Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

“Do you have it or not?”
“Yup. Selena is putting it back in its box and bringing it out of the car.”
Maddox groaned.
“Seriously? You told Selena to come, too?!”
“You think I would miss seeing you lose any modicum of pride and
respect you had accumulated over the years? Think again.”
I turned around to see Detective Yakori walking toward us, a shoe box
with holes in it in one hand while the other was holding her phone and
clearly recording Maddox. I puffed out a laugh and he glared at me in a way
that said my ass would be red tonight. I smiled eagerly, letting him know I
would gladly take this punishment.
They took jabs at him, and all three of us laughed at him while he simply
ignored us, flipping us off from time to time. Discreetly, so that other parents
wouldn't see him. I tried peeking into Selena’s box to see what that surprise
was but had no luck in that department. I did have my suspicions but hoped it
wasn’t what I thought it was inside that box.
When finally the bell rang and kids started running out of the school’s
gates, I could see him tense slightly. He had absolutely no reason to be
nervous, because Valentina loved him and would love how thoughtfully he
had prepared all of this.
As kids went up to their parents, some stopped to stare at him, especially
little girls who, no doubt, knew who he was dressed as.
When I recognized Valentina’s black mane of hair, walking quietly with
her eyes on the ground, hands clutching her backpack firmly, my breath
hitched.
Okay, so maybe I was a little nervous myself.