Page 18 of Wild Flower

“Is that really what you said?”

Miranda laughs even louder, and I switch the nozzle setting to something more intense thanmist. Thejetsetting shoots out like a bullet.

“You’re going to ruin this plant!” Miranda squeals, knowing my weakness is the babies I’ve nurtured from seeds. I switch the setting toflat, which covers a large area without the intensity to poke a hole through my lovelies.

“What did you say?” I demand.

Miranda steps out from behind the philodendron and opens her arms wide, more than happy to be showered by my baptism. “I told him you grow exotic plants,” she proclaims. “And if he’s not intrigued by that, then he’s a dipshit.”

“You called him a dipshit?”

Miranda rolls her eyes, and I lay off on the water. “I left the door open for him to walk through it,” Miranda clarifies. “Now spill! I’m the one who’s supposed to be giving you the third degree!”

I pick up the hose at my feet and walk down the aisle to start my watering routine. Do I tell Miranda about last night? We’ve talked about men before, but this was different … scandalous. Not to mention, she has no idea about Finn.

“Your silence is quite incriminating,” Miranda teases.

“Dessert was very good,” I say to appease her—plus, that isn’t a lie.

I’m awful at lying, which Miranda knows. I flush and stutter and have a hundred tells.

“Dessertwas good?” Miranda teases, not attacking, but reading into it. “Archer gave you his number, didn’t he? Oh man, is he dreamy! He’sexactlylike those dudes in the naughty books you read. Did he set up a date? Did he tell you he’s got a sex dungeon in his basement and ask how hard you want to be spanked?” Laughter giggles up her throat with the preposterousness of what she’s said, only, she has no clue how close to the truth she is.

“There aren’t basements in Hawaii,” I deflect.

“Okay,” Miranda sasses in agreement. “Did he invite you to run through the jungle instead? Did he let his hair down and play Tarzan while you play Jane?”

“No.” That isn’t a lie, but my pale skin has a habit of betraying me in the wrong moments. “He did not give me his number either, but dessert was delicious.” True statements. “Perhaps some of the best dessert I’ve ever had.” Still not lying. “And that was that.”

I water the pots at the back of the shop, ignoring Miranda and herI call bullshitfrown.Those rain boots accentuate every step as she walks in my direction, but I pretend this conversation is over.

“So Becca, here’s the part you don’t know,” Miranda says when she reaches me at the back of the shop. “Finn’s my cousin, and we talk.”

Wait—what?

12

FINN

My phone is beeping with text message notifications like the world is ending.

Usually, I turn my phone off when I’m photographing, but I forgot to put the device on silent. Not that the botanical garden is inspiring anything more than despair. After the umpteenth beep, I put my camera down and check my cell.

Miranda:Hey! Thanks so much for getting us a reservation at Flambé last night. We had a blast!

Oh, right. I forgot my cousin came to the restaurant last night. We were pretty slammed when she arrived, and I saw her for about ten seconds before I had to go back to my tables.

Miranda:What a delicious (and naughty) place (am I right?)!

Miranda:Too bad you didn’t get to wait on us.

Miranda:But also not so bad, because that place is HOT! Did you really want to watch me tongue lasso my boyfriend all night? Probably not.

Miranda:I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of that working there.

I have.

In general, the restaurant’s MO is to look the other way when the patrons get frisky, unless someone is taking things too far or being a disturbance. Was what Archer and I did too far? Frankly, it felt perfect, even though our silver-haired flower didn’t show up at 2 AM. I told Archer she wasn’t going to show, and she didn’t.Patience, he kept echoing like some top-of-the-mountain guru promising the secret to life’s mysteries.

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