Liam:
Do you do house calls now or is this a shop-only situation?
Campbell:
Because your fern is dying?
Owen:
I’m crying. You look like a calm suburban dad explaining lawn care on public access TV.
You guys need to stop.
Liam:
No but seriously. If I Venmo you can you come whisper encouragement to my succulents?
Campbell:
“Hey little guy. You’re doing great.” That’s what you sound like.
We have a reporter coming today. Please do not make this worse.
Owen:
Here we go - you’re going to be interviewed as the NHL’s hottest plant therapist.
Ty:
Headline: Local Hockey Star Trades Pucks for Pots
Liam:
LOL
Campbell:
I’m telling PR you need a new nickname. Plant Daddy won’t cut it anymore. Plant King!
If you do that I will block all of you.
Owen:
It will be worth it.
Growling, I can only fantasize what I’d do to any one of them since I’m already standing out front of Leaf & Letter. I'm about to walk in, when one Juliette Gianelli suddenly comes flying out, smacking right into me as she does.
“Oh, hey,” she exclaims with some surprise, patting my chest with one hand as I steady her. “I’m just on my way out.”
“I can see that.” There’s an expression on her face I can’t read, one I’ve not seen in the few short weeks I’ve known her. “Are you okay?”
“Before that reporter gets here,” she says, hushed but urgent, “I think I should go this time.”
I turn toward her. “But, you don’t need to be in any of the pictures or even mentioned. I spoke to PR and they said?—”
“It’s not that,” she interrupts. “I had a thought over coffee. If they figure out that I’m the wife from that Capitals game with the Kiss Cam incident a few years ago—and that you, Sawyer Stockton, actual professional hockey player, are now in my plantshop—this whole thing could go sideways. Fast. We both know if the press can spin it for more clicks, they will.”
“I don’t—” I start.
