“Sure,” she replied, happy to get away from the table, where Polly and Anna looked like they were revving up to ask her searching questions about her nonrelationship. Indeed, as she followed Bob into the garden, she could feel Maggie, Polly, and the others watching them closely. She put her hand behind her back and raised her middle finger. Polly snickered.

It was later than the previous evening, and the scent in the rose garden was heady.

Laura said, “I can’t decide what smells better, the roses or this thing.” She poked at a plant with white flowers.

“The jasmine?”

“Yeah, sorry, not good with plant names.”

He was quiet and stepped closer to her, selecting the blooms he wanted. She moved back to give him room and abruptly felt uneasy. The flowers had thrown her; Nick had always loved a splashy gesture and he’d sent her flowers more times than she could count, but the fact that he’d sent them here was irritating. She hadn’t given him her address, which meant her mom had given it to him, which meant her mom was still talking to him, which meant her mom was still on his side.

“I’m going back inside, it’s colder than I thought,” she said.

“I’m nearly done,” he said, pausing to look at her. But she had already started moving away, and he watched her go, wondering if he’d said the wrong thing, despite having literally said three words. Regardless of what Polly might say, Laura had blushed over the flowers, so even though she said “ex-fiancé,” maybe she still cared a bit. Bob kept clipping roses and tried not to feel crestfallen. He was used to being alone, it was fine, plenty more fish in the sea. They could still be friends.

As Laura approached the patio again, the conversation stopped and Polly’s voice was slightly concerned as she said, “Everything OK?”

“Totally,” said Laura as she breezed past them. “I got cold. I’m going to get a sweater.”

Maggie and the others turned to watch Bob crossing the garden, holding his roses.

“What did you do?” asked Polly accusingly.

THIRTEEN

Once in her room, Laura threw off her clothes, grabbed her fluffy dressing gown, and sat on her bed cross-legged. First she texted Polly to tell her she was tired and had headed to bed. Then she took a deep breath and texted Nick. It was pretty late there, but if she was lucky she’d wake his ass up.

Her fingers flew. “I got your flowers.”

There was a pause, then the three dots appeared. Dammit, he’d been awake.

(heart emoji) “That’s great. I hope they were beautiful.”

(three dots)

(flower emoji) “Like you.”

Laura rolled her eyes so hard she almost dislocated an eyelash.

“Nick. We broke up. Please do not send me flowers.”

“We’re still friends.”

(three dots)

(over-the-top crying sad face emoji) “Aren’t we?”