Page 87 of Poppy Kisses
I hopped on one leg and nearly fell over, grateful the door was closed all the way.
“There are my boys!” Hassie called.
This time, I flopped on the bed, my body heavy, like I had retained each drop of water from the shower.
There are my boys.
She sounded so…natural. Like she was meant to be here and I was the intruder.
But I wanted Jensen for myself.
I decided to marry him less than a week after reconnecting with him. Fake or not, that was a big commitment. Being with him since our deal only made it feel more right.
I fell for him. His smile. His unwavering support. The way he made me feel mentally and physically—I’d experienced nothing like it. I liked how he challenged me, but he also knew I just needed him to be there.
Tears poked hot into the backs of my eyes. A deep voice joined in the conversation in the kitchen. I pushed my hair out of my face and finished getting dressed before I found a hair tie and twisted my damp curls into a loose bun.
I was about to open the bedroom door when I stopped. I could do this. Whatever happened, it would be fine. It might take some time, but I’d land on my feet.
I breezed out, leaving all my insecurities behind. Hassie had packs of chicken open and she was making a flour mixture to dredge them through. For fuck’s sake, was she making homemade fried chicken? It wasn’t even eleven.
Show-off.
Jensen was standing at the edge of the living room, his arms folded. He glanced at me and his expression lightened, but concern filled his eyes. “Morning.”
“Morning. Sorry I slept in.”
“Nothing to be sorry about,” he said.
The tension was leaking out of me when Hassie popped her head up. “Early bird gets the worm, sleepyhead. I was at the store before it even opened. Since when do they keep the doors locked until nine?”
Any hunger I had vanished. I wasn’t participating in this level of competition.
Jensen’s lips were thinned when he faced me. “Auggie was in the shop helping me with the crown molding for the house.” His voice was softer than his tone. “We’ll get it measured and cut to install it tomorrow.”
“I can help with that. Or I can do it even if you have stuff going on here.” My gaze drifted to where Hassie was having Auggie beat a couple of eggs.
“You can give me a hand. Hassie said she’d come hang with Auggie tomorrow.”
I almost saidit’s a date, but I held back. Awareness tickled down my spine. We were being watched. “I’ll be there.”
“I have to get back out to the shop so we have something to mount.”
“You’re all about the mounting,” I muttered only loud enough for him, forgetting all the awkwardness of the last twelve hours. We snickered, and Hassie’s focus burned into me. “Thanks for doing that.”
He winked like he was oblivious to his ex. “Holding up my end of the deal. Do you want to come out and help?”
He was offering me an out. An escape from being stuck in the house with Hassie. I was a big girl. I could hang with her and save some pride. We’d been friends once.
“Dad—wait!” Auggie held his hands in the air. “Can I help again?”
“Of course, bud. Come on out after you wash your hands.” Jensen disappeared outside. Auggie washed his hands and dashed out with him.
Now I was alone with Hassie. My stomach churned. We used to be friends. Maybe we still could be. It had to be better than this weirdness. “Can I help with anything?”
“I’ve got it.” She smiled, but her eyes didn’t sparkle at me like they did around Jensen. “So? How’ve you been?”
“Good. The normal. College, then work. Now I’m opening my own business.”
