Without another second of hesitation, he turned around abruptly and dumped the lily bouquet into the nearest trash bin, the sound of stems hitting plastic echoing sharply in the quiet space.
When he returned, he was holding a box of chocolates.
This time, by sheer luck or memory, it happened to be the brand Jules used to love.
He placed it carefully on the table, pulled out the chair across from her, and sat down with an ingratiating smile plastered on his face.
"I'm sorry… I'm really sorry," he repeated, his voice almost overly gentle. "I didn't know you'd react this strongly."
Jules inhaled slowly, the faint scent of chocolate lingering in the air left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Her voice remained calm when she replied, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.
"In the future, if you ever see gardenias at my wedding banquet, don't feel disgusted."
The color drained from Nick's face once again. Gardenias. Of course.
