Author's Note: The following story is a fantasy. That being said, it is a fun one that plays in my head often. I hope you enjoy it and, as always, please feel free to leave me comments to let me know your thoughts. Hearing from you kinky people really brings me pleasure.
-S.J.
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There are three types of people who frequent arboretums and botanical gardens: The first is people who obsess over plants and know every detail on every sign. The next is people on romantic dates. Either taking wedding photographs or getting ready to propose. The third is just people just high on something wanting to look at pretty things while they trip. On most days I fit into the first category. During my freshman year at school I found this was a great place to study or even just clear my head. Now as a Junior it is part of my weekly routine.
I have always loved plants. This started because of my sister, Jill. She is my older sister by 10 years. We often tell people that we are like two siblings who are also only children. When we were kids helping our mom garden was the only thing we really did together. By the time I was in sports or plays she was working or out with friends. We didn't fight but we also had very little quality time together. As we got older we got more distant but we always connected over plants. Sending photos or just texting recent purchases. (Though the purchases are mostly on her part as my dorm can't really handle any more plants and my roommate can absolutely not handle more.)
So when I found out that Jill and her new husband, Tim, were visiting at the same time the new exhibit of some super rare bloom was going on. I was ecstatic.
My family doesn't like Tim because he is 15 years older than Jill but from what I have seen he is sweet and gentle and good for her. When I was talking to my mom before they came out my mom kept doing the stereotypical mom worrying of "Sara, you have to tell me what you think because I still think they are just so... oh I don't know, just so different." That was my mom's way of saying there is nothing specific she doesn't like about someone but would like all the bad information if needed.
While I wasn't happy with my mother's prying, I was happy to have them come into town to visit. I hadn't gone home over the summer because of an internship and was really missing my family. Besides, I couldn't engage in the drama with my mom because outside of the wedding I really didn't know him. But, picking them up from the airport it was clear that they seemed like a cute match. He was tall, probably 6' 3". He looked like he towered over my sister who shares my petite frame. But as I pulled up she grabbed his salt and pepper beard and gently pulled his face down for a kiss. My heart poured out for her. Here is someone who really needs a win in a relationship and feels like she is having one.
At the same time I was a little jealous. Not of Tim. He was attractive enough but my sexuality often overlooks men, even the really hot ones. It was more of my jealousy of their closeness. I had a pretty rough break up a few months before with my ex, Teresa, and someone to hold me close while just waiting for a ride outside of an airport.
Eventually some salt was poured in that wound when we went to dinner. Jill didn't know about my break up and Teresa had been with me at their wedding.
"Was she a bitch?" Was her first question. This is what I love about Jill. She is blunt and fantastic.
"No." I say lying, "We were just in different places you know." The reality is that Teresa had called me a Midwest prude after I caught her cheating with a mutual friend and we haven't spoken since.
I could tell my lightweight sister had her margaritas kick in because she immediately responded with "Whatever, she doesn't know what she was missing out on. You're smart and hot and she's just a bitch. Isn't she hot Tim?"
Tim stammers not knowing how to answer that question. I turn red. It feels gross for any man to be bluntly asked about your physical appearance let alone one who is married to your sister and just a few years younger than your father.
Luckily Jill doesn't press the issue and just moves on. "So anyway, enough about her. Tell us what we are doing tomorrow."
"Well" I say getting excited "Tomorrow I got us tickets to the botanical gardens. I had to get passes to the new exhibit that opens tomorrow but we will be the first people through." I handed her a pamphlet I picked up with the tickets.
"Flor de Amor" Jill reads out loud "the only specimen to ever be in captivity and one of the few specimens alive in the world. The flower opens almost every century. According to legend the scent of these blooms has 'invigorating properties'" She looks up "This sounds great. Sorry Tim, you are on plant girl time."
"It's fine," Tim says with a smile. "I like plants too."
"It's not just a plant." I say in the most nerdy and excited way imaginable. "I guess there is a spore that lives within the plant and the fungus and plant work symbiotically so when the flower opens spores are released and they think that is how it pollinates.
The next morning I was greeted with some bad news. Jill was feeling sick. She blamed the carne asada, I suspect it was tequila related. In any case she was hurting and said she wouldn't be able to make it to the gardens. I had the time spot reserved for weeks and when I called they said there were no other options.
My heart sank. This was a once in a lifetime event that I was going to miss. Jill could see it on my face.
"Sweety" she said "I'm so sorry. You should just go."
"The point was to do this together." I protest.
"I know, I'll have Tim go and he can send me a video of the bloom."
I eventually relented. I was upset but still excited that I would be able to see it.
Driving over was awkward to say the least. Without Jill we didn't have much to talk about. I'm sure he was nice enough but I didn't even know where to start conversations. What do you have in common with someone who was in grad school when you were born? At one point I just turned on the radio which turned out to be a bad idea. Tim got excited by a song called "What I Got" and was shocked that I didn't know it.
"It's Sublime!" he says enthusiastically.
"I mean, yeah it's pretty good but like that seems excessive." I say, trying, but failing to take the pout out of my voice.
"No" he says laughing "The band is called Sublime. I loved these guys until their singer died."