Page 196 of Love Unwritten

He barks out a laugh. “We both know how you feel about having people on your property.”

I glare. “Yes, you’re reminding me why I don’t have visitors.”

He flips me off with a gloved hand, and I return the gesture with one of my own. We continue digging a hole along the exterior side wall of the house until Julian breaks the blissful silence with another question.

“Since when do you care about gardening?”

“It’s a newer hobby of mine.” I smile to myself. Ellie did say I needed to figure out what I like to do without anyone’s influence, and the idea of tending to a garden that reminds me of her does sound like a good use of my free time.

Julian groans. “I’ve lost you again.”

“What?”

“You’re thinking about her.”

“You asked me a question.”

“And now I have my answer.” He stabs into the dirt with the sharp tip of the shovel. “But I’ve got to hand it to you. This is pretty damn romantic.”

My reply is nothing but a grunt.

“To think we will be doing this again next year once these die.”

I stare at him. “What?”

“These guys are going to be dead at the first sign of winter.”

Shit. I was so hung up on getting the flowers that I completely forgot the obvious issue with my plan. So while I can’t save these plants, I can protect any future ones from Lake Wisteria’s harsh winter conditions.

“I’m going to need you to build a greenhouse for me.”

He points toward the barn. “We haven’t even started the expansion.”

“I know, but this is important.”

“Important enough to put the barn’s plans on hold?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you telling me we dug all these holes for nothing?”

I laugh. “We’ll replant them once the weather starts changing.”

“We?”

“Did I mention you’re the best cousin ever?”

“I’m your only cousin, pendejo.” He stares at me for a moment before shaking his head. “I’ll get my guys started on the project next week.”

“I knew I could count on you.”

We spend the next few hours digging. Dirt piles behind us, and my hands ache with every stab into the dirt, but I feel at peace.

My head is quiet.

Yeah, I could get used to gardening. Ripping out weeds and digging holes is surprisingly cathartic for me, especially after spending so much time working in front of a computer screen.

By the time we finish the holes lining the perimeter of my house, Julian and I are soaked in sweat. I grab us some beers from inside, and we knock the bottles together and each take a long pull on the back porch.