The flowers arrived just after ten o’clock the next morning. She was surprised to find the delivery boy standing there when she opened the door. She tipped him and searched through the bouquet for a card. Nestled in the midst of the bright orange and yellow roses and lilies was a small card that read: “Forgive me for my bad behavior, Alex.” She was surprised and touched that he took the time to apologize. This was more like the man she’d met, not that man from last night. She sniffed at the roses. Their fragrance was lovely and reminded her of summers at her grandmother’s. Her grandmother had a courtyard full of roses of every color you could think of. Walking through there had always been a delight for her senses. Payton loved flowers. She felt like they always made a room come alive.
She busily went about her day, smiling to herself if the flowers caught her eyes. She was working on proofs on the computer today. She’s had some high school seniors in last week and she was busy editing the photos with the blemish function in her program. She hardly noted that Sid had come in until he cried out in an angry voice.
“What the hell is he doing sending you flowers?!”
Payton jumped startled by his outburst.
“He just wanted to apologize. I think it was nice.”
Sidney scowled and grabbed the flowers, crossed the room to the waist basket and tossed them in.
“Hey,” Payton protested, fishing the flowers back out of the can. “Those are mine. Don’t blame the flowers, it’s not their fault.”
“You want to keep flowers from Ovechkin on the table where you have dinner with me?!” he asked irate.
“Sidney, what’s wrong with you? They’re just flowers.”
“From HIM!”
She looked at him in disbelief. This was not the man that she knew. He was going to explain about Alex or she could never possibly understand.
“What happened between you two?”
“Nothing,” he said and refused to speak to her about it no matter how many times she questioned him. She moved the slightly crumpled flowers into the kitchen and out of sight of her grumpy boyfriend. He was sullen and though he was unhappy, the pout on his face completely stole her heart and she did her best to bring him out of his misery.
“Sidney,” she whispered in his ear.
“What?” he acted like he was ignoring her, but he glanced over at her from the corner of his eye.
“Are you going to be grumpy all night?” she teased him, kissing his neck.
“Are you still keeping the flowers?” he asked, returning his attention to the game on TV. Payton sat back in exasperation. She stormed off to the kitchen and he smiled just a little. He was just thinking that he’d made her suffer enough when she called out from the kitchen.
“Yes, I’m keeping the damn flowers!”
His smile disappeared quickly. He stood, took a deep breath and walked into the kitchen after her. He went over to the counter where she stood defiantly. He grabbed the flowers and threw them forcefully in the trash. Then he grabbed her shoulders and kissed her hard. He backed her up into the counter and held her there while she tried to push him away, her hands on his chest. He wrapped his fingers in her hair and pulled so that her face was forced up to his. Then he pulled the buttons on her shirt making her blouse fall open. He pushed her bra strap off her shoulder and tugged her bra down. His fingers roughly teased her breast making her nipple hard. He released her from the kiss and his mouth travelled down her neck.
“Sidney, stop.” She was still struggling against him.
“No,” he mumbled against her skin lowering his hand to the waist band of her yoga pants. He slid his hand beneath the fabric and between her legs. His mouth smothered her nipple and he lifted her onto the counter.
“No, stop, Sidney,” she said again more forcefully this time. “What has gotten into you?”
He stopped and glared at her. “No, what’s gotten into you? I can be more like him, if that’s what you want. Is it? Is he what you want?”
She couldn’t believe her ears. She placed her hand on his cheek and brushed a loose curl out of his eyes. He refused to look at her now. His jaw clenched and released.
“Sidney, I love you,” she said quietly. “You’re all I want. You’re more than I ever hoped for. You are everything to me.” She brushed his lips with her own and kissed him softly. He wrapped his strong arms around her and kissed her back.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered in her ear. “I didn’t hurt, you did I?”
“No, but we should probably save the rough stuff for when you’re not mad,” she smiled at him.
He grinned and lifted her off the counter with her legs around his waist and carried her to the bedroom.
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