Page 3 of Last Second Chance

I hated to see her acting like this. Poppy was always warm and friendly. Her smile drew people in, and her open personality made her likable. I used to joke that she’d never met a stranger, but all those traits were things I’d loved about her.

The worst part was that I knew I was the reason she was so distant and cold. We’d barely spoken since we split up, but every time I’d tried, she was like this. She didn’t want to have a conversation and definitely wasn’t interested in anything I had to say.

She hated me.

It was frustrating as hell.

I bent down to grab her suitcase, which had fallen over onto its side. Poppy reached out and took the handle out of my hand. Our fingers brushed, and I felt a familiar tingling sensation that I was now unaccustomed to after so much time had passed. Her eyes flew to mine, and I could see that she was startled as she felt it too.

Then, her mouth thinned into a slash, and she took a step back, taking the suitcase with her. “I got it.”

“What were you doing when you tripped?” I asked curiously. The line in front of her moved, and we took a few steps forward with it.

Poppy raised her eyebrows and jerked her chin in the direction of where I’d been standing before. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to your girlfriend now?”

I glanced over my shoulder to see that she was looking at some woman I didn’t know. I looked back at Poppy and wondered if I was imagining the jealousy I thought I saw in her big brown eyes. It had to be wishful thinking, right?

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

I had tried to date a couple of times, but it was hard when I was still crazy about Poppy. I found myself comparing every woman to her, and no one else measured up. She still felt like my girl, even though I knew she’d strongly disagree with that notion.

“Well, I’m sure it’s hard for you to settle for just one woman.”

Her words are scathing, and I couldn’t help feeling defensive. She refused to have a real conversation with me but continued to take jabs like that any time we did interact.

The line in front of us had been moving steadily and before I could come up with a response that didn’t include the words stubborn or unreasonable, we were at the counter.

“I’ll help the next person,” the male attendant said, and we both stepped forward at the same time.

Poppy huffed and put her hands on her hips as she turned to me. “Seriously? This isn’t even your line.”

“I came over to help you when you fell,” I pointed out.

“And I don’t need your help. I don’t needanythingfrom you.”

Yep, frustrating as hell.

“Can I help who’s next?” The attendant’s eyes darted to the long line behind us, and I knew that we were holding things up.

I stepped aside and swept my arm out for Poppy. “After you.”

Now, she glared at me. “Don’t do me any favors. You go first.”

I didn’t want to argue with her. She was already existing in a state of eternal anger directed at me. Making it worse would just turn this entire week into a disaster before it even began.

So, I stepped up and pulled out my driver’s license. “I have a car reserved.”

The attendant turned to his computer, and I saw Poppy shift her weight from one foot to the other out of the corner of my eye. She was biting her lower lip, and old habits made me want to reach over to pull it out from between her teeth and kiss her.

She’d probably bite me if I attempted it.

It’s almost worth trying.

“Okay, Mr. Marino. You’re all set.” The attendant handed over a car key and fob along with a clipboard with paperwork before pointing to an exit nearby. “You have a Ford Fusion waiting in the parking lot through that door. One of the car attendants will go over the vehicle with you and you just have to sign the form acknowledging that there are no issues and that you’ll return it in the same condition.”

“Got it.” I stepped away from the counter and heard Poppy greet the attendant behind me.

“Hi!” Poppy said in a suddenly bright and cheery voice. “How are you?”

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