Consider Yourself Lucky

One

Broken mirrors, black cats, walking under a ladder. Normal things that people would associate with giving you bad luck. Do you know what I associate with bad luck? Myself. I hate mirrors, I avoid ladders, and I even have a white cat because just maybe she would steer all the extra bad luck away from me. No, her name isn't Lucky. That would be a bit ironic, wouldn't it? Every day that I wake up I just wait for something to go wrong. Will I find out Grandma Millie forgot to get milk only after I've poured my cereal? Will I spill my coffee? Or maybe burn my bacon? It's always a waiting game and I'm never the winner.

I wake up to the sound of dishes clinking together. Typical morning routine. I get out of bed and go to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water, my brunette hair sticking to my face. I brush my teeth and throw on a pair of gray leggings and a white t-shirt. When I get downstairs to the kitchen, Grandma Millie has a plate of eggs with some toast on the table for me. Grandma Millie is probably the only good thing that has happened to me. My mom died when I was just a couple months old and since then Grandma Millie has raised me on her own. I don't know where my dad is or even who he is. I just know he left my mom when she found out she was pregnant with me. I never understood why. I never even bothered to look for him to ask either. Maybe I'm better off not knowing.

"What are your plans for the day sweetheart?" Grandma asked while pouring some orange juice in a glass.

"I think I'm going to take a trip into town. Do you need anything specific Grandma?"

"Oh, I don't think so honey. I was going to check out that new flower shop. Have you seen it yet?"

"No, but I saw in the paper it opened a couple weeks ago. Petals and Thorns right?"

"Yes, I think so. The owner is very handsome, don't you think hun?"

Grandma is always trying to push me into finding someone to spend my free time with. Whether it be the newspaper delivery guy or one of the bank associates. I always tell her I am okay with being on my own, but I just think she wants to see me put time into someone other than her. She's taken care of me practically my entire life so it's only fair I take care of her now.

I finish my breakfast and put my dishes in the dishwasher. I kiss Grandma on the cheek to thank her for breakfast and head to the front door to grab my shoes and bag.

We only live about ten minutes from the center of town. It's a Thursday morning so there aren't many people out and about. I stop at the grocery store I work at to grab my check and proceed to the bank to cash it. As I'm leaving the bank a tall, dark-haired man bumps into me causing me to drop my bag on the ground. He turns around and his eyes are the most beautiful shade of green.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean t-"

"Don't be sorry, be careful." Instantly, I feel sorry that I sounded so rude.

"I wasn't paying attention. It's my fault." He crouches down to help pick up my belongings. As soon as we stand back up, he looks right at me and smiles.

"Addy, right?" He must have seen the confusion on my face when he said my name.

"I've seen you a couple times working at the grocery store down the street. Plus, I noticed it on your name tag when you dropped your bag."

"You mean when YOU dropped my bag?" Again. Why am I being so rude?

"Yeah, when I dropped it. Listen I'm sorry. I'll pay more attention from now on. Especially if I know I could run into such a pretty woman." He smiles at me again and I can feel myself blushing.

He looks familiar once I get a good look at him. Now that I think about it, his picture was in the newspaper. Right next to the article about the grand opening of the new flower shop. Grandma Millie was right. He is pretty handsome.

"Here." he says and holds out a small business card.

I take the card from him and notice it's for the flower shop across the street. Petals and Thorns.

"If my apology wasn't enough, come by my shop and pick out any arrangement you like. Free of charge." He smiles again and walks into the bank.

Did he just flirt with me? Did he call me pretty or just make a general statement? I didn't even get his name. I remember I'm holding the business card and look down at it.

"Collin David" I whisper to myself.

"That's my name."

I don't know if I was standing outside the bank longer than I thought or if he only went in for half a second. I turn around to see him right behind me. How awkward that was.

"A five-minute conversation and you're already thinking about me?" He sounds a bit cocky.

"Not necessarily. I wanted to know the name of the guy who ruined my good day by knocking all my stuff on the ground."

"I've said sorry and offered complimentary flowers. What else could I do to make you feel better?" There is a bit of sincerity in his tone now.

"I guess the flowers will do. My grandma would love a new bouquet for the vase she bought last week."

"Then let's go. After you. I don't want to get in your way again."

I can't help but smile at him and he gives a slight smirk back.

We walk into the little store and the floral smell hits me right away. So many different colors and arrangements. They are beautiful. Grandma loves roses so maybe I'll stay simple and just grab a small bouquet of those.

"Where are your rose arrangements?"

He leads me to the left of the store and shows me the different colored roses. Pink, red, or white.

"Can I have two of each color please?"

"Of course. Give me a couple minutes to put it together and they are all yours."

"Thank you." He grabs the flowers and disappears into a back room.

Ten minutes go by and he comes back out with a beautiful arrangement with a silky bow wrapped around it.

"How does this look?"

"They are absolutely gorgeous. Thank you again."

"No problem. Thank you for accepting my apology in the form of floral." I smile and take the flowers from him. I hope the redness on my face isn't too noticeable. I turn and walk out of the shop, the little bell dinging on top of the door.

I get home and Grandma Millie notices the flowers. Her eyes light up.

"I see you made it to the flower shop before I did."

"It wasn't in the original plans but yes I made my way over there."

"So? Is he as handsome in person as he was in the paper?"

I ignore her question although I'm sure she can tell by the expression on my face that he definitely was as good looking as she said.

"With eyes as nice as his you would think he would watch where he's going. He walked right into me when I was leaving the bank. Dropped my entire bag on the floor. The flowers were an apology gift."

"Oh honey, that's pretty sweet don't you think?"

"They are for you. For that vase you bought last week."

Grandma grabs the vase from the counter. As she's filling it up and cutting the stems, she notices a card in the middle of the arrangement.

"I think this card is meant for you." She hands me the card. I read it silently to myself and don't notice I'm smiling until Grandma asks what it says.

"A beautiful arrangement for a beautiful girl."