it looks like Graham is, too.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Let me give it to her,” Kayan said, jumping to her feet.

“They’re in my office,” July protested, “so I get to give them to her.”

“Yeah, but I’m taller than you. If you carry it, you won’t be able to see where you’re going.” Kayan jogged down the hall to July’s office. I had no idea what they were talking about, but they certainly had my curiosity piqued.

Then I saw a bouquet with Kayan’s legs walking down the hall toward me. Bright red roses, soft pink peonies, and white lilies exploded out of a crystal vase, tied up with an elegant silver ribbon.

Holy hell! It must have cost a fortune. Graham could have bought a nice coffee table for the price of those flowers. What was he thinking?

“You’d be proud. Neither of us peeked at the card.” July grinned at me.

“Somebody licked it shut.” Kayan pouted as she put the vase on her desk. I could see the note tucked deep in the bouquet.

“I need to call Graham,” I said as I grabbed my phone. “This is over the top.”

“No, you need to read the note first,” Kayan protested. “Out loud.”

“She’s right,” July nodded.

I plucked the note out from where it was nestled in the flowers. It wasn’t the little envelope that normally came with flowers. This was Hallmark card sized. My name was on it, in nice cursive writing.

I frowned. Graham never wrote in script. He always printed in capital letters. Maybe this was written by the florist. Weird.

I opened the envelope and pulled out a thick ivory note card with silver edges.

I got goosebumps. This wasn’t from Graham. I just knew it.