Chapter 1 - Zoe Cocker

I’ve never lived on my own, until now. Before, I shared an apartment with my cousins in West Midtown, a hip neighborhood here in Atlanta, Georgia. But then Samantha moved in with her famous man who we all love, and Lexi’s rebound one-night stand turned into happiness with a guy who truly appreciates her, and I predict both couples will stand the test of time.

Which leaves me without roommates. 

And in a new home.

A studio apartment in Little Five Points, what some would call an even hipper neighborhood in “Hotlanta” if you count wild street art, food trucks, and colorful inhabitants, hip. 

Which I definitely do. 

A huge plus to my small place is two-fold. Not only do I live just a couple of blocks away from my flora and fauna business, where I am currently working right now, but my studio apartment is also just around the corner from The Vortex, a restaurant we Cockers adore with its kitschy decor, a motorcycle hanging from the ceiling, a snarky menu of delicious items like plantains, chili fries and BBQ burgers, served by irreverent staff — the irreverence part of its built-in appeal.

Living and working this close to our family’s favorite haunt has made living alone for me not so lonely. Every time I’ve asked, I’ve had the company of at least one member of our big family at The Vortex for a meal… and sometimes deep conversation, which I usually only ever get when I meet with someone one-on-one, so now I tend to only invite them one at a time.

I prefer a one-on-one. 

Not sure why. 

Is it because I prefer deep conversations lately?

Perhaps.

I hadn’t really thought of it until now.

Something changes when you turn a two into three. Three is how many of us shared our West Midtown apartment and I guess, if I’m honest, I felt a little like a third wheel. Sam and Lexi are best friends, sisters actually. And then there was me — the floaty-headed one with a thumb greener than the brightest blade of grass. 

Or maybe it’s because, since I was raised in a family of six, I was always part of a large group, so it’s refreshing now to be one-half of a two. 

Growing up, it was me and my brothers in this order: Nicholas, me, Wyatt, then Nathan. Add in Dad and Mom — AKA Jeremy and Meagan Cocker — and that’s a house of six. Plus Matthew practically lived at our place, Nicholas’ best friend, so… seven. 

And what with Dad being the youngest of Atlanta’s six notorious Cocker Brothers, all of whom had in total seventeen kids, there’s always been a large group around me. 

If you include the Cocker cousins’ spouses and kids, wow! The numbers really multiply! 

They’re wonderful. 

They are.

But lately I prefer one-on-one.

I am Mom and Dad’s only daughter, and many have said that my brothers have sheltered me too much. But I don’t think so. I’m just not as wild as my cousins, Samantha and Lexi. Definitely not as wild as Lexi! That girl can make a whore blush. Hmm. ‘Prostitute’ might be the more politically-correct word, but it doesn’t have the same ring, does it? 

Wait. 

How did I get on that subject? 

What was I thinking about? 

This always happens. 

I have ADHD, hence why people call me floaty-headed. Or is it fluffy-headed? Same thing. Either one is an adjective I’ve earned and don’t really mind, to say the truth. It’s not like I can help it. The good news is I have the kind of ADHD where when I’m focused on something I love — like floral design at my shop — I can’t hear or think of anything else. I get completely lost in the activity, sure, but I also always get a lot done with nothing interfering. Sometimes I even forget to eat. My unpredictable focus is why I had a really loud bell installed on my shop’s door so that when someone walks in, I look up. Like right now. 

“Good morning!” Mrs. Porter smiles as she strolls in, glancing to the door as it howls at her. “How are you, Zoe?” 

I push a stray lock of honey-brown hair away from my eyes to behind my ear. Capturing and piling into a messy bun today as I rushed to open my shop on time, wasn’t very effective. Pieces keep trying to escape. “Happy to be alive, Mrs. Porter. How’re you?” 

“My morning coffee put the spring in my step I sorely needed, thank you,” she ends with a laugh, eyes crinkling in wonder at my current project. “What a lovely arrangement! My goodness! It’s enormous!” 

Tucking fragrant Lavender stems into my selection of dark violet and bright white flowers of many varietals, I smile, “It’s intended for the foyer at The Four Seasons hotel. Have you been there?” 

“Not once.” 

“It’s massive. This is the second time they’ve hired me for the honor. I think my Uncle Justin made them hire me the first time as a favor to him, but they were pleased with what I did so they asked me to create another! Last time I went with reds as the focal point. I was planning on pinks today, but something about purple spoke to me. Do you think they’ll like it?” 

“I think they’ll love it.” Mrs. Porter gently touches one of the iris’ violet petals with a hint of both sadness and nostalgia. “This was my husband’s favorite color.” 

Sharing a look with her that says I miss him, too, I whisper, “I remember,” and add wistfully, “He used to ask me if I would paint my cream roses purple for him. I said I couldn’t suffocate them like that. I wish I’d given in and done it just once, though. If I’d have known he’d be gone so quick…” 

Touching my hand, Mrs. Porter gives a tender chuckle, “He did that to needle you, Zoe. Martin knew you believe that flowers and plants are sentient beings.” 

“They are!” 

“Then how can you cut them?” 

I blink at the odd question. “They were meant to be cut. They don’t mind at all.” 

“I almost believe you think that’s true.” 

I insist with sincerity, “It is true!”

People can be so funny sometimes, how they hold on so tightly to their ideas of reality.

Mrs. Porter eyes me knowingly. It’s a look I get from people a lot. As if they can see that my head is in the clouds and that I don’t know it is. 

However, I do know. 

I want it there. 

“Lilies again, Mrs. Porter?” 

“Yes, dear. The last ones stayed with me for nearly three weeks. I don’t know how you do it! Today I finally said, it’s time for a replacement. Have you any?” 

“For you? Always!” I disappear into the refrigerated room where I keep my beautiful little wonders, collect a dozen white Calla Lilies to lovingly arrange as I happily return to where she waits for me at the main counter. Mrs. Porter watches as I place the graceful flowers on brown wax paper and tie them with thin, natural rope. “Put them on your tab?” 

“Yes, please, dear.”

The howl of the bell raises my gaze toward the door, and my heart starts pounding faster than is healthy for me. 

Or anyone. 

Ryder Hamilton has been my crush ever since we met. And by crush I mean cracked, smashed and pummeled. He has no idea how I feel about him. If he does, he’s never taken it seriously, which is the bane of my existence. He’s the nephew of my cousin Emma’s husband, billionaire Tanner Hamilton, and when Ryder moved to Atlanta I thought for sure I’d found the guy I would marry. 

Seeing him today, I still feel that way. 

“Hey Zoe,” Ryder smiles. 

“Hi Ryder!” I grin, heart pounding. 

He pauses and holds the door open. I blink as a beautiful girl who looks to be also in her twenties, steps into my shop and takes Ryder’s hand. “I want you to meet Margot,” he says, adding as if it means nothing, “My girlfriend.” 

Jaw.

Dropped.

To. 

The. 

Floor.

Photo by Don Ricardo on Unsplash

Author’s Note: As I mentioned “Tuesday morning at the latest” I have launched this, the first chapter of Book 30! While I finished editing this on Monday night, I thought that too late, so I scheduled it for Tuesday morning. From here on out I will try my best to publish new chapters Monday-Friday, five days a week, barring any unforeseen circumstances. They say how do you make God laugh? Make plans. ;) Have a beautiful day!