Page 57 of Paper Flowers (Stonebrook #1)

“Love you too” I say and he walks into the building. I exhale, trying to shake the cold as his body heat escapes me.

And then— a cold shiver runs down my spine.

I don’t have to turn to know who it is.

Dean.

I force myself to glance back, and there he is.

Standing there in a navy suit with a white shirt and a maroon tie.

A few years ago, I would have melted at the sight.

Now? It makes my stomach turn. He doesn’t say anything.

He just stares, then turns and walks towards the office door.

I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and start walking back toward my own office.

That’s when I feel it. The unmistakable sensation between my legs. A deep, sharp pang slice through my lower stomach.

No. No. No. I already knew the test was negative.

But some small part of me had still been holding on to hope.

I reach my office for my purse and bolt to the restroom and lock the door.

Pulling down my tights and panties, I see it.

Blood. Cleaning up the mess, my fingers trembling as I reach into my purse for a tampon.

The test was clear, but somehow, this feels absolute. Real. I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath as I wash my hands. Back in my office, I stare at my phone. I know I should wait— but he’d want to know. I type out the dreaded text before I talk myself out of it.

I just got my period .

It doesn’t take long for his response.

Luke: Oh Dayna, Baby, I’m sorry.

Another message pops up before I can even respond.

Luke: Do you need me to run to the store to get you tampons? A Heating pad? Chocolate? All the above?

That pulls a small smile from me.

That’s really sweet of you, but I have tampons with me. I’ll see you after school.

I see the bubbles moving as he’s typing.

Luke: Are you sure you want to go out tonight? We can stay home.

The offer is tempting. To curl up in Luke’s arms but I know tonight will be good for us.

No Luke, I want to go. It’s okay, I’m okay.

Luke: Let me know if you change your mind. Xo

I set my phone down and exhale.

It’s finally Christmas break, and everyone is at the bar.

Luke and I had gone home to change beforehand— I needed to grab more tampons, and honestly, I just wanted to peel off the day. The excitement of the program, the ache of saying goodbye to Sadie. The bruising disappointment of my period showing up— it was a lot.

I swapped my dress for an oversized sweater and leggings, something comfortable. Luke dressed down too— dark jeans, a Red Sox pullover and his boots. Simple, but ridiculously good-looking.

We walked into Lime A Dozen , Cara waves to us. She rode with Ms. Abigail Russo, the other fifth grade teacher to snag us all good seats. But unfortunately, by the looks of it they weren’t that lucky.

Dean is seated right in front of us and he wasn’t alone.

While everyone is settling in, Dean makes a quick announcement that he has brought his girlfriend, Chloe tonight.

I recognize it’s the same woman from Target .

Luke stiffened slightly next to me, his hands instinctively sliding to my knee.

A quiet reassurance. I don’t talk to Dean unless absolutely necessary.

For the most part, he does the same until tonight.

Tonight, his eyes keep flicking in my direction, a smug shadow of something I can’t quite place curling at the edges of his expression.

But I’m not going to let him ruin this night.

Not when I have Luke by my side, I’m going to enjoy the evening.

I take a breath, focus on the surrounding conversation. Nothing can ruin my bubble of bliss.

“What’s everyone’s plans for Christmas break? Anyone going out of town?” Mrs. Emily asks. Luke leans back in his chair, casual, confident. “Sadie is with her grandparents up north for the week. So I’ll head up there with Dayna to pick her up.” Luke says as he takes a drink of his soda.

Across the table, Dean turns his body towards Chloe and mutters something under his breath to Chloe and she giggles.

Cara, sitting next to me, rolls her eyes and makes a gagging face.

Then, never one to back down from a moment of confrontation, she directs a question right at Chloe.

“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” Chloe lights up, oblivious.

“Almost a year! When we met, I just felt the instant connection, like I wasn’t living until we locked eyes while waiting for our cars to be detailed.

Oh gosh, he truly is something special.” Everyone at the table freezes with her answer and she doesn’t even notice.

I feel Luke tense next to me. Almost a year?

We finalized our divorce months ago. I stare at Dean, waiting for him to look at me. He doesn’t.

