Page 100 of Five Summers

While the idea of not having to struggle day by day to make ends meet and worry myself sick about paying the bills is tempting, I can’t bring myself to let my guard down. I just can’t act like nothing happened. I can’t pretend that he had rejected the both of us. But I can't help but wonder what they wanted me to do. Taking a deep breath, I ask.

“So, hypothetically speaking, if I were to do what you’re asking - and I’m not saying I will - what exactly would be required of me?”

Ace throws a quick glance at Reg before he speaks. “We have an eight-week tour. Seven weeks in Australia, followed by another week in New Zealand. I’d really like it if you would join us.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.” I raise my hand to interrupt him. “I have a child.”

Ace’s eyes widen in shock as my words sink in, and instantly I feel a surge of anger. Xander hasn’t even mentioned our son to his best friend.

“You name your price, Poppy. Anything you want. I’ll sign off on it right now, no problem,” Ace says.

As I lock eyes with him for a moment, I sense the desperation in Ace's gaze, a clear indication of his urgency to bring Xander under control. It dawns on me that I could ask for any amount. The money could truly resolve all the problems that have been constantly weighing on my mind. However, the thought of being separated from my son for eight weeks is simply out of the question.

“She’s considering it,” Ace says with a grin.

“No, sorry I can’t,” I respond, taking a step back.

"Poppy, please wait," Ace says, his voice filled with urgency, making me pause. He glances over at Reg. “Give me one of your business cards.”

I see Reg reach into his jacket pocket, retrieve a card, and hand it to Ace, who is already holding a pen.

"Here's my cell number," Ace says, jotting it down on the back of the card. “Don’t decide now. Sleep on it and tell me your decision tomorrow.”

I look at the card in his fingers, pausing briefly before accepting it. I slide it into my back pocket, dead set on tossing it in the trash later when everyone's gone, so no one, especially Nicole, gets to snag Ace's number.

“Please, consider it, Poppy,” Ace asks, as I turn away to resume my duties at the bar.

Chapter forty

Xander

After briefly stepping outside to get some fresh air and gather my thoughts with Theo, I make my way back into the bar. Unfortunately, the detour only made things worse as fans crowded us for photos. I can’t believe that Poppy’s here. I want to know why the fuck she’s working behind a bar instead of pursuing her dream. I suspect her mother has played a role in influencing her life choices. Why else would she be stuck here, getting hit on every fucking night by some drunk asshole?

I halt my steps right before I reach the double glass front doors and look towards the bar. The crowd inside makes it impossible to catch a glimpse of her.

“You okay, man?” Theo asks, coming to my side, casting a quick glance through the glass pane at the lively scene beyond the doors.

“Yeah,” I nod. “I always thought she would move on to bigger things, you know. Not stick around in this shitty town, working in a bar to be constantly hit on.”

“Don't stress, she can handle herself. When some creepy dude hit on her at the bar, she put him in his place.” Theo rests his hand on my shoulder. “Go talk to her man.”

“And what the fuck am I supposed to say? Hey, hello, remember me? I’m the asshole who left all those years ago without saying goodbye.”

“Yeah, pretty much. It’s a start.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure she never wants to see or talk to me again.”

“You won’t know standing out here like some pussy on the other side of the door. Besides, standing up to your old man took some guts. I don’t think she would have done that if she didn’t care.”

As I listen to Theo utter those words, I can feel a surge of emotions welling inside me. All this time, I’ve held onto the hope that she didn't hate me for leaving her without an explanation or a proper goodbye.

“Come on,” Theo says, making his way towards the door. “If you don’t go chat to the little spitfire, then I definitely will,” he adds, with a smirk on his face.

I swear the teasing asshole does it on purpose knowing how I feel about Poppy. There is no way he’s going anywhere near her.

After a year of knowing Theo, I had to tell him about Poppy when he asked me if I was gay because I wasn’t hooking up with any girls. I was honest and shared all the details about Poppy. I confessed to him about falling in love with her, whichterrified me since I had never experienced such emotions. How she is really into music and how talented she is. The guitar that I play every day and still cherish was once her dad's. Also, how she accepted me for who I truly am, broken and all. Lastly, I poured my heart out and told him how guilty I felt for leaving, explaining why I did what I did. Telling him all the hurtful words her mother said. But I shared none of the intimate moments or any of the amazing sex we had because that was just something between Poppy and me, nobody else.

I walk into the room, determined to go talk to Poppy.

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