Page 43 of Last Boy

“Yeah.” I laugh. “She’s…she’s tough.” I glance at Jake. “Didn’t you say you wanted to tell her good job? Let’s go get her before she finds another ride home.”

Jake gives me a pointed look, tipping his head down. “You are the one who wants to tell her good job.”

I shrug. “Yeah. Okay. That’s fair.” Holding my hand up to Watson, I tip my chin up. “See you at practice, big dawg.”

“See ya. Good luck.” He chuckles. “With women like Ryann and Poppy, you’ll need it.”

That’s putting it lightly.

Poppy

I feel how I imagine a teenage girl feels when going on her first date. When the guy picks her up and she’s dressed up and feeling all bashful. That’s what it feels like, seeing Walker all dressed up, knowing he gave me flowers and just watched my performance.

“Good job, Poppy,” Jake says, throwing his arms around me. “I didn’t even fall asleep.”

I burst out laughing, shaking my head once he releases me. “Ummm…thanks, I guess?”

“What?” He shrugs. “It’s a long show.”

My gaze finds Walker, and he looks down at me, smiling. A smile that reaches his eyes, which isn’t something that I’ve seen too many times on him.

“You did great,” his deep voice says softly before he drags his hand down the back of his neck, shifting anxiously. “And you look…gorgeous.”

I’ve known Walker my entire life. He’s not a man who gets nervous. Even as a boy, he was confident, cool, and collected. But right now, he’s nervous.

Are his cheeks red?

“Bonnie…my girlfriend, and her mom are here to pick me up,” Jake says, stepping in and giving me another hug. “Love you, Poppy.”

“Love you too, J.” I squeeze him with one arm, my other holding the flowers, before he steps back and walks away.

And now, it’s just Walker and me. And this pulling force between us that makes me do crazy things. Things like losing my virginity an hour after identifying my dead brother. Or dry-humping him in his truck with ashes chilling in the backseat.

I have no control over what happens once our lips touch.

For some reason, the silence becomes too much, and I can’t stop myself from laughing at the debatable things I have done with this man lately.

“Sorry.” I put my hand to my mouth to silence an awkward giggle. “Thanks for coming. And for the flowers.” I pause, holding up the bouquet slightly. “They are beautiful.”

“You’re welcome. I wouldn’t have missed it,” Walker rasps, his expression growing serious. “I missed watching you dance.”

“I missed watching you play hockey,” I say softly, feeling the tension growing between us. I pull a breath in but still feel like I’m suffocating.

We stand there with people moving around us, all having their own conversations. Yet it seems like it’s just us and a bunch of background noise.

Brushing a strand of hair from my cheek, he slowly pulls his hand back. “Can I give you a ride home?”

Butterflies take flight in my stomach, thousands of them, all running rampant. If I leave with him right now, I’ll have this dress torn off before we even leave this parking lot.

Giving him a sympathetic smile, I wrinkle my nose. “Sorry. But I actually have plans with some of the other dancers after this.” I take a breath. “Thanks for coming. And for bringing Jake.” I narrow my eyes. “But how did you know I was dancing tonight in this?”

He gives me a sly smile and shrugs. “I can’t reveal my sources, Poppyseed.” He leans in, wrapping his arms around me and giving me a squeeze. “Have fun tonight. Be safe.” Kissing the top of my head, he murmurs against my hair, “I’m so proud of you. You did so fucking good.”

When he releases me, my body immediately misses him. And I stand here, rooted to this spot, forcing myself not to dive back into his arms.

He looks so good tonight in his dress shirt and pants. And he smells even better.

He smells like…home. And that’s coming from someone who’s never even had a real home.

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