Page 27 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

LUKE

I t’s Friday night, the sun has set for the day and Sadie has been waiting all week for Alfredo’s Pizza.

There is a cool breeze for this October night.

We’re on our way to pick up Dayna and Cara from Cara’s house.

Turns out, we all live only a few blocks away from one another.

There’s no sense in having us all drive separately.

I park in front of a light yellow single-story house with a wrap-around porch.

I see Dayna and Cara walking down the porch steps.

Dayna is wearing an oversized olive green crew neck sweater, black leggings with black Vans.

Her hair is up in a ponytail. Cara is also in a similar outfit but as she approaches my truck, my attention falls to her shoes.

She’s wearing white high top converse and my body runs cold.

I feel as if my chest is closing and I’m having trouble breathing right.

I’m gripping the steering wheel when I hear them open the truck doors.

I normally would have opened it for them but I feel like I’m frozen in place.

I hear Sadie talking to Cara but it sounds like I’m underwater.

It’s not until Dayna touches my arm and I break free from my thoughts.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” She says as I look at her whiskey-colored eyes.

I see them bouncing side to side knowing something isn’t right.

I can’t answer her yet. Instead I get out of my truck and close it behind me.

I put my hands on my head to try to keep my breaths even but I’m struggling to keep it together.

All that I have left from that night.

Her belongings in a clear bag.

The blood splatters.

The memory of her fresh white high top converse covered in blood takes root and I’m going to be fucking sick. I have no choice but to throw up on the road outside my truck door. I hunch over with my hands on my knees and empty my stomach until there is nothing left.

“Luke!” I hear Dayna’s voice muffled.

I wipe my mouth from the vile. I turned around and Dayna was standing there wide eyed with concern. Thank God , Sadie is on the opposite side and is unable to see me like this.

I try to talk but my throat burns from vomiting.

Dayna carefully places her hand on my upper arm and I pull her in hugging the small of her back.

She’s holding on to me just as hard as I’m holding her.

I whisper in her ear, “It’s her shoes. Juliette had those on when she was killed.

They were white but now, they’re covered in her blood.

I—I can’t breathe.” She starts to rub my back in a soothing motion.

Dayna doesn’t have to think too hard to know I’m talking about Cara’s shoes.

Without letting go completely, she moves us towards my truck and opens the back passenger door.

She mumbles something to Cara in her ear and the next thing I see is Cara rushing inside her home.

When she returns outside, she’s wearing different shoes and has a bottle of water in her hand.

I feel like a complete idiot.

Cara gives me a quick hug and hands the bottle to me. “Thank you for being so understanding and for this.” I take a swig and rinse my mouth. I have gum in my truck so that helps.

Cara pats my back and says “I’m here for you Luke. Don’t worry about Little Beckett, she was showing me how to add your credit card to my Barnes & Noble account. We’re going to get the next set of Amelia Bedelia books.”

I let out a small chuckle. “I’m not surprised, she probably does have my credit card numbers memorized.” Dayna smiles and I know she’s worried. I had a panic attack and I must have scared her. But this is who I am, and this is how I’ve been for the last year.

I open the door for Cara and she jumps in and I hear her tell Sadie she needed a potty break. With the door closed, I grab Dayna’s hand and rub it between both of mine. “I hope I didn’t scare you.”

“Luke, look at me. I am here for you.” She squeezes my hand for reassurance. “We can skip pizza night, Morgan would understand you’re not feeling well.”

“No, I’m fine, Sadie has been looking forward to tonight all week.” I walk ahead of her and open the truck door for her. She gives me a small smile and I close the door.

Once I’m in the truck, Sadie asks if it was time to go and requests that I play The Goo Goo Dolls .

Cara repeats Sadie’s requests and leans forward behind me.

“You have your daughter listening to The Goo Goo Dolls? Aren’t you just the cool dad?

Maybe you are Rufus Humphrey?” She laughs and I can see Dayna shifting in her seat because I know how much she loves Rufus and his cool dad vibes. “Who is Rufus Jumprey, Daddy?”

“Dayna? You want to answer that?” I say playfully.

I take a quick peek at her and she’s shaking her head, trying not to laugh.

“He is a character on a show that Cara and I watch.” Cara starts giggling.

With The Goo Goo Dolls cued up Iris begins to play through the speakers.

I make our way to main street. Sadie is singing along and that makes Cara and Dayna start singing too.

That gives my daughter the biggest confidence boost, “Come on Daddy, sing with us!” Sadie yells over the music.

So I join in but not as loud as they’re singing.

We found a parking spot across the street from Alfredo’s Pizza. Cara gets out of the truck first and I round the bed of the truck to open Sadie’s door. That’s when I hear her on the other side talking to Cara while holding her hand. “I got her, Luke.”

So I move over to open Dayna’s door. I hold out my hand to help her down but I can’t help but want to keep holding her hand.

She grounds me and makes me feel like it’s okay to feel my feelings when they wash over me.

I hold her hand until we get to the end of the truck and she lets go when she sees Sadie with Cara across the street.

She gazes into my eyes and clears her throat.

“Did you bring enough cash for Sadie and Kelsey?”

“Yeah, I made sure I had singles to pass out this time, it makes it look more than ten dollars. She’s going to make me go broke on arcade games.

” She laughs and pushes at my chest. “Come on, let’s head inside.

” I say as we cross the street. The bells on the door jingle as the four of us enter the parlor.

“Are you guys excited for the Fall Carnival?” Morgan announced as she walked towards our side of the table when she arrived. I heard about the Carnival from Dayna but I haven’t had a chance to read the email Mrs. Emily sent out.

