Page 92 of Poppy Kisses
“He wasn’t there. I thought maybe something happened.”
“Shit,” he hissed. “Hassie said she’d bring him, so I came to work. Let me call you back. I gotta make sure he’s okay.”
The line went dead. Dread filled me. I wanted everything to be fine, but if it was, that’d also mean that Hassie was using her son to drive a wedge between me and them.
I was still deciding if I should stay in the house or go when my phone vibrated. Jensen.
“Hey,” I answered. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” The word came out exasperated. “She said he was having too much fun on the farm to stop him for soccer.”
“Okay?” He had really been looking forward to it. Anger blazed a path across my cheeks. She had to have known how excited he was for practice.
“I know,” he said grimly.
“I’ve worked with a lot of kids, and he’s got so much passion. I’d hate to think she’s…” It wasn’t my place to say.
“Manipulating him? That’s what I’m upset about. I don’t give a fuck if he wants to watercolor or learn to cross-stitch, but I won’t tell him he gets to do something and then withhold it because I don’t think he loves what I like enough. That’s fucked up.”
“Maybe he really was having a good time, and he suddenly can’t get enough of horses or family friends.” Call me surprised. I wasn’t defending Hassie, but the fury would get too hot.
“Family friends who haven’t reached out once since I’ve moved home.”
Auggie didn’t fit their lifestyle. My heart went out to him. If Hassie was trying to control his interests and then flitted from his life, he’d know. If he didn’t realize it now, then he would in five years, ten years. Even twenty.
Jensen had to be seething. I was buffered during my time in the school system, but I’d seen enough antics that happened between divorced parents. It could get ugly, and while that wasn’t Jensen, I didn’t know it wasn’t Hassie. “Let’s assume he had fun until we learn differently.”
His exhale gusted over the line. “You’re right. Are you at home?”
The way he said home curled like a whisper through my insides. Home. I looked around the yard, from the proud farmhouse to the sprawling land behind it. The shop Jensen worked in where we’d made some steamy memories. The spot where he usually parked and we had our first time together. I’d never had a house before, and even if the Perez house became mine, if our wild plan worked, then I would, but that wouldn’t change how I felt about this place.
“Yeah. I’m home.”
* * *
Jensen
It was nearly dark before Hassie rolled up with Auggie. I was on the porch with Poppy, having a mineral water and enjoying the beautiful night. I’d stayed away from the beer so I could have a clear head to deal with any soccer fallout.
My heart dropped like a stone when I saw Auggie’s tear-streaked face. He spotted Poppy and cried even harder. I was out of my chair and crossing the lawn in seconds.
“What’s wrong, buddy?”
“I-I’m sorry. I-I forgot.” He hiccuped.
Hassie rounded the back of her pickup with a sheepish look on her face. “The evenin’ got away from us.”
She was putting the charm on. It’d always saved her in the past. I felt Poppy’s calming presence behind me.
Auggie slammed into my stomach, sobbing. “I’m sorry.”
I hugged him and patted his back. “It’s not your fault, bud.”
Defensiveness flashed in Hassie's eyes, but I didn’t care.
“I let Poppy down,” he cried.
“It’s not a problem, Auggie. There’s always Thursday.” Poppy looked at me, eyes wide.Right?she mouthed.
