Page 5 of Garden Daddy

I don’t want him to be serious about pursuing me, remember?

Right.

3

Marcus

Patting downthe soil around the potted orchid, Marcus put an ice cube on top of it.The ice cubes were his favorite method for watering the orchids.He could control exactly how much water they got without having to measure out every drop.Plus, that way, the water slowly dripped down to the roots rather than flooding the soil.

Tending to the plants in his nursery always made him feel better.Ten years ago, he would have never guessed he was a plant person, but his heart attack had changed his life completely.When he was recovering, taking care of a potted geranium an old co-worker had brought him as a get-well-soon present had been soothing, but it had also given him purpose.

Purpose he’d lost when Eden left him.

It seemed strange that caring for a plant had done that, but it was true.He’d ended up going to get the geranium, which he’d named Gerry, a friend at the store, so Gerry wouldn’t be lonely when Marcus couldn’t be home with him.Then he’d added another, and another, filling the balcony of his apartment with greenery, which had soothed something inside him.

That was where he went to meditate.He also had an indoor room for the winter where he could keep the less hardy plants during the cold months, though he had to be careful to make sure there was space for them… which could be difficult because as soon as he saw another place where a plant could fit, his impulse was to fill it.

Investing his savings in the nursery had been risky, but it had not only paid off, it allowed him to be constantly surrounded by plants.Caring for them and finding good homes for them made him happy.He could always recognize another plant person, often dragging their resigned partner through the store while their face lit up with every plant they added to their cart.

Working a job that not only paid the bills but gave him true personal satisfaction had been a revelation.Even with the stresses of being the owner of the nursery, he was far less stressed than he had been before.His doctor had been a little worried when he’d first decided to purchase the space, but now, he was fully on board with the changes it had wrought in Marcus.

It was true flower power.

His phone chimed with a text message.

By the time he’d reached his hand into his pocket, it had chimed again.And again.

Concerned, he frowned as he unlocked the screen to see what was going on.

Multiple texts from both Owen and Andres, with almost identical messages.

You’re trying to get back together with Eden?

Well, it looked like Eden had gone running right to her friends.He probably should have expected that, but back when they’d divorced, she hadn’t gone to talk to her friends about it.Of course, all her friends had also been in some way involved with him and his job.She’d probably talked to some of her friends at work about it, but none of the people they’d hung out with… because all their non-work time had been about making work connections for him.

That wasn’t who she was anymore, so he probably should have expected that this go around would be different, and she wouldn’t be keeping everything to herself.It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to talk to his friends or keep it a secret.He’d just figured he’d let her decide whether she wanted the others to know.

Especially since she’d been so quiet to their social circle about their divorce.Different circumstances, obviously, but he’d wanted the ball in her court.For some reason, he really hadn’t thought she’d go running right out to tell everyone, though.He thought he’d have some time to prepare.

Oh, well.

As always with Eden, he should probably expect the unexpected.

Both of them had texted him individually, but he moved to the group chat to answer them rather than having to reply twice.

Marcus:I saw her this morning to tell her that I want to try again.I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t sure if she’d want everyone knowing her business.

That was short, succinct, and hopefully would clear everything up.

Owen:Good luck with that, man.Bree says she’s not interested.

Andres:Rita says she doesn’t want to be interested, but she is.

Marcus liked Rita’s interpretation better, so he’d go with that one.The one that gave him hope.

Maybe he should let Eden know he wasn’t going to give up that easily.

Marcus:Where are they?

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