All Chapters of Bouquet Of Deception : Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

21EthanI said goodbye to Riley and headed back to my apartment next door. The moment I stepped inside, the nerves hit me again like a freight train. My chest felt tight, my palms were sweaty, and my mind was racing with every possible way this could go horribly wrong.I paced back and forth in my tiny living room, unable to sit still. My anxiety had reached the point where I was gnawing on my fingernails—a nasty habit I couldn’t seem to break when I was extremely stressed. I hated how I always spiraled like this.Luna, my gray cat, rubbed against my feet, purring softly. Normally, she was a calming presence, but right now, I couldn’t deal with her either. “Not now, Luna,” I muttered, gently pushing her away with my foot.She let out an indignant screech before swiping at my ankle with her claws. “Ow! Luna!” I yelped, glaring at her as a stinging scratch appeared on my skin. She hissed at me, tail flicking angrily, before darting off into my bedroom.“Fine! Be like that!” I shouted a

23EthanWe moved toward the grand entrance of the venue, and my jaw nearly dropped at the sight of the place. The towering golden gates framed by ivy, the soft glow of fairy lights hanging from the trees, and the sound of a distant string quartet—it all screamed elegance. Inside, I could already see well-dressed guests milling around, glasses of champagne in hand. I swallowed hard, feeling my stomach churn. My nerves were shot. My hands felt clammy, my heart raced, and I had the sudden, irrational urge to turn and run. God, I was so nervous I felt like peeing and pooping at the same time. My stomach hurt so bad I thought I might actually keel over. Riley, walking confidently beside me, must have noticed my panic because he reached over and grabbed my hand in his own. His grip was firm, warm, and grounding. I turned to look at him, wide-eyed, like a deer caught in headlights. “Breathe,” he said softly, his voice steady. “You’ve got this.” His words, paired with the gentle pr

25EthanThe first course arrived, and while everyone else dove into their salads, I couldn’t even muster the energy to pick up my fork. My mind buzzed with half-formed thoughts, questions I’d never get answers to, and regrets that felt heavier with every passing minute. Riley must’ve noticed my daze because he leaned in, his voice low enough that only I could hear. “You’ve got two choices, Ethan: you can let this night swallow you, or you can own it. Your call.” I glanced at him, his easy confidence like a lifeline. “How do you always know the right thing to say?” He smirked. “It’s a gift. And years of pretending to know what I’m doing.” I laughed, a real laugh this time, and his smirk softened into a warm smile. “Better,” he said, tapping his glass against mine. “Now eat something before you pass out. We’ve still got a lot of night ahead of us.” As I picked at my food, Riley casually turned the charm up a notch, laughing a little too loudly at my weak jokes and pulling m