Page 46 of Poppy Kisses
“You were always standing on the bus. You couldn’t sit still.”
“I still can’t. Auggie’s the same. Drove his mom crazy.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
“I didn’t say you can’t talk about her.” A mix of emotions battled behind my ribs. I wanted to hear about Auggie’s mom, but then I’d remember who she was. “I was friends with Rodeo Barbie.”
He cocked a brow at me as he turned onto the highway that’d lead to town. “I believe she’d say she was Barrel Racer Barbie and probably list all her winnings.”
I chuckled. He had to be proud of her. He’d supported her through it all to get to where she was. “I have to admit that I have a hard time reconciling Hassie and Auggie’s mom as the same person.”
“She does too.”
I blinked at him, but he didn’t elaborate, turning off the highway to his mom’s house. He’d made cryptic comments before, but if she’d been that bad, would Auggie still cling to a magazine she was in? Or have his room cowboyed up?
Auggie was playing in the yard, kicking a soccer ball around. When it came down to it, I didn’t know him that well, or his history, and it wasn’t my business, no matter what wishful thoughts went through my head.
I tapped the passenger window. “He’s seriously taking to it.”
“It’s something he can do. He had a hard time around the horses. A high-energy kid who didn’t want to be held back. High-strung horses. It wasn’t the best combo.” As if Auggie heard our conversation, he sprinted over. “Poppy! My teacher wants to talk to you!”
Oh. I should be elated. I had dedicated so much of my life to the sport. I had lived for playing. Like Auggie, I hadn’t gotten in trouble when I raced around the field. Dribbling the ball and kicking it off the wall kept me busy at home until Mom chased me out of the kitchen because the noise got to her.
If it wasn’t for what happened after my college graduation, I would’ve jumped at the opportunity. I probably would’ve been coaching.
“What’d you tell her?” I asked.
Auggie beamed. “I said you’ll take me to school on Monday and talk to her.”
“Augs,” Jensen groaned. “You’ve got to ask first.”
The sweet boy blinked, oblivious to the tide of panic he started. “Well, you’re supposed to be my new mom.”
The word “mom” referring to me was trippy, yet I wouldn’t mind hearing it again. Should I be bothered by that? Boundaries and all? Jensen’s eyes went wide, his gaze flying to me.
“Riiiight.” New mom. I wasn’t going to reject the idea and hurt his feelings. He was a great kid, and he tugged at those strings in my heart, the ones that were getting shorter the older I got. They’d be tied up for good. I wasn’t old, but my closest shot at getting married was striking a bargain with an old friend who’d never been interested in me. “I’ll give you a ride, no probs.”
He grinned. “Really?”
“Any time, as long as I don’t have a client.” I’d change my schedule if he asked, but I didn’t want to overstep his dad. “I’m not sure if I can coach though. Starting a business and all.”
His expression fell, yanking my heart down with it. “Okay. I was going to be on a team if she got one started this summer.”
If there was a Most Wanted List for breaker of kids’ hearts, I was on it. Not a good feeling. “I mean, I’m around all summer, so I’m sure I can do something with your team.”
“Yeah!” He jumped up and down. “Grandma!” He raced off.
Jensen crossed an arm over his chest and stroked his chin with his other hand. His eyes were dancing. “He took you down that easy? Weak, Duke. Weak.”
He wanted to play that game? “Auggie! Your dad said he’d coach too!”
Jensen made a choking sound, and I dissolved into laughter.
“You think that’s funny?” He lunged for me, a wicked glint in his eyes.
I took off. I didn’t know what he planned to do, but I was mostly afraid he’d wrap those big arms around me and I wouldn’t struggle. Terrified a moan would leave me. My nipples would get hard and poke into him.
I sprinted to the garage, and dammit, he let me win. There was no way I’d gotten faster than him in the last twenty years.
Erin watched us charge in, an indulgent smile on her face. Auggie was probably telling her everything about soccer, but her grin only grew. “Sounds like it’s going to be an interesting summer.”
