= CHRIS’ POV =

After the meeting with the higher-ups.

I walked through the hotel car park beaming. I opened my car door, sat down, slamming the door shut and starting the engine. 

The time read 2 pm, which was early in the day for me. I hadn’t been out in the middle of the day for weeks.

In fact, I hadn’t been doing anything but eating, sleeping, and then working for weeks.

 I didn’t even remember the last time I checked my phone. I remember receiving a bunch of messages, so I turned it to silent mode at some point. 

However, I forgot to unsilence my phone and… I was probably missing so many text messages from Sarah.

I took out my phone and turned off silent mode. I opened the YoYap app, and immediately was hit with notification after notification.

 I scrolled through all of them, and then, surprisingly, they seemed to have stopped. 

I read the last message, which had been sent a week ago.

“Hi Chris, I got a job; I started today, umm, thanks. I’ll start paying back stuff when I get my first pay” – Sarah.

I leaned back and smiled. This had to be the best day of my life.

Not only did I just get promoted, but she found herself a job?

Finally? 

This moment needed to be celebrated!

I looked through the messages. She hadn’t included anything about the job, so I figured I’d just find out from her in person.

Now that I had time, we could talk, *really talk*, and maybe we would retire the app, just a thought.

I started the car and pulled out of the car park. I had a few places in mind that I  wanted to stop at. Maybe some flowers? Maybe something delicious to add to the celebration - something I didn’t have to cook myself anyway. 

I drove down to a lovely florist who was about two blocks away from my apartment. Jessica was a wizard at her job, and she knew all about flower meanings and what type of flower was best for what type of…event…ah I couldn’t be bothered with that sort of stuff, but I bet Sarah would love it.

“Jessica, how are you doing today?” I asked, walking into the flower shop with a pep in my step.

Jessica was, as usual, at the flower arrangement counter, surrounded by fresh blooms, cutting away at an arrangement.

“Chris! Wow…last time you popped by, you landed that job at the hotel. I’m guessing you’re here for another bundle of success?” She asked, grinning. “ Did you manage to get a promotion or something?”

“You know what, I need to tip you extra, just for being a psychic on top of an excellent florist” I grinned as I leaned against her counter, plucking a rose from it’s jar.

“You bet I did, and my gi- I mean roommate finally got a job after a long time job hunting, so I wanted to get something for the both of us” I explained.

“Oh, that is lovely! I didn’t know you had a girlfriend. Last time I checked, you were still a firm believer of situationships.” Jessica smirked as she took out a huge bouquet of white roses and Amaryllis from her air-conditioned storage display.

“I don’t have a girlfriend; it was a slip of the tongue,” I said quickly, running a hand through my hair. I deposited the rose back into it’s vase, straightening up, my eyes on that huge bouquet as I pulled out my wallet.

“Oh…really” Jessica said and paused. She then cleared a space on the table for the flowers before continuing, “ Is it Sarah? You and Sarah keep dancing around each other like an old married couple. Is she rooming at your place again? I thought you said she was fine and on her feet at her own place” Jessica sighed, looking at me with reproach. 

“Well…she kind of got into a sticky situation with her last boyfriend, and I’m just helping her out for the meantime,” I explained as nonchalantly as I could, my eyes firmly on the flowers, trying to avoid eye contact.

Jessica slammed her hand on the cashier counter, making me jump and look up.

“Hey, I’ve been friends with both of you since college. You know she is just using you. Please tell me you let go of that lingering crush you had on her back in the day” Jessica asked, clutching the bouquet tightly as if she was going to hit me with it.

“Woah chill out! I have I swear! Jeez, she is legitimately renting from me, we have a contract,” I half-lied, raising my hands up in defense. 

Jessica squinted at me in disbelief.

“You better have gotten over her. I’m not about to make you a bouquet that you’re just gonna put at her feet like some kind of derange offering” Jessica chided, but she relaxed, returning to the bouquet, delicately snipping of parts here and there.

“So…does that mean I can or cannot give that bouquet to Sarah,” I asked, whincing slightly as I was indeed, technically about to do the very thing she said not to do. 

Jessica snorted. Instead of replying she wrapped the flowers in a delicate organza material, using a black silk ribbon to tie it up before walking over to the cash register.

“That’ll be $59.90. With a 20% tip, just because you’re so annoying”, Jessica added with a smirk. 

I rolled my eyes. I slammed a hundred dollar bill down on the counter and picked up the bouquet.

“Keep the change. Also, These are very much for me as well, ok? I’m not just gonna lay them at her feet. I’ll put them in a jar, and then lay them at her feet” I grinned.

Jessica groaned as he picked up the money and keyed it into the cash register.

“You’re going to become one of those people they make those documentaries about…what are those obsessed men called…Simps? You always did like to be a woman in a male-dominated field” Jessica replied dryly.

“Hey I’m not that bad, I keep my hands to myself and I worship her from a distance, how bad can that be?” I scoffed, turning to leave. 

A hand shot out and Jessica grabbed me by my collar

“Wait dumb ass, you’re not handing it to her like that” Jessica snapped.

I turned and sheepishly waited as Jessica plucked the bouquet from my hands and placed it into a beautiful lacy white bag that held the bouquet perfectly.

“Well, you’re going to have to find a way to restrain yourself because you’re soon going to get an invitation to my wedding,” Jessica added as she handed me the flowers.

“Really? Congratulations! Who is the lucky man?” I asked.

“Hana. She kind of made me a basket of pastries, took me out for a picnic, and proposed under a wisteria tree; you know those are my favorite. It was hard to say no to someone so sweet and earnest, you know?” Jessica said, her tone shifting, a slight flush rising in her cheeks as she crossed her arms, leaning against her counter as she thought back to the day.

“Woah…Hana? Our Hana? The one working at Jun’s Cafe?” I asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Jessica rolled her eyes and shoved me a little “Who the fuck else?” 

“Wow, I wish you both well. I guess I know where I’m picking up dessert then” I grinned.

Jessica glanced down at her watch.

“Sure…if you hurry, you’ll probably catch her; her shift ends at 3 pm a the café” Jessica said cooly, “ She always looked up to you by the way, I bet she would be so delighted to see her senior today”

“Really?” I replied, a little surprised as Hana was a prolific chef in her own right “Well…if you both need help with the wedding plans, I’m sure I can talk to Heather about a discount on the café’s hall… and with your flowers, I’m sure the wedding is going to be amazing,” I grinned.

Jessica clapped her hands together, delight sparkling in her eyes.

“Really? You’d do that for us? That would be such a huge help” Jessica replied excitedly.

“You got it,” I nodded. “Ok, I’ll be expecting that invitation; see you later, Jessica,” I said and left with a lovely bouquet of flowers in my hand. 

My happiness meter just kept climbing today.

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