Wayward Wolf

Flowers

Evelyn

It's been a few days since Ray agreed to try a relationship between us and I haven't been able to get the smile off my face for anything. Every evening after work, I go to his house and make dinner and every night when I'm heading back home, I get a kiss goodbye. He's still his usual grumpy, quiet self, but he hugs me back when I hug him and won't let go if I try to end the hug too early. He might be a sourpuss, but I think he's secretly a snuggle bug.

I'm sitting in the breakroom, going over a mental checklist in my mind to remember if I have everything for what I'm planning to make tonight. I've been making dinner every night partly because I get to spend time with Ray and partly because I can't stand him eating frozen dinners all the time. Maybe I can find some way to help him navigate the kitchen without getting too many things confused. Is there a way to print labels in braille?

"Hey, Eve, something got delivered for you at the front desk," the receptionist, Sarah, calls from the doorway. She's one of the few people here who never minded my long-winded rants or word vomit. She reminds me a little of Val. They even have the same long, bright blonde hair.

"Oh, okay."

What could have been delivered here? Did one of my brothers get me food delivered again? They do that when I accidentally forget my lunch on the kitchen counter. But I'm fairly sure I remembered it today. Maybe Trev or Sylvie brought something from the bakery.

Sat on the front desk is a large bouquet of deep red roses in a clear vase with a pretty white bow tied around the neck of the vase. I can't help the way my lips curl up in an excited little smile. It had to have been Ray. Who else would have a bouquet of roses delivered to my work. He'd be way too embarrassed to give them to me himself, but this is still nice. I want to call him and tell him thanks, but knowing him, he wouldn't appreciate the acknowledgement. It is so sweet though.

"You have a new boyfriend or something?" Sarah asks, coming up behind me to sit back down in her seat.

"Yeah. We haven't been going out for very long, but so far it's been going well." I look up from the roses to look at Sarah. "I really like him."

Sarah sighs and resumes typing on her keyboard. "Well, if he's having roses delivered to you at work, I'd say he's a keeper. Now if only I could find a guy who will get me flowers and not just ask for a quickie in my car while I'm on break."

"You'll find them. I had plenty of bad dates before I met Ray. Mind if I leave these here until after work?"

Waving me off, Sarah moves the vase over just enough to keep them out of the way. "It's fine. Now I'll have something pretty to look at while I work."

The rest of the day slogs on. Between helping the doctors with exams and check-ups, and getting patients back to exam rooms, I'm dead on my feet when I get in my car and start making my way to Ray's. I love what I do, but would enjoy doing it at my own pace. I know Mom is planning on handing her practice to me once I get a little more experience and I much prefer that method to the fast pacing and all the paperwork at the clinic.

Ray's porch light is on when I pull up to his house. I still want to bring up the flowers but know better by now. He'll just get all grumpy and huffy and won't want to talk about it. So, I'll just let it be a secret and pretend I don't know about it unless he brings it up himself.

I quit knocking a few days ago, after Ray mentioned he knows it's me before I even get out of my car. Only two people ever visit him and he can tell the difference. It feels like progress to me even though I wouldn't mind if he still wanted me to knock. Maybe soon we can start having sleepovers. Even though it was only one night, I miss listening to him breathe and smelling his scent as I fall asleep. I still have the clothes of his I borrowed, but they don't smell much like him anymore. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't wear his shirt to bed every night.