...What the fuck?
"Congratulations again," the woman said to Cerise while passing her an embossed folder, "Our contact number is inside if you have any questions. Okay, hon'?"
"Yes, ma'am," Cerise smiled, and she could feel her lip tremble before she instinctively swallowed the croak building in her throat.
For Christ's sake, Cerise! Pull. Yourself. Together.
"I'm sorry," she swallowed and gestured to her face, "I just... I don't..."
"It's alright, that's normal," the woman smiled while retrieving a small package of tissues from her coat, then offering one to Cerise, "It just became real, right?"
"Exactly," Cerise nodded while wiping her wet eyes properly with the soft material, "Thank you again. I'll reach out if I have any questions."
With a proper goodbye, she went to the exit, walking past the waiting area where more women and men were seated with anxious expressions. Then, it was as if she had blinked and teleported outside, her hand already on the driver's side door handle with no recollection of the walk back to the car.
She threw her bag into the passenger seat, the faint smell of cologne and leather swallowing her senses as she sat inside and stared at the blue and white logo embedded into the steering wheel. Once again, she was borrowing Saint's car as she had allowed Bells to borrow hers to visit her family a few towns over.
Saint, of course, had tossed Cerise the keys before she could even finish asking, and now, every time she commuted anywhere, she felt less motivated because all she could smell was him.
Cerise sighed, looking out through the tinted glass and staring at the building she had just left. Soon, she couldn't fight the grin on her face as she started the car and reached to fish around in her bag for her phone.
He's going to be over the moon...
Unlocking the device in seconds, she had her thumb poised over his name in her favorites list.
Wait... should I tell him in person? I should sort of plan this kind of thing, right?
She bit her lip, swiping out of the app and into another to route herself to the parlor instead.
"Alright," she clapped her hands together, putting the car into gear as she began to navigate out of the parking lot, "How are you going to do this?"
Do I just give him the paper and let him read it? Or do I say something first?
She shook her head to herself, checking the road before turning onto it, "I didn't even tell him I was doing this today... I need to warm him up somehow."
Cerise was happy about the news too, but a part of her worried that it would change everything like she had always feared. That it would all be too much on her plate, and she would crumble under the pressure of refocusing her life again.
Ma and Dad are gonna be pissed... Maybe a little happy, but disappointed for sure.
She sighed, crumpling a handful of her curls in her palm before she shook off the stress. Reaching for her phone at the stoplight, music soon filled the car, and the windows came down, allowing a nice breeze to brush her skin.
Well... I have 45 minutes to think about how I'll break the news... to everyone...
***
Cerise flipped down the car visor, checking her makeup and hair in the mirror.
After a quick swipe of a blotting sheet to her forehead and only needing to reapply her lipstick since her waterproof eyeliner was still sharp, she collected her small purse and left the vehicle.
YOU ARE READING
Please, with a Cherry on top? | 18+
Romance"Tell me you don't want that," his darkened eyes clashed with her dazed ones, "Say it, and we'll stop right now. Tell me, and I'll go." Silence hung in the air, the distant hum of passing cars and crickets fading into the night. "Cause I have every...