“Dean and I got some supplies for the carving stations.” Cara says as she’s pouring herself a glass of beer.

“That’s great to hear, what about you and Luke?” Morgan asks Dayna and bounces back to me. What about me and Dayna?

“I actually haven’t asked Luke yet…” She says in an unsure voice.

Sitting across from her, I look at her to let her know, it’s okay to ask me whatever she needs to ask.

“You know how you and Sadie went to visit your family a couple weeks ago? Cara signed you and I up for face painting.” She was worried about face painting?

Oh fuck, I am the worst person for this booth.

“That’s it?” I let out a chuckle.

“Yeah, are you okay with that?”

“Well, I have to let you know, I have zero artistic abilities but sure, I’ll do it with you.” I walked right into that because Dayna’s expression was so flirtatious as soon as I looked at her. Dean nearly choked on his pizza.

“So it’s settled. Everyone is set. Don’t forget you two need to pick up some supplies soon.

It’s approaching fast.” A whole afternoon by Dayna’s side doesn’t sound too bad.

I wonder if Cara did this on purpose. The Cara I’m getting to know, doesn’t seem like a huge Dean fan at the moment.

Either way, I’m thankful for her. I’ll invite Nina and William to join us that weekend so Sadie isn’t stuck at the booth with me missing out on all the fun.

They can also get to know Dayna a little better.

I get my phone out and write out a message for Nina.

Our school is having a Fall Carnival in two weeks, was wondering if you and William would join Sadie? I have to work at the face painting booth.

Nina: Oh honey, was there no one else available for the job?

No, sadly, I was the last one to sign up. I already warned them.

Nina: Well, as long as they know. I just talked to Will, we would love to be there.

Can’t wait, see you soon.

Dayna plucks off the pepperoni the same way she used to when we would go for pizza. I lean over the table “You still don’t like the crisper pepperonis?”

“No—” Dean and Dayna responded simultaneously. I look towards Dean and he isn’t looking up from his plate.

“Do you want them?” She asks as if I’d ever say no to extra pepperoni. I pass her my plate and she places them on top of my slice of pizza.

“Thank you, I still think you’re missing out.

” Dean fidgets in his chair. I take a bite of my pizza.

Dean says under his breath with disgust, “I don’t know how you can eat that after she had her fingers all over it.

” Is this guy serious? My tongue has been on every inch of her gorgeous body, a little picking at my food isn’t going to send me running.

Dayna senses the tension and asks if anyone needs a refill. I do, so I grab Sadie’s glass as well.

Walking to the fountain drinks with Dayna she’s talking with her back to me. “What did he say back there?” With a stern tone almost as if she’s upset?

“Nothing worth repeating.”

“Come on, I’m serious. It’s like one minute he’s fine and the next he is acting like I’m so…” I haven’t seen her so flustered, she refuses to look at me.

“You’re so what, Dayna?” I finally turned her around to face me.

“As if I’m so disgusting.” She says with a wobbly voice.

In a low voice, I close the gap between us, “Baby, you are anything but disgusting. You are gorgeous and he is an arrogant asshole. So please, don’t let him ruin your night.

” I graze my knuckles on her soft cheek.

“Come on, let’s get back. I’m sure Sadie needs to reload her pockets. ” That got her to giggle a little.

With the night coming to an end, everyone says bye and the four of us walk to my truck.

Sadie won a huge stuffed animal at the Claw Machine and it barely fits between her booster seat and Cara.

Cara asked me to take her home first, she had to pee from all the beer she drank.

“Are you going to spend the night with me or are you going home?”

“You guys have sleepovers!” Sadie yells behind her giant bunny.

“We always have sleepovers together. But Dayna would really love to have a sleepover with your?—”

“Cara!” Dayna shouts, laughing. Cara covers her mouth and I want to hear the rest of her sentence.

“Sadie’s what, Cara?” I ask grinning while looking at the rearview mirror.

Dayna is looking out the passenger window, not wanting to hear her answer.

“I was going to say, Sadie’s giant bunny, she won.

So she doesn’t have to sleep alone tonight.

” Cara tries to save herself from this buzz slip up.

I arch an eyebrow and Cara’s lips tighten as if she’s throwing away the key of secrets.

I dropped off Dayna and Cara about an hour ago.

I read two books to Sadie before she fell asleep.

I’m downstairs lounging on the sectional with the tv tuned in to the end of the Red Sox’s game.

They’re down by 2 and it’s the bottom of the 8th inning.

My phone vibrates with a message and I grab my phone off the ottoman.

Dayna: Do you think they’ll make a comeback?

It’s Dayna. There is no surprise that she is also watching the baseball game. I respond as quickly as I can.

With Tristan Casas on deck, they have it.

Dayna: I’m so nervous, I keep pacing my living room.

Just breathe, Baby.

Dayna: Luke?

Dayna: That’s the second time you called me that.

I know.

Dayna: I just have to ask…what are we doing?

I don’t know how to answer that yet.

I just like the person I am when I am around you.

Dayna: And who are you when I’m not around?

Lost.

I raise the volume on my tv a little louder as Tristan Casas walks to the batter’s box. He swings and misses. The pitcher winds up for a second pitch and the ball is sent over The Green Monster! They’re now up by one run. My phone vibrates in my hand.

Dayna: I think we have a chance!

I think we do and I am not referring to the baseball game.

I just need a little more time. The way she is with Sadie, so kindhearted and compassionate.

Everything she does, it’s out of the goodness of her pure heart.

William was right about the heart being capable of loving two people.

My heart is split right down the fucking middle.