Page 24 of Playing for Keeps

“No.”

“Lolita.”

“That’s not who Lolita was in the book.”

“That’s right, she was a poor abused child. I was thinking of Jezebel. However, since you made fun of my name, I need to make fun of yours. What’s your middle name?”

“Rose.”

“That bitch let Jack drown!” Poppy yells before muttering, “There was plenty of room on that fricking door.”

“I assume you’re referencing something.”

“Your uppity northern bitch mother didn’t put any effort into naming you.”

“My dad named me.”

Poppy scans the party taking place in the grassy space between houses. She locates Duke who seems to be currently annoying Edith. Val’s cousin storms away like my dad is a dumbass.

Poppy asks, “What’s your sister’s name?”

“Clover.”

“Did he come up with that, too?”

“Yes.”

“He put effort into her name. Do you feel like he loves her more?”

“No, I think he was too young when he had me, so he half-assed my name.”

“I love your name,” Val says, erasing the space between us. “I want our daughter Cat to have the middle name Rose.”

“No.”

“I feel like you’re wrong. However, marriage is about compromise, so I will allow you to pick the middle name.”

“I’m not naming my son Dog.”

“How about Labrador or Shephard?”

“No.”

“Boxer?”

“Yorkshire Terrier might be doable,” I reply, realizing he’s either fucking with me or completely serious about a problem I don’t need to stress right now. “Or Shar Pei, but that might be better for a girl.”

“No, our daughter needs to be named Cat.”

“Why?”

“I dreamt it many years ago. However, the woman in my dream was blonde. How do you feel about bleaching your hair?”

“I’m against it.”

“For now,” he taunts and then smiles at Poppy. “I always assumed I’d marry a blonde like my ma. Then, this dark-haired vixen laughed at a guy’s smashed balls, and my heart instantly knew I’d found my dream girl.”

“Aww,” Poppy coos and smiles at me. “I like ball violence, too.” Her smile disappears, and she glares at me. “Don’t kick my son in the balls.”

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