Page 14 of Silver Sanctuary (The Silver Springs #3)

“I didn’t mean to upset her,” Lacy admitted. “It’s so tough to know what to say, or what not to.”

“It’s not you.” Lily picked up another rose and situated it in her arrangement.

“It was me. I’m a pushy bitch sometimes.” Mae sighed as she picked up some ribbon.

“She’s working through it, but what happened a few months ago… everything from Sloane’s past… It was really hard for her. And you aren’t directly linked to that, but in a weird, six degrees sort of way, you are.”

Her mother’s actions once again fall on her shoulders. How many times would she have to carry the burden of responsibility? “It’s all just terrible. I should apologize to her, but I don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable.”

“No. Don’t you dare apologize! You didn’t do anything wrong.

She wouldn’t want you to feel like that.

It’s just going to take some time for her to adjust. But she came tonight, which, honestly, was so surprising.

I thought I was going to say goodbye to her at the office, but as soon as she heard you needed help, she wanted to be here. ”

“Sloane wouldn’t want us to dwell on her leaving, so…” Mae dropped her voice down and wiggled her eyebrows. “How was your date the other night with Nash?”

Lacy dropped her eyes to her arrangement. “It was incredible. I’ve never had someone treat me the way he does. Like I’m valuable.”

“Lacy…” Lily’s eyes held a softness she didn’t want to th ink about. So instead, she shrugged her shoulders, and laughed.

“You know, I thought he was buying flowers every week for you, Mae. That day I came into your office and saw them, I thought I was just reading into every nice thing he’d ever said to me.”

“Can you imagine!” Lily laughed. “I think Stone would take Nash’s head off if he ever tried to make a move on Mae.”

Lacy’s mouth fell open. “You and Stone? How have I never figured that out?”

“Shh!” Mae hissed. “He’s very serious about keeping things between us quiet.”

“Which is not fair to you.” Lily shook her head.

“I know. But it works for us. And every time I bring up telling Hawk…” She looked over at Lacy.

“That’s what he’s worried about. It’s not fear of committing himself to me.

No, it’s my dumbass brother finding out his best friend started fucking me and now there are feelings involved and… it’s such a mess.”

“Mae, you love him.” Lily sighed like she was watching a romantic movie unfold before her very eyes.

“Of course I do,” Mae admitted.

“And he loves you?” Lacy had to ask the question because there was no way someone as beautiful and vibrant as Mae should feel obligated to stay with someone who didn’t reciprocate her love.

“Yeah, he does.”

“Then it’s time. You deserve a man who shouts how much he loves you. Who wants to be possessive, and growly, and throw you over his shoulder in front of his friends when you’re being sassy.” Lily giggled.

“Sounds like you just described your husband.”

“Oh, I did. And I think all of my friends deserve that level of love and dedication! ”

“You know what, I think you’re right. I swear we fight about this every other week, but I’m just going to make him decide.

I can’t keep doing this. I want the wedding, and the babies, and the happily ever after.

If it’s not with Stone, then I need to let him go so I have a chance at finding the right man.

” Mae shoved another stem into her vase.

“You let us know when it goes down, and we’ll have everything ready. Girls’ night out, ice cream and pajamas in front of the TV, ax throwing in the courtyard… whatever you need, right, Lacy?”

She wasn’t used to being included in things so easily, but she wasn’t about to miss the chance at having a true friendship with people who Nash considered his family. “Absolutely! For what it’s worth, I hope you get the wedding. I’ll do all your flowers at cost!”

“Oh, Lacy. You are going to fit right into our group so perfectly.” Mae reached over and pulled her into a one-armed hug. “How did you even get started in a business like this?”

“I worked a lot as a server in an upscale restaurant when I was younger. Then Embrie came along, and I needed something with better hours. One of my best customers was a florist and she took me under her wing. I don’t have a fancy business degree or anything like that, but she taught me everything she knew. ”

“I love that. Have you ever thought about doing a class for the community on floral arrangements?” Lily asked.

“No. Do you think that’s something that would be popular around here?”

“Absolutely! Mae, don’t you think Dolly could rustle up some of her friends and get the word out in a snap?” Lily asked.

“Yeah, you tell Dolly about it, and the class will be fully booked in an hour. That’s how our self-defense classes got so packed! I invited Dolly to the first one, she came and drooled over all the guys in their workout gear, and the next time we had class, the gym was packed.”

“In their workout clothes…” Lacy’s eyes drifted to Nash who was laughing at something Gunner had said. She really did love those little laugh lines that popped out around his eyes when he was happy.

Mae and Lily’s giggles pulled her back to her arrangement. “Looks like you’ll have to come enjoy the eye candy one day too.”

“I think I’d like that. A lot.”