He Loves Me Not (Bunch-A-Blooms 1)

She nodded her head. “Are you sure you want to sell it? What about after the di—”

He cleared his throat. The thought of a divorce made him sick. “Nah, we don’t need to worry about that. Having the money on hand is a smarter way to go with the way the housing market fluctuates,” he said in a lame attempt to cover his tracks.

“Oooh. So true,” she said.

Tracks covered. He wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow as he moved to get dressed.

***

It was amazing how quickly the place he once considered home became just another building up for sale. He studied the empty space, remembering the parties, women, and bachelor events with his friends and families. It all felt like years ago instead of months ago.

“Is this the last of it?” his father asked. Their relationship was still a work in progress, but for once he felt was it might be heading in the right direction.

“Yeah, that was the last big load. I have a cleaning company coming in tomorrow, and a staging company coming on Monday to give the place a fresh new look before it goes on the market Thursday.”

“You did really good with this, son. I’m proud of you.”

His spirit soared under the rarely given praise.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I was worried about you for a while.”

He sighed. “Because I didn’t settle down with a woman?”

“No, because you were a bit lost, and then vacant. I could tell something was missing for you. All the women you dated, and the hours you kept. I didn’t think you were ready for a store because you had yet to discover who you wanted to be.”

The words were illuminating. “I thought you just saw me as that irresponsible knucklehead I once was.”

“No, and I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my father?” Mason whispered.

He laughed and shook his head. “You and I were always so different; things got lost in the communication process. Over time I think we’ve figured each other out.”

“All of this because I’m with Petunia?”

He shook his head. “No. I think she was a grounding force, but you did the leg work.”

“When you came to me that night when you found out about her, were you going to tell me you were giving the store to someone else?”

“No. I was going to propose a trial period.”

“Wait. What?”

His dad chuckled. “Yeah. You earned the spot. I just didn’t want to throw you in to sink or swim. Being an owner is a little different, and you have the least experience despite being the best at bringing in money.”

All this time he had his old man wrong.

“Speechless? That’s a first,” his dad said.

“We should talk like this more often, Dad.”

“Yeah, we should. You ready to leave the bachelor pad behind?”

“The only thing I want to see when I come home is Petunia.”

“You’re really smitten, aren’t you?” he asked.