He knows what I am thinking

The show ends to hearty applause and I stroll eagerly into his room hoping to share a few words before the other audience flock in. Wig off, a smidge of liptick is leaping out from the left corner of his lower lip. I watch him for a few quiet moments until he catches sight of me in the mirror. The neon lights blinked crazily as I struggled for an appropriate greeting.

"Oh you darlingggggggg, you shouldn't have!" he drawls as I hand him my bouquet. 12 roses. Ruby red. Freshly trimmed and cut a mere three hours ago. I'd purchased them coming right out of the sub from a lady decked in a wide-brimmed straw hat despite the gloomy weather.

He lands a peck on my left cheek. Another on the right. I let myself beam proudly as he reached immediately for a vase and blustered away to fill it up. I throw a cursory glance at the prize and see a loose petal. I frown. I am sure that everything was perfect a minute ago.

I reach in and pluck it from the stem, leaving it dangling no more.

Oh my God. He's laughing at me. I turn around and see him standing by the door, vase in hand. It was my gift from last Christmas. His smile dances to the end of a chuckle.

I quickly slip the stray petal into my pocket. Too late. He's still laughing. I want to laugh. To let him know I share the joke which was in fact, me. To cover up the embarrassment. But I think he knows. So I try to keep a straight face. Try not to blush too hard.

That's when I see them. Perfect. Not a single part out of place. I am wondering how I'd missed them when I waltzed into the room seconds before. About 60 roses, a shade of red more dazzling than my own. Beads of water still glistening even in the shady light, perched for all to see in the middle of the dressing counter.

There is silence. He knows what I am thinking. Am I about to know what his thoughts are?

I watch. Nervously. He takes a few steps forward. No haste. But no hint of hesitation.

I watch. Breathless. He slowly pushes the brighter, bigger 60 slightly to the back and place my bouquet in front. I think I finally know what he is thinking.