Page 79 of Choosing Forever
“Hi, Bryce,” I announce, twisting in my seat to face her.
The tattoos on Bryce’s neck and behind her ear catch my eye when she lifts a brow in suspicion at both me and Poppy. “What did you two do?”
“What? Why would we have done anything?” Poppy asks, sounded mockingly offended.
“You’re clearly acting weird. What did they do, Abbie?”
“Nothing,” Abbie groans.
“Well . . . good. Because I have to go.”
“Okay. Can I have a hug before you’re gone, Abs?” Poppy’s already pushing back out of her chair when Bryce speaks again.
“No, I mean I have to leave alone. I already called Darren to let him know, but Shade needs me at the studio. Something’s come up that I can’t miss.”
Poppy’s concerned gaze isn’t misplaced. I know Bryce well enough to realize that it isn’t normal for her to have to take off so suddenly. The fact that she is should be taken seriously.
“I’m assuming I’m watching Abbie until Darren’s off, then?”
“You assume right. He’s trying to get out of the station early because I know you have to head home soon.”
“Soon as in half an hour soon,” Poppy clarifies.
Bryce pushes her empty chair in and offers us a winced smile. “Sorry. I know it’s shit timing.”
“It’s okay, right, Abbie? We’ll find something to do. And if your dad can’t find a way out of work early, then I guess I’ll have to drop you off at the station like a newborn baby, hmm?”
The little girl’s eyes bulge. “You wouldn’t!”
“Oh, but I could,” Poppy sings.
“I’ll just go with Delaney, then!” Abbie exclaims.
I freeze up, every muscle in my body locking. “Oh—I don’t . . . That wouldn’t—Poppy’s just teasing.”
“Your dad said that was only if he couldn’t get off work in time. And if Delaney didn’t mind.”
There isn’t a coherent thought in my head.
“He did?” Poppy asks, not sounding as mind blown by that as I feel.
My mouth has a mind of its own. “You told him I was here? With Abbie?”
Bryce doesn’t answer either of us. “I’ve got to go. Just send Darren a text or call the station. He’s doing nothing like always. Bye.”
It’s blunt and quick, and then she’s gone. I’m still trying toreel my thoughts together when Poppy urges to Abbie to clean up her bracelet supplies for real this time. I watch them both work together to rid the table of beads and string without speaking. There are more than enough words in my head that there’s no reason to say them out loud.
“Okay, ready to go, Della?”
I slowly follow the line of Poppy’s body up to her face. She’s standing at the edge of the table watching me, waiting for a reply.
“I’m going to walk home,” I tell her, the words forming slow and heavy on my tongue.
She frowns. “What? Why? You don’t need to do that. I picked you up, so I can drop you off.”
“I have a few things to do today still. You take Abbie to the station. To thedoors.”
“Are you sure? We wouldn’t mind the company.”
