Page 24 of Catching Sparks

“You look a bit uncomfortable back there, Garrison,” Brody teases.

If only he had any idea just how uncomfortable I am. It has less to do with the overbearing scent of cologne wafting from Johnny as his shoulder jostles into mine and more to do with the erection I’ve been fighting off since I caught a glance at Poppy in that window.

I have a feeling tonight is going to be a very, very uncomfortable one. Yet, I can’t help but feel a seedling of excitement as well.

If one week in this place already has me this out of my mind, then I’m terrified to see what two months does to me.

10

POPPY

I should have been ready an hour ago. Instead, I’m late to meeting everyone at Peakside, and Bryce, Ms. Always On Time, has been scowling at me because of it for the past twenty minutes.

“I warned them that if they wanted you to be on time, they needed to tell you to meet them an hour before they’re actually planning on being there,” she says on a dramatic exhale, tapping a fingernail to her smart watch.

“Your panties are just in a twist because you’re late. It has nothing to do with me.”

“It has everything to do with you because I expected you to be ready when I showed up, not stinking like a sweaty teen boy in a locker room. Now Brody’s going to eat my portion of the nachos, and I’ll be hangry all night.”

I laugh, tugging my deep blue long-sleeve down over my bra and belly. The movement snags at my sore core muscles, but I puff out a breath at the pain, not giving it the space in my brain.

Maybe I worked myself too hard today. But I needed the escape from everything in my life that’s been trying to knock me down and keep me sprawled on the ground. Physical strain, most of the time, is the only thing that helps.

“Anna won’t let him eat your portion,” I tell her.

She rolls her eyes. “As if. He’ll still manage it.”

“How about I promise to order you your own? Would that appease you, Ice?”

“I guess so. As long as you get your ass out that door right now.”

I grin while grabbing my boots from the front door and slipping them on as quick as possible. “So impatient.”

She flashes me her teeth. “I’ll show you impatient, Pops. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Mommy,” I coo.

“Careful, or I’ll have everyone calling me that from now.”

“We’ll see if it sticks.”

Bryce pushes the door open and holds it as I slip past her into the night. The small house I call home technically belongs to my parents, but I’ve been renting it from them for years. It’s not much. Honestly, it’s hardly anything at all. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom split-level duplex only a block from main street Cherry Peak. My parents will never admit that they only bought the place for me, but that’s fine. I appreciate it all the same, even if a part of my pride flakes away every time I remind myself that I don’t have a damn true thing to my name besides a cheap coffee machine and a designer purse I thrifted for five bucks last summer amongst a closet of fakes.

The walk to Peakside is quick, no longer than a handful of minutes. Still, my thighs strain with each step there. Once we get inside the warm bar, I focus on anything but my pain.

“You good?” Bryce asks, concern etched deep in the naturally sharp lines of her face.

“Sore as fuck but fine. In need of a shot or two, maybe.”

Her grin is wicked. “You got it, babe.”

She heads to the bar to order our drinks while I go right for our table. Some of my stress poofs into thin air at the sight of my friends. My smile is genuine as I make a beeline for them.

“Poppy!” Anna squeals, a soft pink flush to her cheeks that has my eyes shifting to the empty glasses on the table in front of her.

“Hello, my love. Did you start drinking without me? How rude,” I scold teasingly.

“What else were we supposed to do while we waited for you?” Caleb asks.

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