Neptune let up off his brakes as he nodded. “You got it. Put the address into the GPS.”
I sat back and enjoyed being a passenger princess while Neptune sped through traffic like he hadn’t caused it.
We got to Philly’s plant shop a few minutes after seven. Though the spunky man sold poisonous plants, he also sold beautiful, non-toxic arrangements that kept his shop busy. I stood near the exit until I caught Philly’s attention, and when the slender man spotted me, he waved me to a backroom.
“Hey, Kannon! It’s good to see you.” He glanced at the large man at my side. “You brought a friend with you?”
Neptune stepped forward. “I’m not her friend. I’m hernigga. Show us the good shit.”
I squeezed Neptune’s hand, hinting for him to chill, but the gesture didn’t soften his stance. I was grateful that Philly seemed more amused than offended by Neptune’s tone. Some flowers Philly sold were almost impossible to get through customs, and I couldn’t lose my plug.
“Kannon, you know the rules,” Philly stated. “Wash your hands, wear goggles, and make sure you close any box you open.”
Neptune’s head jerked back. “You make it sound like she’s about to perform surgery.”
“If you don’t handle the plants with proper care, not even surgery can save you,” I replied.
On my tippy toes, I bounced over to the prep station with Neptune on my heels. We washed our hands with an anti-bacterial soap, then I helped the curious man find gloves that fit his large hands. His eyes lit up when we entered one of my favorite places in the world. The room was chilly and looked like a laboratory with clear boxes of various sizes lining the walls. A bulb that mimicked natural light highlighted some plants and flowers while others were settled in the darkness. When I stepped further into the room, I turned around to find Neptune about to sniff a toxic plant.
“Put that back!” I screamed before he could put the pot to his nose. “You’re like a bad-ass kid coming in here touching stuff.”
“Woman, I know how to act.”
“Barely.” I snickered.
“All right. Teach me something, Kitty Kat.”
Neptune’s request was music to my ears. The chance to welcome him into my world refueled my depleted energy. So many times, I tried to show my family things I was into, but they were dismissive. They believed guns and knives were all the weapons they needed.
We spent forty-five minutes in the private room. I explained how rosy periwinkles helped with diabetes, then I showed Neptune one of the most beautiful but deadly flowers in the world. He asked questions after every lesson and grew hyped when I helped him handle a foxglove.
“I told you the first night we met, you’ve got beauty and brains. Have you ever thought about expanding your talents and using oil from the flowers for perfume?”
“Actually, I haven’t.”
He leaned down and softly bumped his shoulder against mine. “See,you were trying to get rid of me, and I’m helping you with your brand. What else can you make out of flowers and herbs? You can start a million-dollar business, baby.”
“Tea,” I said softly. “Even today, I use willow bark and herbs to make tea. It helps ease the headache I typically get after I have a seizure. Wait.” I shook my head. “I’m talking too much.”
“Nah, you haven’t said enough. How long have you had seizures?”
“My doctor diagnosed me with epilepsy a couple of years after my mom passed. After she left me alone, I had panic attacks, and they spiraled into more.”
A silent spell and heavy energy made me glance up at Neptune. His expression was unreadable, leaving me to wonder. I wondered if Neptune thought I was a liability. I worried he would want to lock me away like other people in my life.
“Why didn’t you tell me before, Kannon?”
“I didn’t feel safe enough. I didn’t want my condition to change how you view me.”
“If I ever looked at you differently, that wouldn’t be the reason. How often do you have them?”
“They’re unpredictable. The last one was about a year ago.”
He caressed his beard and nodded, as if taking in my confession. “I appreciate you telling me. You don’t owe me shit, but you’re allowing me to know you beyond what I see on the surface. I don’t take that lightly.”
When Neptune’s phone went off for the third time since we arrived, he growled like a disturbed animal.
“Are you sure you don’t need to answer?”
