Page 7 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
My flowers were easy. It would take time, but my research could be replicated. What I really wanted was for everything between us to be okay.
Mercy had helped for a bit but returned home to eat lunch and nap before her game. Saphira and AJ stayed and helped throw away pot shards, sweep up dirt and glass, right all my tables and shelves, and pick up what remained of years of my flower project.
My poor flowers. They weren’t so happy anymore.
Everyone insisted I didn’t need to do this now. But I was about to leave with the Maimers for over a week. I should clean up so repairs on the greenhouse could be made in my absence.
Every dead plant, every shattered pot, broke my heart. Sure, with my notes and samples, I could reconstruct everything.
With all my setbacks, was it even worth it? NYIT wanted me to stretch my research. I could do something else.
But what? I loved my happy plants. Not to mention, Ihadbeen making good progress.
I cradled the poor dead roses I’d started grafting for Grif. It wasn’t like I’d spent years on it, like my lilies. It still cut hard, especially after today.
They even had to wreck this.Why? Who could be so mean?
“Are you okay? What kind of plant is that?” Dean crouched down next to me among the ruins, his cozy scent full of worry and his pale red brows furrowing.
When did they get here? Who’d told them? Mercy, probably. Did Grif come with him? I didn’t smell him, but I got a hint of moss and worry.
“I planned on breeding a rose for Grif. They even killed that. Why would they do such a vile thing? The flowers have done nothing to deserve this.” Anger welled up inside me.
“People can be fuckers.” Jonas joined him, wearing sweats. “You’re making him a flower? Amazing. How can we help?”
“Is Grif here?” I looked around, needing a hug from him so badly. AJ’s had been nice, but nothing would beat one from Grif right now.
“Grif’s at the doctor’s. We brought lunch.” Dean held up a paper sack.
“Grif’s at the doctor’salone?” Something inside me didnotlike that. My belly rumbled at the thought of food.
“I know. I don’t like being away from him. But he made us come to you. He’ll be okay.” Dean’s muscular arms wrapped around me, his cozy scent reassuring.
“Will he?” My head buried in Dean’s pale neck. He smelled like Grif today. The rain and coziness did it for me.Mmmm.
It made me miss him all the more.I’ll fix this.
I’d fight for him.Us.
“He put off some tests he shouldn’t have, but he will,” Dean replied, planting a kiss on my temple.
Sitting on the ground with us, Jonas pulled me into his lap. I loved how I fit in his tattooed arms.
“I’m sorry that happened. Also, I’m sorry that Grif’s past bit you both in the ass today.” Jonas’ lips brushed my ear. “Go with the Maimers. Have a wonderful time. Then you’ll come back and you two can have that big talk. Don’t run. Please?”
“By then we’ll hopefully have our pack contract, which will make things so much better.” Dean rubbed my back.
Big talk.My belly dipped.
“I don’t want to run. I want this to work. But I didn’t mean to hurt him. Wanting to wait to bond felt like the practical choice. Though I don’t have to if it’s harming people. I simply wanted to talk to everyone first.” I looked at Jonas, willing him to understand.
Jonas stroked my hair. “I love that flexibility. It makes me happy that you didn’t do anything rash. We’ll talk about all that when you get back, okay?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go. I need to fix my plants. If Grif’s not okay, I should be here with him.” My chest heaved as everything inside me fragmented.
AJ crouched in front of me, my big boys boxing me in. He took my face in his hands. “Trust us to take care of Grif for you? It’ll take time for the repairs to be made to your greenhouse. For you to get your replacement things. It makes sense to go with the Maimers on your West Coast adventure as planned.”
I tipped my forehead to his, believing him, as he gently wiped the tears away with his thumbs. “I trust you.”
