Page 184 of Five Summers

She turns away from me as if I haven’t spoken.

I keep my eyes fixed on her as she walks towards the small wooden table positioned beneath the towering tree. While I wait for her to say something, my gaze sweeps across the yard, and a rush of memories floods my mind. My eyes then shift to the outdoor setting where Poppy and I have shared countless steamy moments. Every time it rained, I would take Poppy’s hand and ask her to dance for me. I loved watching her move in that sexy way, and it was fucking hot when she’d let herself embrace her sexuality. I make a mental note to get her to do itagain the next time it rains. One of the guys can look after Alex. Suddenly, Poppy’s mother’s voice breaks through my memories.

“You know you’re no good for them,” she says, casually tossing her gloves onto the table.

“You've said that already, and thanks to you, I made the stupidest decision of my life. Your words won't convince me to do that again.”

“You’ll break both their hearts because that’s what you do,” she declares with a sharpness in her voice as if she finds it difficult to engage with someone she views as inferior.

“You’re wrong. You were wrong before, and you're still wrong. When I returned that morning, it was to tell her how much she meant to me, more than you would ever know.”

“And just because you have all that fame, you believe you’re any different. Deep down, you’ll always be insignificant. Sooner or later, she'll realize she's not good enough and you'll find someone better.”

“I don't give a fuck about your opinion. Poppy's opinion is the one that counts. I've loved her for years, so no matter what you say, I know I deserve her. I’m not that stupid kid anymore, who thinks that I’m not right for her. She’s my family, they both are, and if you keep treating her like shit and push her away just because she wants to be with me, then you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life.”

She pauses for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she carefully processes my words. But, unsurprisingly, my words have no effect.

“Once you get the car seat, I want you off my property.”

I observe her for a moment, noting her confident posture that seems as if it’s trying to silently provoke me. I don’t take her bait, instead, I turn away, my hands shoved into my pockets, as everything I desire awaits for me out the front of this house.

It angers me that this woman could treat her own family like that. Poppy is more than enough for me, and she always has been. Despite being famous, I know I can get any woman I want. So why can’t she see the way Poppy completely owns my heart? Why can’t she get that through her fucking head?

As I make my way back to the front, Poppy’s head rises and she glances at me. However, her attention quickly shifts to the front door as her mom emerges. Her mom remains on the front patio, watching me as she unlocks the car. With her gaze fixated on me, it feels as though she’s ensuring that I won’t steal anything, which brings back memories of my teenage years when people would watch me, assuming that I was up to no good.

After releasing the straps and grabbing Alex’s car seat, I shut the rear passenger door. Almost immediately, the car doors lock and the lights flash. Without uttering a single word to Poppy or Alex, she turns and walks back inside the house.

As I return to my family, it suddenly dawns on me that Poppy and I have had similar upbringings. Although Poppy may have had a more comfortable home and always had plenty of food to eat, she never received an ounce of love from her mother. We both had shitty parents. Thankfully, it’s something that our son will never have to go through.

Moving out through the front gate, Alex rushes over and slips his tiny hand into mine. We walk together towards Poppy, who stands there observing us. I can’t help but notice the warmth in her smile as she watches Alex gazing up at me, his own smile beaming.

Within minutes, the car’s engine roars to life, and we’re on our way, bidding farewell to the shitty memories of our childhood homes. This part of the journey is taking a toll on me. The thought of going to Poppy’s place and seeing where she’s been living all these years really bothers me. It will be painfulto see their dwelling on the wrong side of town, especially since I’ve been living a life of privilege. It’ll only serve as a constant reminder of the foolish decision I made all those years ago. But thinking about the past won’t do anything. All that matters is the future. But I can’t deny that it will weigh heavily on my emotions.

Driving to the opposite side of town, seeing the familiar sights and hearing the sounds trigger a wave of memories. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of the times when Ace and I would venture into this area, mostly during the day, unless we had a hankering for burgers or were on the lookout for casual flings with girls.

I listen to Alex as he tells Poppy about everything that has happened during her time away. The way they interact is truly magical. It is clear that Poppy possesses extraordinary qualities as a mother, and you can feel the love between them in every single moment. Being able to see this is truly remarkable, all thanks to the amazing woman sitting next to me.

As we drive past the burger joint, memories flood back of the countless times Poppy chauffeured me around in her beat-up old car. I can’t help but wonder what became of that old green shit box, the witness to so many precious moments - like our first sexual encounter and the countless adventures we embarked on together, exploring every corner of the town.

“Take the next right turn, and then you’ll spot a big apartment block on your left,” Poppy instructs, indicating the upcoming street.

After some time, we finally arrive at the parking lot of the apartment block.

“Look, there’s one right there, next to my car,” she points out, gesturing towards the empty parking spot beside her old green car.

“I can’t believe you still have that thing,” I remark, stealing a glance at the car as I pull up beside it. It appears even more dilapidated now than it did before, if that’s even possible. My gaze remains fixed on it long after I switch off the engine. Does this mean she was financially strapped and couldn’t afford to replace it? I ponder whether she had enough funds over the years for the repairs.

Aware of Poppy’s watchful eyes on me, I pivot my head and observe the rundown apartment block.

“I’m sorry, Princess. I’m sorry I didn’t know,” I apologize, feeling the sorrow deep in my chest. It’s hitting me hard to see the stark contrast between their way of life and the way I’ve been living.

She reaches out and grabs my chin, redirecting my gaze towards her. “Don’t do that. Don’t blame yourself. If you had known, things would have been different. I had no choice but to do what was essential for our survival at the time.”

I nod, understanding her words, yet my heart still aches at the thought of the agonizing ordeal she had to endure.

She opens the car door and gets out. As she opens Alex’s door, I suppress my guilt and get out of the vehicle. Heading towards the trunk, I retrieve our overnight bags. While we haven’t told Alex about our plans, that we are all living together, Poppy and I have already talked about spending the night in her apartment to sort out some things. This way, the removalist I’ve arranged can transfer her belongings to my house smoothly.

Looking at her current living situation, I'm not sure if it's a good idea for us to stay here tonight. I’m not so much concerned about the building as I am about the safety of the area. But I'm gonna stay quiet and not share my concerns since this is the home Poppy worked so hard to give Alex.

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