Page 73 of Poppy Kisses
Jensen’s mouth was tight and his stony gaze was on the TV.
“Guess what we did today?” Auggie asked his mom.
Jensen popped his head up, alarm flaring in his eyes. I wanted to be one of those cats that could disappear into the cushions.
“Went to the lake with Poppy,” Auggie proudly announced. “You remember her? She said she knows you.”
I wanted to groan. Something about that line made me sound needy or something. Like a fangirl who wanted to take over Hassie’s life.
Auggie kicked his legs on the chair. “She’s staying here. Her and Dad are getting married.”
“Shit,” Jensen said under his breath.
It’d been a month, and he hadn’t said anything? He had mentioned she hadn’t called, but he also hadn’t reached out to inform her of something this significant. Had he avoided telling her?
“Yep. They’re getting married,” Auggie announced proudly. Jensen dropped his head and squeezed his eyes shut. “But it’s not real.”
A snort slipped out of me, and I pressed my hand to my mouth. Jensen cracked an eye open and looked at me.
Sorry, I mouthed.
An amused grimace twisted his lips.
“Dad,” Auggie said, “Mom wants to talk to you.”
His expression went blank, and he glanced away. Our brief moment of connection was gone. As he stood, I was taken over by the urge to run, to go for a long drive, or even check into the motel in town. I was the interloper, and my presence was going to cause tension. I also didn’t want to be around when he appeased Hassie. Old feelings tumbled back. Would he tell her that we were sleeping together? That I was better at soccer than her and that was it?
I couldn’t go outside while it was dark and raining, but I had to leave.
“I’ll give you some space,” I whispered and scurried to my room before I could see if he was relieved or not.
I sat on the edge of my bed, thumping the backs of my legs against the mattress. Jensen’s deep voice rumbled through the walls, but I couldn’t make out any words. Panic clogged my throat just thinking that I might.
That’s a pretty dress. I bet Hassie would be prettier in it.
He’d been an impulsive eleven-year-old when he’d said that, but my brain was replaying it like it was yesterday. Hassie had been prettier in a dress back then and she probably still was.
I pulled up Clover’s number and hit send.
She answered on the tail end of a giggle. “Hey. Everything okay?”
No. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Because it’s a Sunday night, and I just saw you.”
I called Clover for a reason. I could let my anxiety chew through my stomach or talk to her. “Hassie called, and Auggie told her that Jensen and I are getting married.”
“He hadn’t told her yet?”
“No, she hasn’t called since I’ve been here. But he also didn’t call her.”
Clothing rustled, and she murmured something to someone, probably that arrogant prick who’d likely end up as my brother-in-law. “So, you’ve been there a month and this is the first time she’s talked to him? She hasn’t talked to her kid for a month?”
“I dunno. It’s been longer than that, I think?”
“Geez, seriously? So is she pissed?”
“She asked to talk to Jensen right away, but Auggie also told her it wasn’t real.” I probed my forehead. The throb of a headache was starting. Would a pretend marriage be better or worse to Hassie? I was living with her ex and her son.
