Page 84 of Poppy Kisses
Poppy glanced over, her smile tight. I wanted to cross to her and link our hands. To show her that nothing would change. But I wasn’t letting my ex-wife force our hand in the tentative step forward we were taking in our relationship. Mom looked up from where she perched on the edge of the couch. Hassie crowded in the door behind me. I moved closer to Poppy.
“I was just asking how Bishop’s was,” Mom said as if she was oblivious to the tension, and I appreciated the effort. “It’s been so long since I’ve eaten there. I might have to make it a grandma and grandson date.”
“Auggie would love that,” I said.
“He was asleep when I arrived,” Hassie said. “I can’t wait to see him.”
Poppy inched toward her bedroom. “Good night, everyone.”
“Speaking of that.” Hassie’s voice stopped Poppy in her tracks. “Dad’s renters haven’t moved out yet, and I thought I could crash here.”
The room went silent. Shit. Renters were handy when I could talk Poppy into staying with me. Now, it sucked. The last thing I wanted was to wake up and see Hassie, but I also didn’t want her to leave and have Auggie blame me. “Poppy’s in the guest room,” I said carefully, “and she’s using the extra room upstairs for her office.”
Hassie tipped her head as if she was waiting for me to rearrange our situation just for her. Her pale brows drew together, and she let out a curt laugh. “It’s a big house.”
It was my house.
Mom clapped her hands together. “Well, I certainly have space. Why don’t you crash with me? You can use the room Auggie uses when he sleeps over.”
Relief washed over me. “Thanks, Mom. That’s a great offer.”
Hassie recoiled like she didn’t expect me to give up on a solution to keep her under this roof. Her blue gaze darted back and forth between me and Poppy.
Poppy ducked her head and shrank in on herself. I had the urge to grab her hand, but that’d only make whatever was going on here worse. We had a deal, and I didn’t want her to renege on it.
“Okay, then. Erin, you’ve got a roomie.” She spun to me, standing in a way that made her tanned legs cross and all the muscles flex. Once upon a time, I used to live for that flirty stance until I saw the calculation behind it. It’d taken too many years to open my eyes. “How ’bout I bring lunch tomorrow? I can see Auggie then.”
I glanced at Poppy, but she looked like she was trying to become one with the paint on the walls. “Yeah, that’s fine,” I said, hoping what I said next would dissuade her, “but I’ll be working in the shop most of the day.”
“That’s fine,” Hassie said. “It’ll give me and Poppy a chance to catch up.”
Poppy’s flinch was subtle, but I caught it. Her confession about how my comments had made her so insecure ran through my head, amping up my remorse over it.
Before I could backpedal on my shop plans, Poppy caught my gaze and forced a smile. “Don’t plan anything around me. I don’t want to get in the way.” She gave a stilted wave. “Good night, everyone. Thanks again, Erin.”
She rushed out of the room, and it was all I could do to keep my feet rooted. If I chased her, she’d want to hide more. I’d give her this space while I got Hassie out of the house.
“Well,” Hassie said with too much cheer in her voice, “it’s a date. I’ll bring lunch by.”
“Glad everything worked out.” Mom rose. “I’m not sure if you know where I live, Hassie. Why don’t you follow me?”
Mom gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you,” I said, hoping she could hear the depth of my gratitude.Thanks for watching Auggie. Thanks for getting Hassie out of my house. Thanks for making this all easier.
“Anytime.” She cast a worried gaze toward Poppy’s room, then slipped out the door, ushering Hassie with her.
Finally, I was alone. I watched their headlights disappear. The dread sinking through my gut didn’t diminish.
Fuck.
I went straight for the guest room and knocked.
Poppy popped the door open. She had her bonnet on, and her expression was tired.
I reached for her, but she swayed back. Was this too intimate? The rebuff hurt, but with the drama from tonight, I couldn’t blame her. Still, my old scars cracked open. “You okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
