Page 115 of Neighbors With Benefits

APPLICATION FOR PLANT ASYLUM

Requested Location: Jazzland Greenhouse

List of Applicants:

1. Cereus Hildmannianus

2. Ponytail Palm

3. Blushing Philodendron

4. Neogregelia Bromeliad

“What the hell is this?” I asked.

“The form you requested,” he called over his shoulder.

I hurried into the back yard after him. “You actually made a plant asylum request?”

“You told me to.”

“I was joking.”

“I’m not. I care about these plants. I don’t want there to be a misunderstanding.”

I followed him into the greenhouse and held up the paper. “This is notarized!”

“We have a notary at work. I borrowed her stamp.”

He said it all so matter-of-factly, like it wasn’t a joke. But that only made me laugh harder. “I can’t believe it. Dante has a sense of humor.”

He placed the potted plant on the floor of the greenhouse. “Don’t ruin it. Get changed and help me haul all the fertilizer over here. It’s stacked up in our driveway.”

“So serious,” I teased.

He gave me a playful glare. At least, I assumed it was playful.

I changed out of my work clothes and got to work hauling materials over to the greenhouse. While I did that, Dante used an electric saw to cut boards for the raised flowerbeds that would fill most of the space inside. Occasionally, he asked me to hand him a tool or a piece of wood.

It was kind of nice working together on a project without chatting. We didn’t talk at all, but it wasn’t awkward. At one point, Dante turned the radio on to the Phillies game while we worked.

Eventually, he unplugged the saw and stretched his arms over his head. “That’s a good stopping point. I’m gonna grab a shower at my place. You should take one, too.”

“Oh?” I asked innocently. “Why would I need to shower?”

“Because,” he said with a glimmer in his eye, “I want you as clean as possible for what I intend to do to you.”

“What do you want to do to me?” I asked.

He stepped closer, arm brushing against mine while he removed his work gloves. “I want to make you dirty all over again.”

He leaned in close like he was going to kiss me, and I held my breath. But then he smiled and began walking away.

“I’ll be back over in ten minutes,” he promised.

“Wait,” I said. “Do you want to talk about all of this first? Like, what this is?”

“Not really.”

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