Afterglow ❃ l.m.j

• chapter fifty one •

Roses bloomed into every crevice of my torso with each hour.

Nine.

Ten.

Eleven.

By twelve, I was sitting in my car outside of the botanical garden with a book of Rumi in my lap and my phone. Even texting Taylor or my girls wasn't helping. Why was I so nervous? We've been on dates with each other before.

I looked out of the window at the soft counts of snow that fell on the ground. I wore black boots that were sturdy enough to walk in. I wonder what she wore today.

I tipped my head back against the headrest. She's so damn beautiful. It really didn't matter what she had on. Be it her work uniform or something casual, it all dripped like gold on her. God, I was going soft. I felt it in the way my chest started feeling like waves at the thought of her. Feelings were a funny thing. One day someone meant nothing to you and the next you couldn't imagine your days without them.

I ran my fingertips over my poetry book once more, flicking to the page that I bookmarked to read to her. I didn't know if she'd appreciate it but it was one of my favorites and it fit the occasion.

Maybe this date was overkill but I really just wanted her to see what dating me would be like - that it wouldn't be a waste of time or a bad experience. I knew she had her own identity that she was working through. But it was a little hard for me to so easily trust that I wouldn't be something she regrets.

And besides, these are the things I wanna do for her. I want to write her little love notes, and go on walks. I'll even get her favorite foods every morning if I have to. As long as I get to hear her laugh and see her smile over and over. I sunk my head down with a bite of my lip. I guess that's really all this is about, isn't it?

My phone buzzed from the right of me. I looked up and around, taking a deep breath before turning it over.

I'm here.

I looked at my book with a smile. Okay. Okay, we got this. It's gonna go great. She's gonna tell you how her morning was, and she's gonna love it.

I checked that I had everything and stepped out of the car. I craned my head around the parking lot to look for the familiar head of dark brown hair. I looked back down at my phone.

Where are you?

I set in the direction of the general entrance.

At the entrance by the cafe.

I furrowed my eyebrows. Maybe I should've studied this place a bit better. I came by yesterday to check it out so I knew what I was getting myself into before I brought her here. If I was correct, the entrance to the cafe would be just through this upcoming archway.

I crossed the parking lot with giddy fingertips. It's like the closer my body got to being near her, the more I lit up inside. My book was tightly tucked into my arm as I walked, my tote bag clinking at my side as well.

When I walked towards the entrance, she was the first one to see me. I could see her pursing her lips in an attempt to not smile so hard. The bouquet was stationary in her right hand alongside the bag from the art store, and her coffee cup was in the left. She chugged whatever was left of it and threw it into a nearby trash can. Her steps paced faster towards me, and I felt the roses in my chest turn into an entire field. I stopped to let her greet me halfway.