Page 21 of More Than Falling in Love

“How’d it go?You aren’t crying.That’s a good sign.”He chuckles, then his brow knits.“You didn’t makehercry, did you?”

“I’m not a monster.There were a few tears, and she said it was end-of-the-book kind of crying.”

“Are we talking a book with a happy ending or a tragedy?That seems important.”

Shaking my head, I walk inside, grab two juice boxes out of the fridge, and hand one to Parker.“She’s not mad at me.It went…” I stab the straw into the little hole, relishing success on the first try.“It went better than I expected.She said the word friend first.”

Parker sucks up juice until the box collapses inward.“So it’s all good?”

“Yeah.We’re getting together to swim on Saturday.”

“As in, you, Mason, and Poppy?”

“If I can, I’ll join them.”I check the time.Tomorrow is a school day, and it’ll take extra time to roust my kid in the morning.“Thanks for helping me map out the friend zone.I’ve never really been friendly with a woman like this.”

Parker shakes his head.“Only you can make the friend zone sound like a happy place.”He heads to the door.“Now all you have to do is pick a nickname, and you should be set.”

“Flutter.Because she likes butterflies.And she’s kind of like one.When she comes into a room, people notice and watch.Then she goes away again.”

Laughing, he walks out to the porch.“Sweet dreams.”

Dreams.That’s the part of this friends thing I haven’t figured out.For now, I’m not going to mention my sweet dreams to anyone.

I climb into bed, exhausted but content.The feelings I have for Poppy are new and different.It’ll take time for me to get accustomed to whatever chemical reaction happens when she comes near me.

After talking to her, I don’t feel like I’m walking a tightrope, worried I’ll say the wrong thing.My kid lights up when she’s around, and after his less than stellar childhood, I want him to have all the good things possible.Poppy included.

I’m happy for my kid.But I’m not quite ready to admit that I’m happy for me too.

Friday morning,I sleep through my alarm, which I’ve never done before.Then do a mad scramble to get Mason to school on time.

When I walk him to class, my hair is still damp from my shower, and I haven’t yet had coffee.Two ladies, who normally sidle up beside me and make small talk, stare as I walk toward the classroom.The reaction is strange.

“Have a good day.”I give my kid a hug.“I’ll see you after school.”

“Maybe if Poppy isn’t busy, she can come with you to get me.”He points at the pocket where I keep my phone.“You can call her.You have her number.”

“We’ll see.You behave for Miss Ivy.”I stay until he makes it to his seat.

Ivy intercepts me before I walk away.“So, I know you aren’t much of a social media guy, but if you notice more whispers and fewer women asking for your number, it might be because of this.”She holds up her phone, showing a picture of me dancing with Poppy.

“That explains a lot.I’ll have to write Poppy a thank-you note.”

“Mason gushed about her yesterday.”

“Not a surprise.He’s pretty taken with her.They’ve become friends.And we’ve become friends.”I give Ivy the look that tells her I want to be understood.“Just friends.”

“Good to know.I figured you’d have mentioned if the situation were different, but with Mason in my class, I…” She shrugs.“I think you know what I’m getting at.”

“I do.And I appreciate you letting me know about the photo.”

I drive back out to the ranch and grab a cup of coffee before getting to work.I’ll decide later whether to text Poppy about going with me to pick up Mason.

Chapter 9

Poppy

My internal clock hasn’t reset, so I wake at four and slide out of bed.I’ll be tired later, but why waste the morning?

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