Page 23 of Last Boy

Standing quickly, I hug her. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Lana.”

Releasing her, I watch as she heads outside. Maybe this isn’t what Poppy even wants. Perhaps she’s fine out there, all alone. But for once, I just want that girl to have someone show up for her. To ride for her. To show her that they care.

Even if that someone can’t be me.

8

Poppy

I wring my hands together nervously before looking around the house to see if everything looks okay. After a week and a half, Sutton is coming home today. And to show her that I’m sorry for how I’ve acted, I asked Jasmin, a girl I work at the coffee shop with, to cover for me today. I wanted to be here when Sutton first came home.

The girls wanted to keep her homecoming low-key, per Hunter’s request, but we put up some decorations and stocked the house with her favorite foods and lots of soups. Because from what I hear, most people like soup when they aren’t feeling well. I never really had soup, growing up. We mostly ate things that we could throw in the microwave or plain bread, but it sounds like it would be nice when you’re not feeling the best. And since she was intubated for over a week, her throat is healing.

I went and saw Sutton while she was in the hospital once she woke up. I know she was surprised to see me, but it was something I felt like I should do. I’m not sure there’s a faster way to make someone realize how awful they have been than seeing the person they’ve been treating unfairly lying in a hospital bed. It wasn’t fair of me to unload years of trauma onto Sutton Savage and make her take the wrath of it all. It has never been about her, but about myself and everything I need to overcome.

I don’t think we will be besties and braid each other’s hair or paint nails together. But I don’t want to hate her anymore. The truth is, we’re both dancers. And if I want to be better than her, I just need to work harder instead of playing the pity card.

“She’s here!” Lana says, peeking out the window. “Let’s not, like…yell or anything.” She widens her eyes, looking nervous. “I don’t want to send her into another asthma attack. Let’s just…calmly say, Welcome home.”

“For real? I thought we’d light fireworks and maybe jump out from behind curtains,” Ryann deadpans.

Lana’s eyes grow wide. “Seriously?” she squeaks.

Smacking her hand to her forehead, she shakes her head. “No, Lana. That was sarcasm.” She looks at me, trying to keep it together. “Obviously, we know that after someone has been in a coma for nine days, they probably don’t want people screaming and jumping out behind curtains.”

“Yeah. And probably no to the fireworks too.” I shrug, smiling at Ryann. “Though it would have been a nice touch.”

“Oh, thank God.”

Lana relaxes and heads to the door. Opening it, she bursts into tears as Sutton and Hunter approach the door.

“I said I wasn’t going to cry, yet here I am,” she sobs. “Ignore me.” Wrapping her arms around Sutton, she hugs her. “I am so happy you’re home.”

Sutton looks tired. And thinner than she did before her stint in the hospital. But I guess all of that is to be expected. Hunter hovers like a helicopter boyfriend, and I can sense he’s scared to even let her out of his sight.

It’s funny; Hunter was dating my semi-friend Paige before he and Sutton got together. Paige dumped him and broke his heart. But judging by the way he looks at Sutton, I think everything has worked out exactly as it was supposed to. The dude is head over heels in love with the girl.

Maybe, one day, I’ll find someone and stop comparing every person I meet to Walker James. I hope so anyway.

As Sutton gets farther into the house and the others are finished hugging her, I take a few nervous steps toward her. “Glad to have you back.” I give her a small smile. “You look good.”

Her eyes narrow, but the corners of her lips turn up. “You lying bitch, you know I don’t look good.”

“Fine.” I shrug. “You look like ass. Happy?”

She laughs once before sighing. “Thank you, Poppy.”

“Anytime.” I nod just as Hunter comes next to her, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“Little Bird, it’s been a long morning for you. And you’re still recovering.” He leans down, kissing her cheek. “Let’s get you settled in for a nap. All right?”

Rolling her eyes, she grins up at him. “Yes, boss.”

As she turns toward the hallway, she holds her hand up at all of us. “Thank you, girls. For the decorations and for making my homecoming so special.”

Hunter takes her hand, leading her to her bedroom.

Ryann comes next to me and throws her arm around me. “Proud of you, biotch.”

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