Page 102 of Poppy Kisses
“Right,” Daisy said, “but also, Hassie’shere.”
The butterflies in my stomach careened to the sides. “Yeah, it’d have looked worse to not invite her. I’d invite her a million times for Auggie, but I hope…”
When I didn’t finish, Clover narrowed her eyes. “Has she been saying shit?”
“Not directly.” I twisted my fingers together. “But she was double-checking that all this was fake yesterday. I think she hated seeing me, Jensen, and Auggie playing together.”
Violet clucked her tongue. “And I’m sure it digs under her skin to think about you and Jensenplayingtogether.”
We played so hard together. “She doesn’t know a life where he’s not obsessed with her.”
“Linda and Darren just arrived,” Daisy said.
The nerves in my gut went wild. “It’ll be fine. Right?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Violet asked, and since she was the logical one, I calmed.
Why wouldn’t today go all right? Everything was in place, and I was in love with the groom. He might not be there yet with me, but my aunt and uncle didn’t have to know and neither did my parents. Maybe when the year was over, we’d get our own one-year anniversary celebration.
“It’s starting soon.” Clover took my dress off the hanger. “Once he sees you in this dress, he’s going to haul you away in front of everyone.”
It was go time. I looked at my empty ring finger. The ring and band would be on it before the end of the day. A symbol of our deal, but I was no longer satisfied with that. Marriage first. Hopefully, the love came later.
* * *
Jensen
The justice of the peace was chatting with Poppy’s dad. Alder and Jasper had veered into talk of cattle ranching and horse breeding, and while I was mildly interested in both, I couldn’t concentrate. I kept scanning the small, intimate crowd for Poppy.
I was comfortable. No tight western vest. No new pair of boots pinching my feet. I was in an old polished pair of cowboy boots, loose gray slacks, and a comfortable dress shirt. No pinching ties. No clinging suit coat. Just me.
Awareness prickled over my skin, and the jitters were right there, threatening to make my hands tremble. I yearned for the calming presence of Poppy. She’d understand how I felt with this almost-but-not-quite sense to the day. How I wanted to be excited and then remembered I wasn’t supposed to be while also considering that everyone should think I was, so why couldn’t I be excited again?
Poppy knew how I felt.
Did she know how I felt about her?
She knew I liked her. I couldn’t keep my hands off her. But she didn’t know how much I liked her. She had no idea that times like now, I craved her, and it wasn’t just sexual. She didn’t know I loved her.
Her aunt wandered by, looking uncertain.
“Hi, Linda,” I said. “Thanks for coming.”
Her salt-and-pepper brows lifted. “Hello, Jensen.” She glanced around. “Is the house open for guests? I’m afraid I have to use the restroom.”
“Absolutely it’s open for guests. Poppy and I were hoping to show you the renovations.”
Pleasure filled her face. “Of course. I’m looking forward to it. I hope I’ll still get a tour when the ceremony is done.” She walked away, picking over the grass in her low-heeled sandals. The wind fluttered her wide-legged pants.
I really did want her to see the place. In the next few weeks, I’d go over the pictures of the cabinets I made and installed and write up a description. Poppy would look at it, and we’d carry on like we’d been doing for the last two months.
I couldn’t wait.
As I was turning, Hassie approached. She wore a backless pink dress that was more like a long nightgown with sheer fabric and a thigh-high slit. I didn’t recognize the cowboy boots, but she had needed a horse trailer to haul all her footwear, and she likely hadn’t pared down.
She’d been talking to Auggie. He was brandishing our rings to anyone who would stop long enough to admire them.
Hassie’s features were pinched. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
