Page 76 of Last Boy

Her eyes drop to the ground, and her shoulders slump. Briar has always been incredibly kind and much more approachable than Poppy. But even so, my sister has always been tough and held her own. Apparently not anymore though.

“We’re both going to be fine,” she says softly. “We aren’t at Sunset Drive. No one can hurt us anymore. We made it out safely.” She reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I can learn to love Enzo, Walker. And I know you can learn to love Gia too.”

“No,” I snap. “I will never love Gia, and you know it.” I step away from my sister, pulling from her hold just as my uncle enters the room.

“Looking good,” Beckett drawls. “Briar, I just got word that the cake and the rest of the liquor have arrived. Can you go down and get that situated?”

“Sure,” she whispers. “Where’s Natasha?”

“She’s still getting ready,” he says in a dismissive tone before waving his hand toward the door like the dickface that he is. “Go along now.”

Briar gives me one last look before she makes her exit. I know she hates to leave the room, thinking I’m upset. But the truth is, I am upset. She’s a pawn in Beckett’s game. And the worst thing is, she’s letting it happen. No, she’s fucking stringing up banners and welcoming it like it’s a fucking promotion.

“Y’all are going to make a damn good-looking couple. And I know she’s got a good rack for you to play with because I installed it.”

I hold back the things I want to say and keep them inside. Poppy and Hudson need me to play it cool, so I’m doing my fucking best to do just that.

“Hey there, nice hickey.” He laughs, pointing to my neck. “Guess y’all hit it off just fine after practice last night, huh?”

I can’t stop the grin that spreads across my lips, knowing exactly where that hickey came from. “Yep, I guess so.”

I nod, and he seems even more pleased.

“Good, good.” He claps his hands together. “I know this whole situation isn’t ideal, but look, my sister chose a fucking loser for a partner, and now, she’s dead.”

My heart stings when he mentions my parents. And although I understand my father wasn’t the best husband, my mom had her own demons too. It wasn’t all my dad’s fault that she went down such a bad road. As far as I can see, they chose that road together.

“So, I guess what I’m trying to say is, I know you and Briar probably wish things were different, but they are a hell of a lot better than they would be if you were still living on that godforsaken street.” He pauses. “Marrying into the Romano family will ensure that you have respect and wealth. Even if things don’t work out with hockey.”

I don’t bother telling him that things with hockey will be just fine. He doesn’t need to know about my deal with the Bay Sharks. The last thing I’m about to do is let him know anything about the New England Bay Sharks offer.

So, instead, I just nod. “Yep, guess so.”

Clapping his hand on my back, he heads toward the door. “It’s almost showtime. So, hurry up and head out back to the gardens.”

When he leaves, I take one last look at myself in the mirror and pray that everything will be okay.

Poppy

“This is so stupid,” I whisper to Hudson. Who, of course, gets to wear his everyday security outfit, making all of the servers here swoon when they pass by. “Why do you get to look like James Bond, and I’m over here, looking like I just stepped out of the Cake Boss show?”

His stoic, unimpressed expression hardly cracks, but the corner of his lips lifts slightly when I point to my hat.

“A baker’s hat? Really?” I shake my head, looking down at myself. “Here I am, supposed to be looking like hot shit to remind Walker he’s not marrying that incredibly sexy Monica Bellucci look-alike. Only from, like, thirty years earlier. And you got me showing up here, looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy.” I shake my head. “You are so not allowed to be in charge of our disguises anymore.”

“First off, why are we suddenly tied into having disguises together?” He simply shrugs, completely unfazed. “Second, I’m friends with the lady who owns the bakery that Beckett ordered this annoyingly huge cake from. So, getting her to let us deliver it was an easy in.” He points to my black wig and glasses. “Besides, Beckett will never notice you behind the cake when you look so different.”

“Yeah, unless he notices my chest looks a little too flat in this white jacket. Then, Dr. Boobs will suddenly be using his nephew’s wedding day to drum up some business,” I huff out. “Come on. Let’s get this over with. Run through the plan one more time.”

“Once we’re in, I guarantee it won’t take Walker long to spot you. But he’s going to play it cool. Once it’s time for the ceremony, it will only be the Romanos, Walker, Briar, Natasha, and Beckett. He’s hired me to be on standby to make sure nothing goes south. You’ll be hiding behind the ginormous, stupid fucking cake that I can’t stand the sight of—”

“Do you have something against cake?” I ask, cutting him off. “Twice, you’ve talked about this cake in a negative way.” I point to it. “It’s cake. A huge, beautiful, likely delicious cake. What’s to hate?”

“There’s hardly anyone coming to this. Why the fuck do they need a cake this big?” he grumbles.

I shrug, looking it over. “I have no idea, but is it weird that I want to take some home?” I tap my finger on my chin. “Yeah, okay, it’s weird. Do I care? Hell no. I’m taking it home. My roommates will love it.”

Hudson gives me a look that I can’t really read, though I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m insane. But that’s okay. Maybe he didn’t grow up poor. The most exciting thing I got to eat on birthdays was a damn Twinkie. So, yeah, this cake is sort of the bomb in my eyes.

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