Page 153 of Home Field Advantage
“That’s very wise coming from you.”
“Sometimes I can be wise when I’m not being stupid.”
I scoff. “You’re far from stupid.”
He puts his hands on each hip, cocking his head to the side. “Yeah? Then tell me why I spent the best night of my life with the hottest woman ever, only to leave before she woke up like a coward.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Riddle me that, Westbrook.”
I walk toward him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “There’s always another time. We can go back to the city for a baseball game, and maybe fate will play its cards right for you to run into her again.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But I’m going to head out. Is my bicycle still on the side of the house?”
“Should be.”
“Perfect. And hey, thanks again for letting me tag along for your trip.”
“Anytime.”
Tucker leaves, and I make my way down the hall to check on Sage. She’s sound asleep, hugging Mr. Marshmallow to her chest.
I need to see Poppy more than I need oxygen to breathe.
She texted me sometime during the drive, but I didn’t want to risk taking my eyes off the road for a second to respond. I just knew I needed to get back here.
Back to her.
When I enter my living room, I hear a noise behind the front door—a soft murmur in a voice I recognize. Rushing to the door, I swing it open and see Poppy on the other side. Her head snaps up when she sees me, and her eyes widen. She’s wearing jeans, a tank top covered by one of her many cardigans, and clutches a piece of paper in her hand.
We both stand there in silence for a moment as I take her in.
There was an ache in my chest while I was gone, and it had everything to do with the woman in front of me—the pain of leaving her and not letting her know what was happening.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“Hi.”
“I…uh.” She turns her head to face my Tahoe before looking back at me. “I saw your car in the driveway.”
I nod.
“And I don’t know why I’m here.” She sighs, straightening her spine. “No. I know why I’m here. I’m here because I created a stupid checklist today to keep myself busy. I’ve been going crazy the last few days, and finally today I made one. I didn’t know what you were doing or if you were coming back,” she says, rattling off everything in one quick breath. “I texted you, and you didn’t respond. I thought the worst thing possible. So I went ahead and tackled my list.” She reaches into her back pocket, pulling a folded piece of paper from her jeans, and then looks down at it. “I wiped down the furniture on my back deck and ordered paint for a bathroom project I’m planning. Then, when I saw you come back, I wrote down that I should tell you how I feel. I hate that it took you leaving for me to realize that I love you—I’m in love with you—but it happened.” She finally looks back up at me. “Now I have this list that only has two things checked off. So I’m here to tell you how I feel. I’m here to tell you that I want you to stay. I should have said that before, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to be the reason?—”
I cut her off by gripping the back of her neck and pulling her into me. My lips crash to hers, and it takes her a moment toregister what’s happening before her hands rake around my neck and tangle in my hair. Her body melts into mine, and I pull her into me with my other arm.
Poppy just told me she loves me.
It wasn’t some loud declaration—it was mixed in a ramble of thoughts.
And because it’s so her, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pulling away from the kiss, I hover over her lips, smiling, and she smiles back. I let my fingertips brush her hair back the way I always do, tucking it behind her ear before cupping the side of her face. Her emerald eyes glisten as they stare up at me.
“I love you, too, Poppy.”
“What?”
