Guilty

Juliette

I'm lying in bed very comfortably sleeping when the most horrific noise I've ever heard blares. I run for my phone and press the snooze button. 

Getting up at the butt-ass crack of dawn on a Saturday should be a crime, I yawn as I lie in my bed. Then again, if I don't get this sorted now I never will. Who in their right mind put me in charge of Emery's flower bouquet?

I hear scratching noises at my door as I get up to let Kevin walk inside. He jumps up on the bed and I smile at him. He is the cutest baby I've ever seen. 

I pick him up and rock him like a real baby, "I swear you are the cutest dog in the world," I whisper to him. He doesn't react of course but I kiss him on the top of his head anyway. I was looking after him for my friend Natalie while she was on holiday in Spain. 

I think I was going to have to keep him somehow. 

"Okay, I will go to the store and get you some treats," I say kissing his head once again as he barked. 

I set him down and get ready to head out and sort out Emery's flowers. I brush my hair and even put a couple of curls in before changing into a pale blue summer dress. It was a warm June day in New York and I was going to be taking full advantage. 

I can't walk into a beautiful flower shop and look busted, something about that felt wrong. I wave goodbye to Kevin as I drive over to the flower store. It was pretty far and I wasn't interested in getting a taxi today. 

Walking inside the beautiful store I make a beeline for the old woman standing behind the counter. She looked nice enough. I walked over and smiled. 

"Hello, my friend is getting married in a week and wants me to pick up a bouquet," I say awkwardly. 

"Alright dear, does she have a colour palette?" 

I nod, "Yes, it's a lot of black and white with gold accents, I think she wants black flowers? Is that a thing..." I say, blinking. 

The woman laughs, "It can be yes, do you know her favourite flowers?"

"She loves roses? Some baby breath maybe?" I reply. 

The lady nods and disappears behind the counter. I turn around and look around the pretty store, eyeing the pretty pink tulips. My favourites.

She's gone maybe ten minutes and I walk around, smelling all the flowers on display before she walks back in from the back room, she shows me a beautiful bouquet of black roses mixed with white baby breath. Tying the whole thing together is a golden ribbon. 

"Oh wow, that's amazing" I beam at her, "Will these last a full week?" 

"They have artificial preservatives, keep them in water and sunlight and they'll last just fine. The roses still need time to fully bloom," She says to me, with kind eyes. 

I thank her and hand her my card to pay for them. I take the flowers from her and hold them carefully in my arms. 

"Anything for you? Will I expect to see you any time soon?" She asks, winking at me. 

I laugh, "I don't think so. My ex is the best man so I'm looking forward to the wedding." I tell her, dryly. 

She chuckles warmly, "Do come back in to tell me how that goes." 

"Sure," I say smiling at her and carefully holding the huge bouquet and walking out of the store. 

I spot a grocery store nearby and walk in to get some toys for Kevin to destroy and some alcohol for me because it dulls the feeling of impending doom. And of course some bread, water vegetables the boring shit that comes with adulting.