She set it back down. “The organic farm over there has it for three.”
My smile faltered. “Oh. Well, this is?—”
But she was already walking away, heading straight for the booth with the fancy wooden signs and the long line of customers.
I stared after her, my chest tightening. Three dollars? How was I supposed to compete with that?
A teenage boy drifted over, hands shoved deep in his pockets. His eyes kept darting to the flower bouquets.
“Those are pretty,” he mumbled.
“Thanks. They're twelve dollars each. Perfect for?—”
“Twelve?” His face fell. “That's... a lot.”
“Ten,” I said quickly. “I can do ten dollars.”
He bit his lip, glancing back toward where a girl his age was browsing the bakery booth. “I don't know...”
He shifted his weight, clearly torn. “I only have eight.”
The smart business move would be to hold firm. But the kid looked so hopeful.
“Deal.”
The relief on his face made my chest tight. He dug crumpled bills from his pocket, counting twice before handing them over.
I wrapped the bouquet in brown paper, watching him jog back to the girl with a grin that made my heart squeeze. At least someone would be happy today.
Even if I was slowly pricing myself out of business.
Cal appeared at my elbow, hands shoved in his pockets. “Done for the day?”
“Almost.” I straightened the remaining chard bunches, willing them to look more appealing through sheer force of optimism. “How'd the adoption thing go?”
“Found a couple for Hank. They're picking him up Tuesday, they need to dog-proof their house first.”
“That's amazing!” I beamed at him. “How does it feel?”
Cal's eyebrows lifted slightly. “How does what feel?”
“Finding Hank a home.” I gestured toward where the grumpy terrier had been stationed all day. “You've had him for weeks, right? It must feel good knowing he's going somewhere he'll be loved.”
Something shifted in Cal's expression—not quite a smile, but the tension in his jaw eased. “Yeah. It does.”
“Just 'yeah'?” I leaned against the table, grinning. “Come on, Cal. You can give me more than that.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I don't know. That you're thrilled? Relieved? Secretly devastated because you'll miss his grumpy little face?”
Cal's mouth twitched. Almost imperceptibly, but I caught it.
“All three,” he admitted.
My chest warmed. “See? Was that so hard?”
“Excruciating.”