It was a bright sunny day. I walked just fine down to my car and drove to work. It was my first day back since I fell down the stairs. I was in a surprisingly good mood and ready for work.

The last few days were spent resting my leg and catching up on my favorite TV shows. I took advantage of being able to watch what I wanted. My ex-husband hated anything I wanted to watch.

On Friday, I looked at the time and found myself hobbling to the window that faced Gray's building. I wondered if I could catch him coming home. I watched and waited for fifteen minutes. When he didn't show, I assumed he had other plans. I made my way back to the couch.

I got to the office and walked straight to my desk. It looked like only a couple of other employees were there so far. I was surprised to see a beautiful bouquet sitting on my desk. They were yellow carnations.

At first, I thought Emily got them for me. Though, she knows I'm not a fan of carnations. And yellow ones mean rejection or an apology. I had some interest in the symbolism of different flowers. Maybe it was Dana or Charlotte. They're both sweet like that to send flowers and probably wouldn't know the meanings of flowers.

I set my small green purse down and smelled the flowers. It wasn't my favorite scent. But I was happy to think someone would even send me flowers. I sat down at the desk and turned on the computer. The screen was loading when someone came up behind me.

"You like the flowers?"

Oh my God. No.

I slowly turned around. "Did you get those?"

"Yup. I know you like flowers." Garrett smiled at me with his hand on my chair and spun me around.

"Why did you do that?" I glared at him.

He stood up straight. "Jeez, I thought you'd appreciate it."

"We're not dating anymore. Why would I?" I turned the chair back around to face my computer. It was still loading up.

Then Garrett spun my chair around again. He knelt to meet my face.

"Look, Gabby, I'm sorry about how I acted before. I do regret treating you that way."

"Do not call me that," I said coldly.

For some reason, both Garrett and my ex-husband called me Gabby. That pet name made me cringe.

"Gabriella." Garrett smiled. "I want to make it up to you. Let me take you out to dinner."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, so you're asking me after Chloe rejected you?"

Garrett furrowed his brows. "It's not like that. I want to take you out and give you a good time." He winked at me.

I blushed and felt nauseous. "You're dumb."

I tried to spin back around again, but Garrett held the chair.

"Seriously, if you change your mind, text me. I'll take you to your favorite spot."

Garrett knew my favorite place was the newer restaurant, River Shore. They had fantastic burgers and a beautiful view of the river. I hadn't been there in a while. The thought of it made my mouth water. Then I remembered what Chloe said about getting free food from all the men in the office.

"You pay, then I'll go." I folded my arms over my chest.

He smiled. "Great! I'll meet you there at 7 pm." Garrett went back to his desk.

I rolled my eyes, remembering he didn't have his car half the time we were dating. After we broke up, he had to get his rides to work from someone else or take a cab often.

Everyone strolled into their department. My computer finally finished loading. I started to go through my emails. I felt I was behind since having that extra day off.

"Oh my God, Ella! Who gave you flowers?" Emily shouted for everyone to hear.

I put my head down. I was embarrassed. In the corner of my eye, I saw Dana and Charlotte making their way to my desk to see for themselves.

"Oh! Those are pretty." Dana smiled as she smelled them.

Charlotte reached over to touch them. "So, who's the admirer?"

She smiled like she knew something. But she couldn't have known it was Garrett. He was the last person I would have guessed. I would have even thought of Vince before him.

"Garrett. He wanted to apologize for being a dick and asked me out to dinner."

I looked back at the flowers. It was sweet, to be honest. I remembered the daises Garrett gave me the day after our first date. He had asked Emily for advice on where to take me. She told him about my fascination with gardens. He took me to the city zoo, which had a fantastic garden. I pointed out a few of my favorite flowers and explained their significance.

I also mentioned my divorce to him. How I was still adjusting to life, especially since my ex-husband was the first and only man I had a relationship with. One of the things daises symbolized was new beginnings. I thought my heart would explode when he gave them to me the day after our first date.

"What?" They all asked in unison.

Each of them had a tone mixed with confusion and disgust.

"You think he's trying to get back together?" Emily frowned.

"I doubt it. Garrett likes Chloe." I scoffed.

"So, are you going to dinner with him?" Charlotte was frowning too.

"Yes. Garrett's paying, so why not?" I smiled.

"Well, don't play into him. Make sure he knows you're not taking him back." Dana warned and then went to her team's area. Charlotte soon followed.

Emily and I continued to chat more until Gray came in. He was too busy fixing his tie and hair to notice anything. He looked disheveled.

It wasn't until he sat at his desk that he looked up and saw Emily standing next to me. His eyes focused on the flowers and then shifted to me. His brows furrowed.

"Emily, I'm going to need that Nelson file ASAP," Gray called in a surprisingly grumpy tone. He didn't use that tone with Emily usually.

I looked up at her with an apologetic face, feeling guilty for getting her on Gray's radar. She smiled back at me and said she'd text me.

At lunchtime, I noticed Gray slip out the back stairs again. He always went somewhere else for lunch. Emily and I made our way to the break room. Today she had packed two southwest chicken wraps for her lunch. I looked at them and laughed.

"Alright, there's no way you're eating all of that. Your lunch weighs half of you."

"I brought extra for you because I know you're too stubborn to bring your own. Why don't you eat more?" Emily slid the other half of her food across the table to me.

I gently smacked my cheeks with both hands. "Because I don't need to eat."

"Shut up and eat!" Emily scolded me. "You are not fat."

I didn't want to argue with her about it again. She didn't understand how I felt like an ugly ogre next to her.

When lunch was almost over, Chloe walked up to our table.

"So, I hear you're going to dinner with Garrett tonight."

She smiled at me. I studied her face to see any hint of sarcasm. But I didn't.

"Yup." I didn't know what else to say to her.

"See, I told you it's fun to get free food." She laughed.

Was she saying that all I care about is food? It was the main reason I took him up on his offer. But still, it feels like she's calling me a fat pig.

I threw in an awkward laugh. "Yeah." Go away.

Emily saw how awkward I was. "He gave her flowers too. It sounds like he wants to get back together with her."

I shot Emily a look. Shut up.

"Oh?" Chloe raised her eyebrow. "Well, I guess that's one less man for me to go out with." She walked out of the break room.

I let out the air I was holding in my lungs. I looked over at Emily with a question mark on my face. That was weird.

"What?" She stood up from the table. "She needs to know she's not the only woman here worth dating."

"I don't care about that. Like I would get that much attention anyway." I followed her out of the break room.

"Maybe if you put more effort into your appearance." Emily stopped and looked me up and down.

I was wearing one of the three outfits I had for work. I had black slacks on that hung loosely on me. I wore a basic blue blouse, no make-up, and my hair was in its usual low ponytail.

Nothing form-fitting nor showing too much skin. Very plain, simple, and comfortable. I've tried wearing the type of outfits Emily and Chloe would wear, but I always thought I looked like a potato trying to be a diamond. I felt like an imposter.

"Well, I think if a guy doesn't like me like this, then it's not going to work out." I gestured to my outfit. "This is the most dressed up they're going to see."

Emily laughed. "I know. I admire you for that."

That comment surprised me. What did Emily mean by that?