“Almost a year? Wow, how intriguing? Dean is something, isn’t he?” Cara says sarcastically but Chloe doesn’t catch the sarcasm. But I do and I’m more than positive everyone else has.

As the evening stretches into the night, Morgan asks if anyone is up for shots.

I can totally go for a shot, Luke is driving and Cara is with us tonight, so why the hell not?

While Morgan is ordering everyone’s drinks, I take this opportunity to head to the bathroom.

The line to the women’s bathroom is long, so I take a peek at my phone and I see Sadie has sent me a video message.

The second, I press play, her bright hazel eyes and bouncy curls from earlier fill the screen.

“Hi Dayna! I wanted to tell you that I love you so much!”

My heart flutters. “I’m having lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa. I told them about Grandma Gwennie Mae and they want to meet her! Can we bring her here soon?” She’s cut off by someone calling her in the background. The camera angle dips, showing only her slippers.

“Oops, I’ll call Daddy in the morning— bye!”

I laugh softly, replaying it just to hear her voice again.

Such a stark contrast to this morning. Lost in the video, I don’t immediately notice that the line to the bathroom is gone.

That I’m standing alone. That someone is behind me but I feel it.

That shivering sensation only one person in the world gives me.

He leans in too close. His voice drops, a whisper laced with venom. I flinch at the way my hair moves from his breath on my ear. “She calls her Grandma Gwennie Mae?” Standing there frozen. He lets out a quiet scoff, a cruel chuckle under his breath.

“I’m surprised you’re not knocked up yet considering how desperate you were to bounce on my cock to try to have my baby.”

My stomach plummets. He shifts slightly, his voice sinking into something lower, nastier.

“I know you won’t be truly happy with just his daughter. You’ll want one of your own.” Dean pauses. “But thank fucking god, you didn’t have my baby, that’s for fucking sure.” He emphasizes the “You“, as if he had a choice.

Pain. That’s all he has done lately is hurt me.

Before I can even find air to respond, Chloe steps out of the bathroom.

She flashes me a smile as she approaches.

Dean grabs her hand and tugs her to the table like I was never there.

She looks over her shoulder and he pulls her attention back to him.

I force myself to stay upright. To shake off this ugly pit in my stomach.

And then— Luke. His presence wraps around me before I even see him.

“What’s wrong?” He gently grabs my shoulders and rubs circles at my arms. Grounding me. I should tell him, but my voice won’t work. So I shake my head. “I was just waiting for the line to go down and got distracted.” Luke doesn’t look convinced.

“Can you wait for me? I’ll just be a few minutes.”

He hesitates, his blue eyes searching mine.

Then, with a slow nod, he kisses the side of my head.

“I’ll be right here, Baby.” In the bathroom, I grip the sink and breathe.

I look at myself in the mirror with so much disgust. Maybe I was desperate to have a baby with him.

I begged him to want the life I wanted. But with Luke, there is no pleading or begging, he wants me.

All of me. I won’t let him ruin this night by crying.

His words are meaningless to me. I wash my hands and walk out to the hallway towards Luke.

He is leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets.

The second he sees me, his face softens.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Do you have any cramps?” He asks as he wraps his arm around my back and pulls me to his chest.

“Just a little, nothing too bad.”

He lowers his hands to my lower back and begins to rub it gently.

“I’ll give you a warm back rub when we get home.

” I sink into him, closing my eyes. Letting him be my shelter.

“I’d love that, Luke.” He tilts my chin up with his forefinger and his thumb as he kisses my temple.

He winks as he pulls away and reaches for my hand.

My stomach flips, that same Luke-effect he had on me all those years ago, I never get tired of it.

I catch movement from the table. Dean is looking straight at me.

Watching. That smug, self-satisfied smirk.

Like he thinks he still has a hold on me.

I don’t break eye contact when Luke laces our fingers together, woven in like a promise.

Taking our seats again, the night presses forward— laughter, drinks, the hum of conversation filling the space.

The shots passed out to everyone except for Chloe.

Someone has noticed she doesn’t have one.

The table lifts their glasses in unison, ready to toast. With my shot glass in the air, ready to toast. I see Chloe hesitation as she looks over to Dean and he nods.