Chance Encounters

Caroline grinned from ear to ear. “Clay’s never sent me anything other than roses before. These are freaking gorgeous!” she commented excitedly.

“No kidding,” Bailey added. Caroline glared at her before Bailey continued, “I mean…no offense, Care, it’s just that Clay doesn’t really think outside the box, if you know what I mean? He’s completely predictable.”

“Brat.”

Bailey stuck out her tongue. “Just to prove my point…what are your plans tonight with Mr. Matthews?”

“Just dinner that I know of.”

“Of course,” Bailey said through a yawn.

Frustrated, Caroline exclaimed, “Stop it, Bailey. You like Clay!”

“Of course I like Clay, but he’s just so predictable. Sends you roses, takes you to dinner at some fancy restaurant you don’t really want to go to in the first place. It’s just the same thing all the time. Don’t you ever get—I don’t know—bored?”

Caroline rolled her eyes. “Not really. I’m not you, ya know. I like knowing what’s coming. Knowing what and who I can count on. It doesn’t bore me, it’s sort of…comforting.”

“Boring.”

“Secure.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself,” Bailey tossed over her shoulder as she walked away.

“Come on. That’s not fair,” Caroline whisper-shouted at her back.

Bailey stopped and turned back around. “Obviously there is something major going on with this Jackson character. I’m just wondering why—if Clay is so perfect and you’re so secure and happy—this guy is affecting you so much?”

Caroline’s eyes narrowed into angry slits as she spat out, “I don’t know.”

Before either girl could say another word, Caroline noticed Lucy walking toward them holding a vase that spilled over with dark red roses and baby’s breath. The poor girl could barely see around the thing while she navigated through the maze of cubicles.

“These are stunning. Happy birthday, Caroline,” Lucy commented, setting the huge vase down carefully onto Caroline’s desk.

Bailey and Caroline stared at each other for a moment before either one of them spoke. “Wait. Wait. If the roses are from Clay, then who…?” Bailey dove for the card attached to the tulips before finishing her thought.

Caroline whipped the card out of the flowers and opened it quickly. “Oh my God.” The words fell out of her mouth in a whisper.

“What? Who are they from?” Bailey breathed down Caroline’s neck while she tried to peek.

Caroline quietly handed the card to Bailey.

“Happy Birthday, Caroline. I wanted to give you a little something that says it all. I hope you like it.” There was no signature on the card.

“Jackson?” Bailey inquired.

Caroline nodded.

“Wow. How’d he even know it was your birthday?” Bailey wondered with her hand on one hip.

Caroline struggled to recall their conversations. “I don’t know. I didn’t tell him.” And then it was as though a light bulb went off in her head. Her eyes got wide and she tilted her head back. “Wait. I told him on the airplane. We told each other our birthdays.”

“Shut up. On the airplane? That was months ago. You mean to tell me this guy remembered when your birthday was from one mention of it on an airplane flight?” Bailey raised her eyebrows.

“I guess.”

“And you’re not impressed by that? Hell, I’m impressed by that.”

Caroline didn’t say a word.