Chapter 100 Roots of a Beautiful Madness
POV Maya:
“I hate them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have pictures of my teenage crushes on my phone.”
“Oh, I didn’t see that coming.”
“That’s obvious—before I met my loves.”
“Of course.” I narrow my eyes, and the son of a bitch smiles. “Let me see the picture again.”
David doesn’t hesitate to hand me the phone, and for the next few seconds I stare at the image of five brothers who… Fuck, they’re going to undo me. I hold Louis tighter on my lap; my decision is made. It might be crazy—of course it is—but I need to try
“You’re going, aren’t you?” David’s happy voice irritates me. I roll my eyes and hand the phone back to him.
“I am, you idiot, and you’re going to help me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll find out soon enough.”
Smiling, I walk into my friend’s house, ready to tell her and her boyfriends the news about my move to the countryside.
At last, I’ll be able to debut my pink suede boots.
...
One week later
Sean helps me carry another box into the new house while Tay keeps pouting, horrified by her friend’s madness in agreeing to move cities with the crazy idea of becoming engaged to men she doesn’t know. I’ve already explained to her what convinced me to make such a decision, but she refuses to accept that her crazy friend is about to dive into an arranged marriage.
If everything works out, of course.
“Maya, there’s still time to change your mind,” she says, hands on her hips. “We go back to Dallas and forget this ever happened.”
“No,” I say, looking around my new little house. “I’m loving this idea—and not to mention I’m opening my first branch.” I say proudly.
When I decided to rent a house in the quiet town of El Soledad, I looked for one that fit what I wanted, and I felt incredibly lucky when I found this little place with an empty storefront in front, allowing me to open my first branch. Taylor will take care of the main store in Dallas. I think that’s so chic. Who would have thought my little flower shop would open its first branch less than a year after the inauguration of its headquarters? It seems I have entrepreneurship running through my veins.
“You’re insane.”
“I know,” I agree and hug my friend. “Thank you for diving headfirst into madness with me.”
“I didn’t dive—I was dragged against my will, worth mentioning,” she shoots back, and we laugh.
“It was your man’s idea,” I remind her.
“I know.” She pulls away from the hug and points at David, who’s distracted stacking boxes beside Hunter and Gavin. “He told me you’re his Trojan horse.”
I narrow my eyes at David, who has the nerve to wink at me. Cunning bastard. So I’m the Trojan horse? I’ll remember that fondly when I take my friend to the strip club again.
“I’m going to miss you,” Taylor says, her tone making my eyes sting.
“I will too, my friend. I really will.”
Taylor has no idea how sincere that is. After Peter betrayed me, I found myself alone, with no one to lean on, no one to take refuge with. For so many years it’s been just me, that when someone enters my life, I automatically do everything I can to keep them. It was that way with Peter—until he betrayed me—and it’s that way with Taylor, Hunter, Sean, Gavin, and that idiot David. I love them. They are my family. I just don’t yet have the courage to tell them that. I don’t want them to see how needy I am.
“It’s time for us to go,” David announces as he walks over. “We still need to stop by the ranch—my mother is dying to see you again.”
“Of course she is. I’m an excellent son-in-law,” Sean says, making me roll my eyes at his arrogance.
“And I’m an excellent daughter-in-law,” Tay shoots back, making David smile.
Shit. I’m going to miss them.
“Alright, time for you to go. I need to get things organized here, not to mention I have to plan a trip to the cowboys’ ranch to order fertilizer for my humble flower shop.” I shrug, putting on an innocent face.
I say goodbye to all of my friend’s boyfriends with tight hugs, receiving a kiss on the head from each of them. I wrap my arms around Tay’s neck, giving her a strong, heartfelt embrace. I’m going to miss this wicked woman.
“See you, friend. Anything happens, call me and I’ll come running,” Tay says as she bends down to hug Louis.
“I know. Don’t worry—if anything happens, I’ll send a smoke signal.”
As soon as they’re gone, I pick up my baby and let the tears fall. I know what I’m doing is crazy, but is it so wrong to want somewhere to return to? To have someone to call home? I want to build a family. I want children, a house full of laughter and love. And since David told me that’s exactly what the Morettis are looking for, I want to at least try.