Midnight Daffodil (Poisonous Petals #1)

Chapter 37Olivia

thirty-seven

OLIVIA

“ A w, girl, that’s so sweet! I’m so happy for you!” Vera hugged me. I finally spilled the beans about Luke’s surprise.

“Oh, stop making that surprised face.” I laughed. “You knew. Luke told me you helped put it together!”

She smiled devilishly. “Yeah, I was sorta the mastermind behind it all. Luke was only an accessory.”

I scrolled through my email, looking at the flights Luke booked. We would be gone for five days, back to my hometown, where so many memories rested.

I loved Seattle. The city wrapped me in its vibrant embrace, yet a gnawing ache for my parents tugged at my very being with an insatiable intensity. My heart and soul plummeted, unsure of where it would land but knowing the outcome was all the same.

Undoubtedly, I fell in love with Luke Ryder.

“And the best part, you’ll be back in time to watch my children for my retreat!” Vera said as she pulled out her phone. “Pizza good tonight?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s fine. But what retreat?”

“Oh, the best thing happened. Last year, I pitched an idea for a conference that focused on women in real estate. Ya know, one that hosts events and celebrates us bad bitch entrepreneurs who exceeded sales goals and brought revenue to our brokerages”–she carried on– “and they loved it. My brokerage and one from Los Angeles split the funding, and I’m heading there the day you guys get back. I’m gonna give presentations on how to better support women in this career. I have a slideshow, Olivia!”

“That sounds amazing! And of course, I'll be happy to watch your babies. I love them like they’re mine,” I said as Noodle rubbed against my leg, meowing.

“Thank you, thank you so much!” She hugged me again just as a soft knock sounded on the door.

Vera ran to retrieve the pizza from the teen standing in the doorway. We dug in immediately.

“You know”—she said with a mouthful of pepperoni deep dish—“you’ve had this glow since you met Luke. It’s a good look. Even his broody ass seems happier.”

“I feel like this is how it was always supposed to be,” I told her, taking another slice out of the box.

“I bet your parents are gonna be happy for you, too.”

“I think mom and dad will love him,” I told her. We finished eating and cleaning up, ready to settle in for the evening.

“Well, tell them I said hi, and I miss them. I would’ve enjoyed working Luke’s nerves by tagging along, but I think you guys deserve this little getaway,” she said, beaming at me as she dried her hands off on the towel hanging off the oven. “I’m gonna turn in to my room.”

I nodded as she scampered off, saying our goodnights. I headed to my own room to finish packing. Giddy with excitement, I shoved everything I owned in a whirlwind into a suitcase. After I finished stuffing my luggage so full it would probably need a plane of its own, I flopped down in bed.

I drifted off to sleep thinking about mom’s famous snickerdoodle recipe and the way dad loves to talk about sports and Italian food. I couldn’t wait to feel their loving embrace in the presence of the man I loved.