Sinner

7| Brunch

Chapter 7: Brunch (Venus's POV)

When I came back home, I was exhausted. 

I have to walk back home every day after school but my mom goes to pick up Clarissa. She thinks I'm too old to be picked up. Occasionally, I come back with Remy because I can't drive for the life of me. Clarissa's school was also a lot closer, hence, she's always already home when I get back. 

"Vee!" I followed her voice into the kitchen. 

"Yes, Clarissa?" I asked, setting my bag down on the counter. 

"There's a gift for you." I perked up.

"Hmm?" 

"A boy came by. He left you roses." 

"A boy? Did he give a name?" I asked. 

"No, but the roses are in the living area." 

I rushed over there, excited to see who sent me the flowers. I've never gotten flowers from a boy before. I saw the bouquet, smiling like an idiot as I picked it up and plucked off the card. 

From Nate. 

Nate? Like... Nate Bradford? Nate from school? 

I went back into the kitchen, still trying to figure out why Nate would send me a bouquet and a card out of nowhere. I picked up my bag from the counter. "Thanks for letting me know," I smiled at Clarissa. 

"Who is he?" she asked. 

"A friend," I shrugged. 

"Then even Remy would send you roses," she grinned. 

"He's a friend," I laughed. "Don't act smart, finish your homework. Do you want to paint our nails later?" I asked. 

She nodded eagerly. 

"Well then hurry up and finish." I went up to my room, setting the bouquet and card down on my desk. I sat in bed, grabbing the phone from my nightstand. Surprise, surprise, we don't have cell phones. We have old-fashioned landlines. But at least mine is pretty and a vintage mint blue. I rotated each dial for Nate's number which I found in my planner. I have a page for phone numbers. 

Cadara is really old-fashioned, Jesus Christ. 

It rang twice before someone answered. 

"Hello, Bradford household, how can I help?" 

"Um, can I know who's speaking?" 

"I'm Katrina, the housemaid here." 

"Oh hi, I'm Venus Princeton, I was wondering if Nate is back yet, I need to speak to him, please," I cleared my throat. 

"One moment, Ms." I heard shuffling and her calling 'Mr. Nate.' 

"Hello?" his voice came through. 

"Nate?" 

"Venus, oh hey," he chuckled. 

"Hey, I just um... did you send me roses?" I asked bluntly. Which I'm sure I'm not supposed to do. 

"Yeah, is that okay?" he chuckled. "We haven't spoken in a while, I thought we could catch up, I just sent you flowers as a gesture," he said. "Humming Heartbeat. Tomorrow? For brunch?" he asked. 

Hummingbird Heartbeat is the most famous and the best cafe in Cadara. 

"For brunch? So... let's say noon?" I offered. 

"Sure," he agreed. 

"All right, I'll see you then." I smiled to myself, wrapping the phone cord around my finger.