Page 27 of Iris
“Buttercup, whatever it is that’s bothering you, remember I’m here at any time, okay? You deserve to be happy, don’t let anyone, especially yourself, tell you differently.”
I blow a kiss towards her as I walk out back to my car.
I actually make good on time, I have another fifteen minutes before I need to open the shop. I don’t grab a Mood Tea, but after having breakfast with Dorian this morning, I haven’t needed it.
Igor is already in the greenhouse when I step into it. She’s set up the plant food for me.
“Thanks, Igor.” I hand her one of the bags of flies from Buttercups. “I think that one is cotton candy flavored.”
“Oh, yummy!” Igor commences snacking on the flies as I go to the seedlings first.
Crouching next to them, I run my fingers over the top, sending a pulse of magic into them as I hold my breath to see if the magic will work. There isn’t any push back like before, so that means progress.
They aren’t any bigger than they were when I planted them the other night, but they have gained more color. They aren’t brown anymore, so something must have improved. Churning the soil to include the additional plant food, I take an extra minute before I place my hands onto the ground.
The soil is cool to the touch. I close my eyes as I take in a deep breath. This is home. As I spread my awareness out to the surrounding plants, that off feeling is still there, but at least it has lessened. So far there’s no pain yet. Maybe I will be able to work a little more magic today.
Bringing back my power from the surrounding area, I push it into the seedlings. My magic brushes against them, making them stronger as they grow faster than is normal. They’ve only grown a few inches taller when my magic, yet again, comes rushing back inside of me, knocking me on my ass.
“Fuck!” What the hell is going on? This is getting to the point it's going to cause issues with the dance. Not to mention I'm a plant witch. it's the only magic I actually can do anything with. it's my life.
Counting backward from ten, I stand up. I’ll have to try to figure this out a little later. I don’t have a lot of time before the shop needs to be opened, but I need to check on the red banana trees and pick one for the dance.
The greenhouse is currently a little over a mile long with all of my plants. Another bigger on the inside spell from Mom. It grows or shrinks as I need it to. My exotic plants and trees are about a half mile inside. Usually when I walk the greenhouse, I take a long time because I want to check on all of the plants. I don’t have the time today, plus I really don’t want to aggravate the pounding headache I now have.
The red banana trees are located about a half mile in. I have three I got from an older plant witch last year. I’ve been taking care of them without any magic thus far. They’ve been thriving on their own.
I arrive at the plants with a speed walk within ten minutes. I know which one I want already, but I want the runt of the litter, so to speak. it's still smaller than the other two that are on either side, but I know it will thrive under some more love and attention. I put some plant food around the trees, check the pH of the soil afterward, and push a jolt of magic through to the runt. The pain burns with how I push, but I need to start the growing process now.
By the time I'm done, my head feels like it's ready to pop. When I stand, I sway, unable to stand straight. Igor ends up coming to help me get back inside. She brews me peppermint tea for my headache and opens the store for me.
My uniform is covered in soil, but I don’t have time to change, even with Igor’s help. People are used to seeing me covered in some kind of dirt, it won’t be a big deal.
I need to call Mom tonight before my date with Noah. Maybe she’ll have an idea what is going on.
Igor is on the counter where the register is when I come into the shop. Today is the day I usually swap out the cut flowers for new ones, but I don’t want to risk more of a headache. it's the perfect opportunity for an impromptu sale.
The sign takes less than a minute to write and tape to the door. Cut Flowers Are 50% off! Hopefully, that will prompt folks to come buy these. I worry about replacing them when it comes to it. I send out a massive text to my store subscribers letting them know about the sale.
The first hour only one person who comes in to buy some flowers for his teacher, but as time goes by, more people show up to participate in the sale. I have three customers when Noah shows up with his daily delivery. I swear the two women in the shop sigh lustfully as he walks by. I can’t blame them, but I still want to rip out their voice boxes and feed their eyes to crows for looking at him.
Wow. That isn’t normal. Is it? Maybe I need to talk to someone who has multiple mates and find out. This pain in my head isn’t helping anything.
“Hi, Noah.” Whispering is the only thing we can do at this point with the customers in the shop.
He sits the box on the counter before leaning over it to kiss me roughly. There’s a surprised gasp from behind him. I really don't care as my eyes close and I focus on his kiss. His hands hold my head as he tips my head back a little as he uses his teeth and tongue to tease me. When he finally lets me up for air, I know I'm red and the counter is the only thing holding me up. The pain in my head has lessened significantly.
“Hi, baby girl.” Noah winks as he holds out his signature pad. “Can’t wait for tonight.”
Holy shit, my panties are about to catch on fire as I sign for the delivery. My brain is taking its sweet time to catch up.
“Right. Tonight.”
Noah takes my hand and kisses my inner palm. “I’ll come pick you up thirty minutes after closing, alright?”
The only thing I can do is nod in agreement. That man can kiss. He winks at me as he leaves. It is quiet in the shop for several moments before the customers start talking to each other again.
“Dang. Who knew that the hunky butt guy would be the one to shut you up?” Igor trills next to me. “Even if he has girly wings, he’s alright in my book.”
