Warm Blood Over Marigolds

CHAPTER FOUR: Sweet Peonies

                                      Zoey

"Hunter..." I paused, replaying the words Sofie had told me earlier that were burned into my mind, "of course not. She is just a friend and I'm excited to have someone who I have things in common with. She's Cuban, like me, and I just found out she appreciates gardening too."

I leaned in and sweetly kissed her freckled cheeks.

I wasn't lying entirely. Sofie was a friend and someone who I found interesting, but I was also super attracted to her, and I was leaving the door open to see where things went. As much as I felt bad for doing this to Hunter, I had to experience Sofie. There was something going on between us and the flame wouldn't die down. I needed her.

The following morning, I woke up to an empty bed. Where was Hunter? She would never leave me without saying goodbye, especially after I had just made sweet love to her, the way I did, last night.

I looked down at my phone to check the time. It was 10:42 A.M. Good thing it was Saturday morning, and I didn't have class, because I would have been very late!

Throwing on one of Hunter's old jerseys and a pair of her basketball shorts, I went downstairs to find Gracie and Amanda making smoothies in the kitchen. I crossed my fingers walking past them, hoping they wouldn't try to strike up a conversation, as I walked over to the fridge to grab some milk.

"Morning, Park!" Gracie obnoxiously yelled, seeing me in Hunter's jersey.

I figured maybe she was jealous. She and Hunter had a fling before we became a couple. Hunter was just in it for the sex; she could care less for the girl.  Gracie never really made a big deal about our relationship before. I guess with Hunter now being the team's captain, she wanted to reclaim her and live out her delusional jock and cheerleader fairytale.

I opened the fridge and rolled my eyes. Turning around with a fake smile plastered onto my face, jug in hand, I greeted her back.

"That new girl was really doing the most the other night. I bet she feels so cool," Amanda mockingly said.

"Yeah. It was gross how she just let that spider crawl into her hands like that!" chimed Gracie.

I was just about to put in my two cents and defend Sofie, when Ellie came through the doors. She was still in her clothes from yesterday. Her shirt was on backwards and her hair was a little tousled.

"Morning, girlfriend!" she exclaimed.

"Fun night?" I asked her, staring at the state she was in, trying not to laugh.

"You can say that," she laughed. "I'll tell you more about it when we hang out at the library later. If you're still down?"

I remembered the application for the gardening job.

"Maybe later. I'm going to apply for a job on campus today. I'm going to check it out and turn in my application."

Ellie wished me luck and we decided we would talk more about her night out whenever we found the time to hang out.

After changing into some jean overalls and gathering my locs up into a ponytail, I sat down at one of the desks and filled out the application. Then, I quickly headed down the stairs and out the doors in pursuit of the position.

I knew the nursery wasn't far. I could smell the sweet floral fragrance getting stronger as I came closer to my destination.

When I got there, I was surprised to see Sofie bending down over in one of the flower beds, watering some peonies. She was wearing her curls in a low, messy bun with a middle part and some loose curls were dangling around her beautiful face. Her perfect curves were being hugged by a short, yellow sundress and her golden skin was shining under the light of the sun. She could feel me standing there admiring her.