Jaxson
And that, my friend, is how Poppy Montgomery skewered my balls and left me to die while taking off to L.A. in the night with my heart still stuck to the heal of her stiletto.
I still love her. I’ve finally come to realize that the aching feeling clawing at my chest all these years is simply my need to have her. It’s true. I meant what I said. Poppy is the air I need to breathe, and without her near me I simply can’t survive.
As soon as she took off running, I tried to follow her out, just to be tackled by Mackenzie letting me know it was all a part of the act. After an hour and not one returned call or text, I went to the Montgomery home, only to find her things cleared out. Sadie took her to the airport. Poppy was back in Los Angeles before I ever went to bed that night. Not that I’ve slept since she’s been gone. A solid week has gone by without her cheery smile to brighten my day. I’ve tried to make contact with her, but somehow we’ve managed to set the reset button, and the cold war seems to be on again.
I’ve all but set up camp at Starry Nights. My seat at the end of the bar has become my new home. I haven’t said much to Mother. Can’t seem to face her. Jules is glad it’s over between Poppy and me. Kali couldn’t care less either way.
Hunter brings over another beer and takes away my empty glass. “You look like shit, dude.”
“Good. I feel like shit. It’s about time I shed a little honesty.”
A floral perfume breezes by, and I glance over to find Larissa flailing into the seat next to me. “Been missing you at the office.” She nods to Hunter and orders a beer. “You remember that place, don’t you? Built by the steel company you’re in charge of?”
“I might remember it, but at the moment I’m not interested.”
Conner comes in grinning, and as soon as he spots me, his enthusiasm wanes. It’s safe to say I’ve become Oak Grove’s biggest buzzkill. Word on the street is that Poppy and I had a blowout at the party. I heard one rumor suggest that she took off because the size of the diamond I gave her was insulting. I know firsthand Poppy isn’t the kind of girl who would care about that. Poppy is wonderful and not at all a cold-hearted brat who holds on to grudges because they make her feel like she’s in control. I didn’t mean it. I was simply playing off the words she threw my way. And that quip about her wishing she had me? More like me wishing I hadher. It all went to hell so quickly. There was no safe way to get off that demon train.
“What’s going on, man?” Conner falls into the seat on the other side of me.
“Nothing much. You heard from Pops?”
His face contorts in a tight grimace. “Yeah, man, I did. She’s about ready to start her new job. Some swanky design firm she’s been waiting to get onboard with. She’s doing well. She’s got a lot on her plate right now, that’s all.”
Conner knows she hasn’t been returning my calls. He’s just trying to be a good friend by sugarcoating the bitter truth.
Larissa grunts as Hunter slides her drink over. “Who cares about Poppy Montgomery?” She snarls at Conner. “No offense. But—really, she has a life, and it’s not in Oak Grove. I mean, what are you going to do? Fly out to L.A. to try to win her back? It was all a big fake lie anyway. So she got her feelings hurt over a few little jabs. She’ll get over it. And trust me”—her hand slips to the inside of my thigh, and I stop her before she hits pay dirt—“there are plenty of women out there who are willing to help you put that entire nightmare behind you.”
“It wasn’t a nightmare.” I stare numbly right through Hunter. “And it wasn’t fake.”
Conner knocks his shoulder to mine as if trying to pull me from a trance. “What did you just say?”
“It’s true.” I blink back to life for the first time in a week. “Everything that happened between us was real. I love Poppy. I always have.”
“No, no, no.” Conner laughs it off as the ramblings of a madman. “You’re confused. That whole gag was a mindfuck. What you need is—”
“What I need is Poppy.” I glance to Larissa. “Thank you.”
She blinks back surprise. “For what?”
“For suggesting I do the one thing I’ve been hesitating on all week—flying out to L.A. to try to win her back.”
I take off for the door and barrel out into the waiting blizzard with the knifelike wind tearing through my clothes. But the wind is no match for what it feels like in a world without Poppy. I’ve tasted paradise and decided hell isn’t the place for me.
“Stade!”
I glance back to find Conner tripping in the snow as he chases after me.
“Did you mean what you said back there?” He looks stumped, but mostly he looks hurt. Conner and I are brothers, and that’s what he’ll always be to me.
“Yes. I love her. I’ve loved her all my life. I don’t know where it went wrong all those years ago, but I’m not about to let another day drift by without letting her know exactly how I feel. Nobody—not even you can stop me.” I needle him with a hard stare. I confessed to Conner once before how I felt about his sister, and he made no bones about the fact he wasn’t a fan.
He gives a slow nod, his hardened expression slowly melting away. “Okay.” He gives a light tap to my arm. “Go get her, man. I hope things work out the way you’re thinking.” He tucks his chin to the ground as he makes his way back to the bar, dejected.
That didn’t exactly feel as if he were giving me his blessing. But I don’t really give a damn.
I’m coming for you, Pops.
And this time, I’m going to put my heart on the line.
I hope you’ll take it.
It’s been yours for years.
