Page 125 of Stealing Sunshine

Poppy shushes me while shoving hangers along a metal rack and flipping through the dresses. “That doesn’t count. She was from big-city Vancouver. These two were born and raised here!”

“Does your boyfriend wear them?” Daisy asks innocently.

“He does.”

I releasea rough laugh. “Liar.”

Poppy shoots fire-lined eyes in my direction. “Have you forgotten that he worked on Steele Ranch? He’s worn them a time or two.”

“That doesn’t count, and we both know it. And he only worked there for a couple months. Don’t get carried away,” I say.

“Speaking of boyfriend,” Daisy cuts in and slides between me and Poppy with a loopy grin. “Is it going to be boyfriend for much longer, or are we finally going to see you with a ring the size of the moon?”

Poppy’s sigh is dramatic as fuck but so very her. She lifts her hand in front of her and stares at the bare ring finger.

“You’re asking the wrong person. I’d have married him two years ago.”

“Do you think he’s dragging his feet?” Delaney asks.

She’s the one of us who doesn’t know all that much about Poppy and Garrison’s relationship. I’m guessing what she does know, she’s heard from gossipers in town.

“Garrison isn’t really the type to beat around the bush. I think it’s more to do with his career and all of the changes in our life recently than dragging his feet,” Poppy explains, letting her hand fall.

“He could not want to overshadow Brody and Anna’s wedding either,” Daisy offers.

It will be the biggest wedding Cherry Peak has ever seen. They recently chose Steele Ranch as the venue, and yeah, it’s an important location for the two of them, but I think it’s also the only place with enough space.

Delaney feels the sequined straps of one of the dresses before pushing the entire thing away with a grimace. “I thought the wedding wasn’t until summertime?”

“It’s not. But planning has already started. I’ve told Garrison that I don’t want a long engagement either. So he knows that when he proposes, the wedding has to be at maximum three months afterward. I’m not giving him time tochange his mind or swooping in to tie the knot before Anna and Brody do.”

“He wouldn’t change his mind regardless of how long you waited,” I say.

“Realistically, I know that. But insecurities are a bitch.”

Daisy gifts her a soft, honest smile. “He couldn’t do better than you. Something tells me that he’s more than aware of that.”

“You’re the sweetest, Daisy. If Bryce doesn’t keep you, I’ll have to revoke our best friend status,” Poppy threatens teasingly.

It’s Daisy’s eyes I latch onto. “I don’t plan on letting her go.”

She blushes all the way to her ears and ducks into another aisle. We all follow, and the scratch of hangers grinding against the metal rods makes the hair on my arms rise.

I tuck my arms into my sides and step back into a puffy dress when a group of teenage girls rush by me with high-pitched squeals and arms full of fabric.

Daisy notices my discomfort a beat before Poppy does, and then the both of them are taking my arms and leading us out of the aisle.

“What do you say we find somewhere else to look?” Daisy asks.

Delaney answers. “I saw a few other shops on our way here.”

Daisy takes my hand and links our fingers. I give them a thankful squeeze, and then, side by side, the four of us leave the store as a unified front. My chest fills with appreciation.

“Actually, I saw another shop I wanted to check out. It’s only a little bit further,” Poppy says.

I think I’m the only one that picks up the slight wiggle in her voice.

“What kind of shop?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.

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