I wish I could tell her everything that's been going on between Devil and I, but I don't want to rain on her parade. "It can be you. All that matters, is that the two of you like each other. Dime is a good man, he's one that I think you can trust, and I would trust. Why don't you have fun with it, Allie? It could turn into something amazing, or it might fizzle out. Either way, you've broken the seal and put yourself back out there again. Think of how good that's going to feel."
"You're right. Not every relationship has to end up as a life-long love. We can just have fun and that's okay too. I'm overthinking this."
We're quiet for a few moments as I grab my keys, and head out of the front door.
"Where are you going today?" She asks, twirling a piece of hair around her finger. "Anywhere I can tag along?"
"While I would love that, I'm headed to the greenhouse."
She makes a noise in the back of her throat. "Yeah, I'll leave you to that, but call me when you get home?"
"Will do. Call Dime while you're waiting on me, huh?" I make kissing nosies.
"Shut up!"
With a laugh, we hang up and I get into my SUV and head to my second-favorite place.
The drive to the greenhouse gives me time to think, which lately hasn't been such a good thing. My mind keeps circling back to Devil, to the tension that's been building between us like a storm waiting to break. The way he looks at me when he thinks I'm not paying attention. The way his jaw tightens when I mention where he's been seen somewhere he shouldn't be. I've always been the type of person to overthink everything, and it's a detriment right now.
I pull into the gravel driveway and park near the large glass structure that houses my pride and joy. This greenhouse is my sanctuary, the one place where I can lose myself in something that's entirely mine - soil and plants - not the actual product. Devil appreciates my knowledge but he stays out of here, unless it's time to harvest. It's our unspoken agreement.
The familiar smell of earth and growing things hits me as soon as I step inside. Rows of healthy cannabis plants stretch out before me, their leaves reaching toward the carefully controlled lights above. I've been working on this crop for months, perfecting the conditions, monitoring every detail.
I’m reminded of the day I cornered Devil, and asked him if this could be my place in the club.
“Hey, I have something to ask you,” I tap on Donovan’s shoulder.
“Yeah?” He raises his eyebrows. “What’s going on?”
Reaching out, I hook my hand in his and drag him over to a dark corner of the clubhouse. Around us people are drinking, smoking, and playing pool. No one is paying attention to us. “I want in on the grow op.”
He spits out the drink he just took. “You want what?”
Rolling my eyes, I lean in, and speak slowly. “I want in on the grow op. I’ve asked my dad, he knows I can grow better than what they have right now, but he doesn’t want to put me in danger. I love plants, soil, everything having to do with it. I wanna pull my weight within the club. I might be a princess, but I wanna earn too.”
“You know that would put a bullseye on your back.”
“Not if no one knows it’s me, Devil. Besides I’ve been growing on my own, I put my product in with the last batch we bought. It went head to head with what we purchased to sell, and it sold better. If you’re taking the reins from my dad, then you need to make this decision yourself. If you want me to be your partner? I need to be your partner.”
He seems to consider this for a few minutes. “We’d have to fix it so that you wouldn’t be touched if this came back on us.”
“I don’t care what you have to do. I want this spot. If anyone is going to work hard for the club, it’s going to be me.”
He leans in. “Alright, babe. If that’s what you want, that’s what you’ll do. We’ll work it out.”
He trusts me in ways no one else has ever trusted me, and I know without a shadow of a doubt, this is the man for me.
I pull on my work gloves and start checking the plants in the back section. These ones are almost ready for harvest, their buds heavy. The repetitive motions of checking, adjusting, and tending help quiet the chaos in my head.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I ignore it. Whatever it is can wait. This is my time, my space, and I need it now more than ever.
The buzzing stops, then starts again almost immediately. Dime, probably. He's been checking in on me more lately, like Devil asked him to keep tabs on me. The thought makes my jaw clench. I silence the phone and shove it deeper into my pocket.
I move to the ventilation system, adjusting the fans to improve air circulation. The plants need just the right balance of humidity and airflow, and I can tell by the way the leaves are positioned that they need more movement.
As I work, my mind drifts back to my wedding day. It feels like a lifetime ago, but it's only been a few years. I can still remember the way Devil looked at me when I walked down that makeshift aisle in the backyard of the clubhouse. Like I was the only woman in the world. Like he'd move mountains just to see me smile.
When did that change? When did we start circling each other like wary animals instead of the couple who used to stay up all night talking about everything and nothing?
