Page 20 of Poppy Kisses
Jensen ruffled his hair. “He’s excited to finally have other kids here to play with.”
“I get more every year. What can I do to help get everything ready?” I asked.
“I’m cutting strawberries.” Auggie rushed away.
Jensen pushed the door open, a wry smile on his lips. “Now that we’re engaged, you can come in.”
I laughed, the tension easing. “Leveling up.” I went inside to help get food ready.
Only an hour later, everyone milled in and out of Jensen’s shop. The main rolling door was open. The April day was gorgeous, with a breeze that hinted at the warm weather on its way. I’d almost worn jeans, but Jensen wouldn’t back down on a boot-off.
I didn’t want him to. I spun the simple band on my finger. I was getting used to the rock.
Lily and Eliot were perusing the cabinets inside. I’d heard Lily gush about the colors and how our grandma’s old house could use an update. Evander hovered over a newly walking Willa while Violet frolicked with Cali and Kellan. Daisy sat on a lawn chair, her hand resting on her rounded belly. Alder was kicking my soccer ball around with Laila and Auggie. Jensen’s mom cheered them on.
My other brother, Jasper, hadn’t been able to make it. If I had been getting married for real, he would’ve carved out time. Maybe. It was calving season. Clover hadn’t been able to make the drive in time, but she insisted on being one of the witnesses.
A twinge of longing dragged through my chest. I’d love to have all my family at my wedding. But it didn’t matter. This didn’t mean anything.
I rubbed the center of my chest. I just enjoyed when my family was all together. They were my favorite people.
As soon as I’d heard about the trust three years ago, I’d been drawn to Coal Haven. Hadn’t thought I’d move here. Apprehension filled me. What had I been thinking? I wasn’t even sure I could open the center and keep it that way, yet here I was, planning to get married to just get a space to work in. Without insurance reimbursement, lessons cost a fortune. Who’d pay me for that? Who’d donate money? I’d need a lot. Debbie had generated tons of community support, but fundraising was almost a full-time gig for her.
Hadn’t I learned my lesson before? Twice?
I was stubborn to a fault, and I was dragging Jensen in with me.
I tightened my ponytail. I was standing next to Jensen as he and Dad talked about the work he’d done on the house and what he planned to do to my place.
Ourplace. I could not fuck that up today.
Linda hadn’t arrived yet, but nerves rattled inside me. I must crackle when I walked.
Jensen had a mineral water in one hand as he talked to my parents. He slid an arm around my waist, and I stiffened. The muscles in his arm twitched against the small of my back.
Relax. This was supposed to be natural between us. I soaked up his heat and relaxed. Just a little.
“So it started out as long distance?” Mom asked. Her dark hair was pulled back, the gray in it looking like intentional highlights. I had told her that I hadn’t wanted to say anything since I’d had a string of duds. She hadn’t pushed, and if she was hurt by my lack of transparency, that was actually a lie, she was hiding it.
I nodded, the thought of lying to her sticking in my throat.
“Auggie has a bad habit of walking around with his laptop while in a lesson,” Jensen answered. “He was getting a drink, and there she was.”
I smiled, more from the memory of being glued to my screen when Jensen had been wandering shirtless behind Auggie than from his story.
Dad considered me, then Jensen. “You all had a pretty tight group, but I didn’t think you were that close into adulthood.”
“I’m old enough to know what I like now,” Jensen said, his tone confident. “Old enough to know when it’s right. It’s never felt right until Poppy.”
My knees went weak. God, if he meant that for real? I’d melt into a lovestruck puddle. “Makes you wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t moved.”
A twinge of regret darkened Dad’s eyes. “Now that you’re all coming back, I wonder too.” His smile was tight. “What would’ve happened if I had never gotten to know Gentry King well enough to hear the story of his late wife’s trust funds and then pass the tale along to Mom.”
“It’s all working out.” Mom patted his arm. “But I agree. Would’ve been nice not to have stipulations.” She beamed at me. “Do you have a date set?”
Jensen and I had talked about this. We’d go to the justice of the peace two weeks after our announcement, so it’d look like we put some planning in versus rushing through vows to get into the house faster.
Still, the question hit differently when his strong arm was around me and my shoulder butted into that defined chest I’d seen a week ago.
