Page 100 of Poppy Kisses
I ruffled his hair. “We’ve got a wedding tomorrow.”
His eyes lit. “I get to carry the rings.”
Hassie’s gaze went to Poppy’s left hand, and a cloud passed over her expression. She pushed off the fence. “Come give me a hug.” She avoided looking at me or Poppy when she said her goodbyes to Auggie.
As Hassie walked with Mom back to her pickup, Poppy chewed on her lower lip. She glanced over and flared her eyes wide, making a grimace. I snorted, and she giggled.
Hassie looked over her shoulder, cast an even stare at us, then gave Auggie one more wave before they loaded up and left. Auggie climbed into my pickup. He chattered about practice all the way home and then about camping out inside with Grandma all weekend.
“Go get cleaned up,” I said to Auggie after we parked at home. He ran inside, and I waited by the pickup with Poppy.
“So,” she said, standing close, “that was tense.”
“It was. Is she going to be a problem tomorrow?” Hassie had told Auggie she’d be there“since it was fake and all, it shouldn’t be an issue.”
Poppy pointed at herself. “You’re asking me? She’s not my ex.”
“It’s your wedding.”
She opened her mouth, shut it again.
Ah hell. What did I say wrong?
“Right. Yes. My wedding.”
I cupped her elbow and drew her closer to me. “Hey, I didn’t mean it like that. We’re in this together, but I’m used to having her suck the fun out of weddings. You’re not.”
“Was it really that bad?”
Yes. Back then, I didn’t think so. I didn’t want to think so, or I’d have had to admit a lot more than I was ready for. “That day wasn’t about us. It was about her, and I was an accessory. She was more interested in hanging out with the wedding party than me. I kept her happy that day, and it was at the price of my sanity. A drunk Rodeo Barbie isn’t easy to deal with.”
She laughed. “I’m really sorry it didn’t turn out well for you.”
“Some lessons take longer to learn.” I glanced at the front door, then up at the window. I tugged her in for a kiss. It was quick, and I let her go.
She kept going, backing up. “I’m gonna wait to shower until Auggie’s in bed.”
“What a coincidence. Me too.”
She grinned and turned around to walk to the house. I watched her the whole way. When she was inside, I stared into the distance. Tonight was worlds different than the last time I was getting ready to marry a beautiful woman. I was relaxed. I had no qualms. My only worry was that one year from now, we’d be getting ready to divorce.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Poppy
The Perez house was bustling with people. My brothers were out on the lawn, milling around with my dad. I was in the room that would be my office. We’d hauled a few chairs up and the tub of hair styling supplies that Clover had brought was covered in curling irons and spray bottles. Violet had brought a full-length mirror that rested against the wall.
This morning, I had gone out to breakfast with my sisters. When our parents had gotten to town, they went straight for the diner. All my family was in city limits and were here to watch me get married.
My stomach fluttered, and I was so damn excited for tonight I was tempted to rush to the justice, say my vows, and hide away in the house with Jensen where we didn’t have to pretend we were crazy about each other.
He really liked me.
But he hadn’t said he loved me.
I wrestled with one unruly curl. Should I have kept my hair down? I plumped the stray lock, but the damn thing hung right down the middle of my forehead. I twisted it and tried to secure it in the delicate pile Clover had made on the top of my head.
More curls slipped loose.
