Flowers
Flowers were his calling card – a little flair of color and whimsy to show that he'd been there. Sometimes daisies, sometimes carnations. For Sophie, it was lilies. Easter lilies, calla lilies, tiger lilies, stargazers. Each was plucked from where it grew and tenderly placed in a vase that sat on one of the end tables in her living room.
She'd always assumed they were a parting gift. Then, one Saturday morning when she was stepping out of the shower, wrapping a towel around herself, she was shown that it wasn't.
Her toe touched the bath rug and up popped a brilliant orange lily, petals unfurling as if to say "good morning."
Sophie gasped and stumbled back, taken off guard. She watched the flower for a moment, waiting for something to happen.
"Aster?"
The only response was the far off bark of a dog. Sophie reached for the clothing she'd brought in with her, half expecting a flower to sprout from the counter top. When nothing happened, she shrugged and pulled the hooded sweatshirt over her head, then lifted one leg to slid on the flimsy pink boy-shorts. Again, the second her foot touched the ground, a flower sprouted right beside it.
This time she swore and jumped back, her elbow hitting the wall smartly and two more flowers growing from where her feet landed.
Stretching over, she grabbed her jeans and pulled them on, laughing in exasperation as flowers popped up around her moving feet.
"Seriously, Aster!" she shouted, not entirely sure if he could hear her or not. She could easily picture his smirk as he watched her prance around the growing garden of lilies.
Laughing, she ran out of the bathroom and into the living room. Lilies of every color sprang up, trailing after her. It looked ridiculous – the riot of colors sprouting from the carpet. She'd have to pick them all, find vases to hold all of them. Having her landlord walk in to this wouldn't end well at all.
She spun, watching the flowers follow her movements in a wild spiral.
"Having fun?"
Sophie gasped and whirled towards the low voice. Aster was leaning against the wall, looking smug and quite adorable.
With a laugh, she lunged forward and threw herself into his waiting arms, sighing in surrender as his mouth easily found hers.
She would never tell him that her favorite flowers were irises.