Don't You Remember? (HSMTMTS Sequel to Meeting Me Halfway)

Chapter 9. |Another New Face|

Ricky Bowen
"Oh..hello?" I say as I walk inside the flower shop. There stands a girl with a phone in her hand. She seemed a little confused. "I'm sorry, can I help you? We haven't opened yet."

"Oh what? No. I'm just waiting." She says calmly.

"Waiting for what?"

"Well-"

"Alrighty Peyton, this is your apron and a spray bottle." Rose comes in. "Oh hey Ricky!"

"Who's this?" I ask with a small, confused chuckle.

"This is Peyton. She's a new worker here. I mean, I figured with you constantly being busy with Athena, a little help could do you some good, wouldn't it?"

"I-.." I couldn't tell if I was going to like this or not. I'm not used to having someone else in the flower shop. "I..yeah. S-sure."

"Well Peyton. If you need any help with anything, just ask Ricky right there. This 2 person thing is going to go great. I just know it!"

"Mhm.."I fix the apron around my body and rub the back of my neck as Rose goes into her office. "Uhm..hey. How are you?"

"I'm great, what about you?"

"I'm good. So do you want to take the register or just take care of the plants for a little. I mean no one really comes in until like," I check my watch, "maybe 12 or so."

"What do you do? I mean," the blonde slightly laughs, "until then?"

"Well until then," I go behind the register, "I sit, I read, umm..Oh," I grab a bouquet off of the table, "I count the flowers."

"So this is..a pretty low maintenance job. Great."

I try not to raise a brow but it kind of got hard.

"Have you worked in a flower shop before?" I ask.

"Hm?"

"Have you..worked in a flower shop before? I mean..you have to have some experiences in this field."

"Field? Well. No, but I'm sure I can pick something up here. I'm rose's niece so this job was just a small given."

"Oh yeah? How come I never heard of you? Rose speaks about her family all the time." I put on gloves and grab the spray bottle from off the table.

"I'm not sure. I don't blame her too much, I'm not an interesting person." she puts on her apron.

"Well I'm sure you can scrap something up to tell me." I chuckle.

"You wan't to know stuff about me?" she questions.

"We're co workers now. Yeah, I'm going to want to know stuff about you." I grin.

I'm really trying to like this "extra worker" thing. I could probably get some more time in with Athena.

"Okay...my names Peyton Henry. I'm 21 and I don't have the most knowledge with flowers."

She's awkward.
Someone I can relate to at least.

"I'm not too big on books but they don't hurt to read every now and then I guess. Video games also don't hurt. When I mean that I mean, not at all." She fidgets with her hands. "And I also go to San Diego University so, that's that. I don't know what else to say."

"I..I'm just wondering. Do you have anxiety? You seem a little shaky." I put the spray bottle in my apron.

"Just a little. I'm just not used to a different setting other than a library or the comfort of my chair." she slightly snorts. "umm, how about you? What are you like?"

"What am I like? The first word people would describe me as is...stupid. I don't make a lot of good decisions around here. Erm..I go to SDU too by the way."

"Oh yeah? What's your major?"

"Theatre.You?" I lean on the counter by her.

"Neuroscience."

I chuckle. "That-..that's a thing?"

"Looks like someone hasn't been in school seemingly for long." She laughs. "But yeah. Neuroscience."

"Tell me about it. We don't have anything else to do."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

***

"Well well! Hi baby!" I smile as I see Athena at the door way. She runs over to me, causing me to lean down and lift her up, kissing her forehead. "How was your day?"

"It's great."

"Great." I slightly grin and go to the doorway and push it open. "Did you escape moms grasp? I-..Yup there she is."

Nini comes walks to the door with a smoothie and a smile on her face.

"Hey babe." She kisses me on the lips and takes off her hat. "It's hot out, so you're getting a very berry smoothie."

"Fun." She walks in gazed at the flowers as if she hasn't seen them a hundred times. "Is something up Neens?"

"Eh. A little stressed. I had to teach a new worker some of the basics today even though he had some experience. The guy is a weird one, that's for sure."

I put down Athena and take a sip of the smoothie.

"You got a new worker too?"

"Too? Did you get someone?"

"Mhm. It's really weird after all these years of not havin-"

"Woah, there is a child in Rose's room and she is cute as hell." Peyton walks in with a small snort. "Oh hello."

"Right. Peyton, this is my wife Nini."

"Oh so your Nini!? Hi, I'm Peyton. Ricky has talked about you."

"Aww. Uhm," she looks at me with a little confusion in her eyes as I smirk, but shakes it off. "Did you just start today?" Nini questions, going up to shake Peyton's hand.

"Yeah. Yeah I did.." she looks back and points back at roses room with her thumb, "wait is that? Ricky, do you have a daughter?" She slightly scoffs.

"Maybe I do..maybe I don't." I grin. "Athena, baby come here please."

I wait, but as I look over at Nini, she seemed..unreadable as she was just staring at Peyton, swiping her tongue over her teeth.

Sorry, it's such a late update!
My internet has not been allowing me to post ugh.
More's coming, I'm sorry!❤️

Enjoy Your Day or Night!
-CR❤️