“Yes,” Zack answers simply.
Callisto grips Zack’s shoulder wordlessly, but he beams with the same pride flowing in my veins. Zack’s become wise enough to lean on others.
“All right!” I declare, tamping down on the emotional outburst threatening to rise. “Ding ding! All aboard the Red-mobile. Train’s leaving the station.”
The cab bounces as we get back in, Zack sitting beside Rickon. A glance over my shoulder shows Rickon staring down at the leash, a cute smile tilting his lips. Before we leave, I might have to find the BDSM section to see what leather products the store has.
On the top floor, we drive out into half a mile of nursery. At one end, trees taller than Zack grow in canvas bags too heavy to lift by hand, and at the other we find outdoor furniture, gazebos, and birdbaths.
I clap my hand to my mouth as my heart jolts. “Oh, shit, Rickon! I forgot all about Ozzie.”
He reaches forward to squeeze my shoulder. “Don’t stress. Lector’s been checking in on him.”
I groan. Thank God for that. “Phew, okay. Heart check done.” A row of gorgeous yellow flowers on tall stems catches my eye, and I abandon the cart to check them out. “Wow,” I mutter, discovering more color variations as I move down the row. Orange with yellow centers, peach with soft lemon, and midnight purple with lime streaks. A quick check of the tags tells me they are daylilies.
“Is this the part where I say I want from here to there?” I swing my arm along the row.
Callisto answers immediately. “Yes, gorgeous. Go for it.”
“Wait a sec,” Rickon says with a laugh. “We better figure out what you’re going to put them in first. Our roof isn’t as big as this garden aisle.”
I pout a little in play, but my spirits soar as Rickon takes me over to the section with pots and garden boxes. A dazzling giant pot covered in colorful mosaic steals my heart.
“This!” I declare, hugging my arms around it. I can already see how the garden will look with all these rainbow colors half-hidden among lush green ferns, palms, and those beautiful daylilies.
“Yeah, now that’s stunning,” Ricky agrees, running his free hand over the surface.
“Okay, I think I’ll make this the theme of the whole hothouse. I turn to my guys. “Zack?” I hook my thumb at the pot. “Do you like the colors?”
“Zack like,” he confirms.
When I glance at Calli, he smiles with his eyes. “Red, you choose whatever makes your heart sing . . . but I do agree the mosaic motif suits you perfectly.”
Fuck, he’s so right. I’m made up of hundreds of different experiences and roles, forming a glorious, colorful whole. Broken pieces made beautiful. I throw myself into Callisto’s arms and hug him tight, marveling over how natural it feels. He’s really here as part of my pack, shopping and telling me his thoughts.
“I might die of happiness,” I mutter.
“Not today,” he whispers, kissing me soundly.
Rickon pulls up the hot house measurements, and we roughly work out floor space before I pick out dozens of the pretty pots in different sizes, some with random patterns and others with flowers. When I find one in the back with the tile pieces forming sunflowers, I pop it in the tray thinking I’ll give it to Leanne with a pretty daylily.
Next come wooden planter boxes with wide edges for sitting on, a fountain to hang on the wall in a corner, and an order for enough potting soil to make a corn farmer jealous. Callisto suggests white rocks for topping the pots and planters, which sounds amazing, and I discover an awesome special-order arch made of rustic wooden poles which will serve beautifully as an entrance. Which means I need a climbing plant to go on it.
The staff bring two more golf carts up as I move on to plants. I go a little crazy selecting palms as tall as Zack, a huge range of daylilies, bromeliads, ferns, orchids, hanging baskets, and plants with patterned leaves.
When I stop to catch my breath, Rickon takes my hand. “Don’t wear out yet. We still have to look for some kind of bed.”
“Well, thank fuck for the carts,” I say, sounding as winded as I feel. Who knew shopping could be so exhausting?
Callisto drapes his arms over my shoulders from behind. “I guess I’m probably to blame for your state, right?”
“Even if you’re not, I’m happy to blame it on you,” I say cheekily. I slip around so I can hug him and rise on my tiptoesfor a kiss. We lean into each other, the kiss quickly turning heated.
When Calli’s hands drop to my ass cheeks and I moan, Rickon steps in and pushes us apart.
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” he says firmly. “Red has to film a racing scene on Thursday, so no third base until after that.” He cocks his head and translates for Zack. “That means no sex.”
I gasp. “But that’s two days away.”
