“That’s from two years ago.”
Knox pulls his phone back from me. “No. This was posted yesterday when we were on stage. She insinuates this is about you two getting back together.”
“Well, she’s fucking lying. First, look at how long my hair was. I keep it shorter than that now.”
“Damn, I missed that,” Knox says.
“I saw her that night when you were there. I said hi, she told me what she was doing, and then she left. We were at dinner.” And it was annoying as fuck. It was easy to sense that she wanted to be invited to dinner, but there was no way I would do that. She is a horrible person who sucks the joy out of everything. Although, it would have been fun to see the Patton wives take her apart. They do not put up with mean girl antics from anyone.
I look at Gareth. “I told you how glad I was. I came to my senses two years ago.”
“So, you aren’t with her?” he asks. I shake my head. “You might want to tell her that caption isn’t cool.”
I pull up her insta on my phone and groan.
Niall and I did the night up right if you know what I mean. *winky face* So good to be with you again.
“Well?” Abby bellows from the back of the bus.
I look up, and okay, the brothers don’t really scare me. The women, though, are frightening.
“Also, our sister sent a message telling us to tell you to suck donkey balls,” Jax says, chuckling. I look at him.
“Mel loves me.” Melody is the youngest of the Paxton siblings and has nothing to do with music because she can’t carry a tune or play an instrument. But she is a sweetheart. Or she was.
“Not anymore.” His tone tells me he’s tickled by my predicament.
Then, it sinks in that Blossom probably saw this shit too.
“I gotta go to Virginia.”
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Abby says, rising and stomping down the aisle. “Don’t you dare go there and break her heart.”
“I’m not going to break her heart. Jesus. That’s an old pic.”
“Likely story.”
It’s easy to tell that Abby is not on my side.
“Look,” I say, showing it to her. “My hair is much longer. This is an old pic she’s using to try and corner me.”
Her eyes narrow as she studies the picture and then raises her gaze to mine. “Well, I guess you better get to Virginia to clean this mess up.”
“She saw it?”
Abby nods.
“Fuck.”
“Good thing we built in these two weeks,” Knox said. “You need to get to Virginia as soon as possible.”
“Yeah, considering the situation.” That comes from Livvy. There is something in her tone that tells me there is more.
“Is there something I should know?”
She shakes her head. “You just need to get your butt to Virginia.”
“But first,” I say, pulling up Brigette’s Insta again. I respond to her posting with a public comment.
Hey, Brigette, nice to see this pic again. Just so everyone knows, this is two years old. But it was great catching up with you. Just wanted to clear the air because I don’t think my girl @Sweet_BlossomVA would appreciate everyone thinking I was fooling around on her. XXOO
Everyone’s phone pings, and I roll my eyes. They all set up alerts.
“Damn, that was good,” Livvy says.
“I need to find a flight back.”
Pippa walks up and smiles at me. “Gotcha flight back leaves in two hours. It gets you to DC, so you won’t have that far to drive.”
“Thanks.”
“Be nice,” Abby says.
Again, there is something that I know I am missing, but I don’t have time to think about it. I have to get to the airport to get back to the states.
TEN
BLOSSOM
It’s not even noon, and I need a nap. Like for three years. How do women do this?
“Do what?” Francie asks me.
“Damn, I said that out loud?”
She nods. “Don’t worry. It’s just us back here.”
She’s right. Everyone is avoiding me because they feel sorry for me. Everyone in the bakery pities me, and they don’t even know I’m pregnant. Niall and I didn’t publicize what was going on with us, but people knew.
“I was just wondering how women did this whole thing.” I wave my hand to my stomach.
Understanding fills her expression. “I don’t know. Have you decided if you’re going to tell him?”
“I’m going to. Gotta see a doctor.”
He might not be faithful, but I think he will be decent about his kid. At least, I think so. Before she can answer me, there is a murmur of noise in the cafe section of the bakery. I frown and step out from the back.
I almost faint at the sight of Niall standing there. He’s giving Jeff a nasty look, but as if he can sense me, his gaze shifts to me. Those dark soulful eyes light up with relief when he sees me. Then, ignoring everyone else, he marches over to me. Without a word, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me.
I don’t resist him because I’m so stunned. And yes, I do open my mouth and let him inside. All the pain and loneliness from the last few weeks seems to drain out of me, and all I can feel is the power of the kiss.
“Uh, Blossom,” Francie says from behind me.
It takes me a second, but I pull away from him. “What are you doing here?”
“We had two weeks off.”
I take a step back from him because he is truly tempting. “I remember you telling me.”
“I think you should go up to your apartment,” Francie murmurs. I look at her, and she motions with her head. I glance at all the phones that are up and recording. With a sigh, because I really don’t have time for this, I nod.
“Let’s go upstairs for some privacy.”
As I walk up the stairs, my phone starts to go off. I frown and ignore it. Once we’re in my apartment, he strides toward me again, but I hold my hand up.
“You stay right there.”
He doesn’t look happy about it, but he nods. “You have to know that was an old pic.”
“I didn’t see it. I didn’t look.”
But he knows I know about it.
“I’ve been texting and calling.”
“I haven’t been feeling well.”
The grumpiness fades, and concern replaces it. “Are you okay? You should sit down.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
“So you didn’t see my response?”
“Response?”
I look up at Niall. My phone is still going off, and I pull it out. So many people responding to something on Insta, and now I’ve gotten a ton of new follows.
“What is going on?”
He pulls up something on his screen, then shows it to me. I see the pic. I realize right away that I should have looked at it. It’s at least a few years old, back to when he used to have long hair. Then, I see his response.
Hope fills my heart as I raise my gaze to his. He steps closer and pulls me into his arms.
Tears are spilling down my cheeks.
“I love you, Blossom.”