As the Roses Bloomed Beneath His Feet, I Buried Our Seven-Year Marriage. novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: Real Roses

Alister came back the next morning at ten, when the shop was full.

He carried the biggest bouquet I had ever seen him buy.

It was red roses, three dozen of them, wrapped in brown paper and tied with a ribbon.

I was behind the counter with my bandaged hand, wrapping tulips for an old man in a flat cap.

The bell rang, and every head turned.

"Lena," Alister said.

He walked straight to the counter and held out the flowers.

The old man in the flat cap stepped back politely and stayed to listen.

"I was wrong," Alister said, loud enough for the whole shop. "I've been a fool, and I want everyone to hear me say it."

"Alister."

"I let a stranger get between us. I forgot what we had. Seven years, Lena, and I took you for granted." His voice cracked at exactly the right place. "I'm asking you to come home."

A woman near the window sighed.

I looked at the roses in his arms, and then at the floor.

His own roses were back, the ones that had grown at dinner, thicker than ever.

None of them leaned toward me.

Every stem curved the other way, toward the street, toward the black sedan idling at the curb with its engine running and a woman in the passenger seat.

← Chapter 7 · All chapters · Chapter 9 →

Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend