Page 55 of Poppy Kisses
My phone exploded with replies filled with emojis—at least ten of them were eggplants.
Just when I thought it died down, there was one more buzz.
Daisy: I know I’m late to the party, but I can’t miss this.
The drone of Jensen’s pickup reached me. I finished scheduling my calendar for next month so I could send the new summer schedules to the families I was working with. How many would be willing to come to in-person tutoring and switch from Debbie’s place? I didn’t want to poach her patients, but she was practically throwing them at me. Being overbooked was a good problem to have and even more beneficial for me. But the pressure grew with each client who indicated they would like to continue with me when I opened my doors.
I had the keys in my hands, but putting names on my list didn’t seem prudent until the work in the house was done. Then I could take on full-time clients.
Flutters erupted in my stomach. From the thought of my tutoring center actually happening, or because I’d get to see Jensen in a few minutes? We’d pretend we hadn’t just been half-naked in the shop getting each other off.
I shut down my computer. The weekend officially started.
I found Jensen at the grill. The garage door was open, so he could go use the table he had set up inside for his supplies. When he spotted me, his gaze heated and the corner of his mouth kicked up. Just from that, I could strip down again.
“Poppy! Come play with me!” Auggie yelled from the yard, where he dribbled a soccer ball around the trees.
I was on a trajectory to give Jensen a hello kiss like I hadn’t seen him all day. Like we were a real couple. We weren’t. We couldn’t be. Now was not the time to risk my heart and my personal life.
“I’ll be right there,” I called to Auggie. I stopped far enough away from Jensen that I wouldn’t beeline straight for his arms. “I’m going to meet my sisters for a drink after dinner.” I almost saidif that’s okay,but we weren’t a real couple. A few more repetitions might convince my body to behave.
“Sounds fun. Call me if you need a ride.”
“I joked I was getting drunk, but I’m not.” I just needed the girl talk. The reality check. Clover wouldn’t be there, so I might actually get one.
“Have fun.” His eyes twinkled.
After a couple of seconds, I caught myself staring at him. I jolted. “Excuse me, I have some passes to teach your son.”
I jogged to the yard where Auggie was, but really, I was running from Jensen and everything I wanted to do to him.
* * *
The bass of the band at the bar acted like a privacy wall. Sure, I had to practically yell to tell my sisters a PG13-rated version of what I was doing with Jensen, but they could barely make out what I was saying.
Finally, the band took a break, and the sound lowered to a dull roar.
“What are you afraid of?” Daisy asked, twirling her glass. Other than her, we’d all had our one drink and were sipping on our Blue Dolphins—water. “Falling for him and he doesn’t feel the same way? Or that he’ll fall for you and you won’t feel the same?”
That he wouldn’t fall as far as me. “Yes to both.” Close enough. “I mean, he married Hassie.”
She blinked at me like she couldn’t determine how that was critical.
“He also divorced Hassie.” Violet rested her chin in her hand. “If he was obsessed with her, he would’ve done everything to make it work.”
“Unless she refused to. I don’t really know what happened between them, but she’s still Auggie’s mom. She’s still in his life—and Jensen’s. What if he’s just waiting for his moment? For her to say, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to love you more than horses.’”
Lily snorted, digging her cherry out of her empty Shirley Temple. “From what little I remember, people like her don’t love men more than their horse—because the animal is the extension of self.”
That shouldn’t have made me feel so much better, but a part of me lifted. “Think so?”
Violet pursed her lips. “It doesn’t matter what we think. Have you talked to him about whether it’ll be just sex to him?”
I crossed my arms. “I told him I wasn’t looking for a relationship. Can you imagine how awkward that would be if he thought I was looking for a love match and he just wants a good time until Hassie gets bored of barrel racing?”
“Hate to sound like a broken record,” Lily said, “but Hassie’s not going to get tired of barrel racing.”
“I want all or nothing.” I shook my head. I couldn’t give Jensen all of me and then have her swoop in. If a few comments when we were kids had stuck with me so long, what would that do? I had a career to get off the ground. “Which is too bad because I really do want him.” His appetizers were amazing. What would the full course be like? I’d hunger for nothing but him.
