Page 129 of Catching Sparks

Brody looks taken aback by Johnny’s words, and I fight back a groan. Just when I think the kid isn’t going to be a colossal pain in my ass, he goes and does something that shows me just how naive I was.

“Seems you have a lot you plan on leavin’ behind in Cherry Peak,” Brody replies roughly.

I fight past the sudden pain in my chest and attempt a weak smile. “Much more than I intended to.”

“There any way you could avoid doin’ it?”

“No plausible one.”

He clears his throat, leaning against Sky’s side. “It’s never easy. Doesn’t get easier either. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lyin’. Cherry Peak isn’t a place you can move on from or forget. I’ve tried and failed too many times. It’ll be easier on you if you admit that to yourself sooner or later.”

“I think everyone comes back here sooner or later. This place doesn’t look like much, but if you give yourself up to its pull, you’ll find a home here forever,” Johnny adds, suddenly a wise old fucking man.

Their statements dig too deep. My pulse grows frantic as my skin heats, panic rising. I’ve already felt the truth of their statements in every moment I’ve spent here without needing to hear the words spoken out loud. Every day with Poppy proves how right they both are, and that terrifies me. I’m not ready for what all of that could mean for me and my life.

After work, the porch door swings shut, and then the sound of scuffing shoes fills the entryway. “Honey, I’m home!”

I rub the back of my neck in an attempt to ground myself before going to meet Poppy. I’m thrilled to have her living here with me for the remainder of my time in Cherry Peak, but I’ve never lived with a woman before. The few days we spent in Bora Bora were only a beginner lesson, and suddenly, I’m wishing I’d asked someone for advice on this before diving in head first.

Seeing Poppy after going all day without her is like seeing the sun after years in an eternal night. Her warmth fills the entire house the moment she abandons her shoes and suitcase and comes running toward me.

“Hey, baby,” I murmur against her lips when she leans up to kiss me.

“Hi.” She grins against my mouth.

We break apart, but I tuck her into my side, not allowing her to get too far away quite yet. “I could have helped you pack your stuff.”

“And let you witness my absolute meltdown when I got home and saw all of the presents in my living room? As if.”

“You like them, then?” I ask eagerly.

She shakes her head in disbelief. “Like them? That’s a criminal understatement. I don’t think I’ll need to buy a damn thing for the next decade. You really didn’t need to buy me all those things.”

I drop my eyes to her wrist and find a gold bracelet dangling from it. The P charm glistens with diamonds, and I feel downright smug knowing that she liked it enough to wear it already. It’s the smallest of the few gifts that were waiting for her today but my favourite.

“Consider the gifts proof that I spend an obscene amount of time thinking about you. Shopping for you kept me busy. Helped me feel like maybe I hadn’t completely screwed things up with us,” I say.

She softens, eyes a warm chocolate brown. “That’s acceptable, then.”

“Plus, I’ve never had anyone to spend my money on before. I’m quite enjoying spoiling you.” Another criminal understatement.

Twirling to face me, she lands a hand on my chest and tips her head back to meet my stare. “That’s another fair reason.”

I smirk, lifting a hand to push her hair behind her ear. “Are you sure you’re ready to live with me? There’s still time to back out.”

“I think I should be the one asking you that.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, for one, I definitely don’t share your OCD when it comes to laundry or altogether cleanliness.”

“I don’t have OCD. I just don’t like when laundry piles up or doesn’t get put away,” I argue.

She doesn’t buy it. “Both of which I do on a daily basis. But for you, I did put that new washer and dryer to the test and got all my post-vacation laundry done before coming over.”

I hum, tipping her chin back further before kissing her just once. “Good girl.”

“Keep talking like that and we won’t be unpacking anything of mine until I’ve been properly fucked in my new digs.”

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