Page 74 of Poppy Kisses
“What’d he say to her?”
“I don’t know. I’m hiding in my bedroom.”
She made a strangled sound. “You aren’t eavesdropping? Poppy, I thought I taught you better.”
I chuckled, grateful for her levity. “I can’t risk hearing him tell her how much we’re fake.”
“He wouldn’t do that, would he?”
“For Rodeo Barbie?”
“You’re hot too.”
Jensen’s voice resonated into the room, talking rapidly. I lay back and stared at the ceiling. “I’m not a badass like her.”
“Poppy, this isn’t like you.” My usually teasing sister, who couldn’t seem to take life seriously, turned frank. “What’s really going on?”
I let out a sigh. “Remember what he used to be like with her? He adored her. She was the center of his world, and he made sure everyone knew it.” I didn’t reiterate some of the comparisons Jensen had made when we were kids. Clover knew them. She might not remember, but she’d been the one to tell me it wasn’t okay.
“Does he still do that?” she asked. “I’ll drive there and kick his ass.”
“You’re not going back to that place,” Elijah complained on the other end.
I rolled my eyes. I wouldn’t want Clover to make another trip, but now I wanted to tell her that yes, I did need her and to ditch that prick and come back.
“No, baby, not tonight,” she said in a simpering tone. So not like her. “Has he?” she practically barked into the phone.
I got no simpering from her. “No, but I haven’t seen or heard them together.”
“What does he say about her?”
I chewed my bottom lip. I couldn’t spill all of Jensen’s private life. “Not a lot. He’s made some comments that maybe she wasn’t around a lot, and he seemed really disappointed with how everything turned out. He doesn’t rage about his shitty ex or anything, and he wouldn’t around Auggie anyway.”
“Okay, so you panicked and ran, but he could be telling her all about the fake wedding and to keep her trap shut and that he changed his mind and you look prettier in a dress.”
Another small laugh burst out of me. “Theoretically, he could be.”
“Then think about those theoretics until you know for sure. And if he talks shit about you, we’ll both kick his ass. But, Poppy?”
I didn’t know if I’d like what she had to say. “Yeah?”
“The way that man looks at you isn’t how a guy stares at the second-best-looking girl he’s seen.”
* * *
Jensen
I tucked Auggie in. The stress of the phone call hung over me, along with the self-recrimination. I should’ve called Hassie earlier, but for a woman who’d been occupied with everything but her husband and kid, she was a little salty about the thought of her ex getting married. I didn’t appreciate her sudden demands to know the situation, but for Auggie’s sake, I had played nice.
“Night, Dad.” Auggie rolled over and his breathing evened out almost immediately. Today had been a full day, followed by an exciting night. If he sensed some of the tension between me and his mom, he didn’t let on. He’d been so damn happy to hear from her. She had that effect on people.
He didn’t move when I got up and left his room. I should talk to Poppy. She’d have to be curious since Hassie’s reaction could affect her. When I got downstairs, I stopped to listen. Nothing.
Was Poppy asleep? I hadn’t seen her since she also sensed the potential conflict of the phone call. I hated that she felt like she’d had to flee.
She deserved an update. And maybe I wanted to have someone to talk to after dealing with my ex. I knocked lightly on her bedroom door. The slightest movement came through the wood before she cracked the door open a few inches.
“Hey.” I scratched the back of my neck and took in her curvy legs. She was wearing her pajama shorts and a loose shirt. I didn’t look close enough to see if she was wearing a bra. My brain would go offline if I did. “Can we talk?”
