Page 116 of When Love Takes Root

Josiah:

Celeste.

Pretty Red :

You’re doing entirely too much before my coffee can defend me.

Josiah:

I’m consistent.

Pretty Red :

That might be worse.

Josiah:

Good. Let that sit with your coffee.

Her response came with a laughing emoji and one word.

Pretty Red :

Menace.

I set the phone down and looked at the rosemary again. The little sprigs leaned toward the window, green and stubborn, like they intended to survive because surviving was what they knew how to do. I touched the rim of the clay pot, then checked the soil even though I’d checked it the night before.

A few minutes later, my phone lit again.

Pretty Red :

Are you working today or just terrorizing my nervous system?

Josiah:

Both. I believe in balance.

Pretty Red :

I rebuke balance.

Josiah:

You free this evening?

The pause after that message was long enough for my coffee to cool.

Pretty Red :

Depends on what free means.

Josiah:

Dinner at my place. Movie if you want. No crowd. No performance. Just us.

Pretty Red :

You cooking?