Jaxson
The Starry Nights Barand Grill is filled to the brim tonight. There’s a roaring fire and flowing booze, but it’s the live music that keeps them coming back in droves. I’m glad. I want to see all of my friends succeed, and Hunter is at the top of the list.
“So, you’re sticking around this time, huh?” he teases Poppy as I hold her tight. “You really think this bozo is worth it?”
“Actually, I thinkyou’reworth it.” She gives a sly wink. “This is a good time to tell Jax it was all an elaborate hoax to unveil our undying love for one another.”
“Whoa.” I pull her away from him a moment. “Time out. I think we need to lay off the hellish humor for a while before you both give me a heart attack.”
Poppy belts out a laugh. “You know I only have eyes for you, Gordo.” She turns back to our old friend. “But I’m sure there’s a special someone out there for you somewhere, Hunter.”
Sadie comes up as if on cue. I’m not sure I see her with Hunter, but Poppy has hinted about it a time or two.
“Here she is now.” Poppy sends her best friend sailing at him as she tap dances us in the opposite direction. Sadie came over that first night we were back in Oak Grove and practically jumped into bed with us. She was that thrilled for us. Poppy has been staying with me mostly, but I know it’s not ideal to be holed up at my mother’s no matter how big the house is. Which is exactly why I’m paying the contractor working on my new home double to finish the damn thing twice as fast. I’m sure it doesn’t work that way, but it was worth a try.
“There he is!” Poppy jumps up and down, and I strain to see who she’s worked up over.
“Conner.” It comes out flat and unenthused. He’s the very reason we pulled ourselves out of bed to be here. Poppy had a conversation with him earlier, and he happened to mention he’d be at the bar tonight. “Let’s do this.”
“Remember.” She pulls me close. “We’re a united front.”
A dull laugh pumps from me. “There’s no way he’ll be able to divide and conquer.” I’m shocked he was able to get away with it for so long.
Conner stomps up with that I’m-slightly-pissed look on his face. I get it. I’m with his sister. He’d most likely be pissed at just about anyone she was with. But this is me—his brother for all practical purposes. We’ve been through a lot and have grown close over the years. I know this is weird for him. Trust me, I wouldn’t want him banging my sister either.
“What’s up, you two?” He offers Pops a tight smile while smacking me over the arm. “You finally came up for air, huh?” He takes a swig of his beer like he needs it.
“What’s up indeed?” Pops comes in hot, and I offer her hand a gentle squeeze in hopes she’ll go easy on him. “I’d like to know what was up with you all those years ago on my graduation night.”
He ticks back as if he’s just been assaulted. “What are you talking about?”
“I told you how I felt about him!” Her voice breaks as she shouts the words. “I trusted you with my greatest secret, and you made sure everything went to hell.”
His eyes widen a moment, and you can practically see the scene playing out in his mind once again.
“That night.” He closes his eyes. “I’m sorry.” He shrugs as if it were no big deal. “What does it matter? It all worked out.”
“It matters.” And now he’s starting to piss me off. “What I want to know is how you got Miles to head me off at the pass?”
Conner pushes out a tired breath. “All right. This is what went down. Poppy told me how she felt, and I thought that was crap.” He looks to her and holds out his hands. “I’m sorry. I thought you were confused. I didn’t think you knew what you wanted, and Jax just so happened to be around all the time. I didn’t want you gluing yourself to the first guy you saw. I for one was rooting for you to expand your wings in college.” He winces. “Not like that.”
“So my feelings weren’t important to you.” Poppy sinks in her seat, the disappointment exuding from her in palpable waves.
“Because I didn’t believe they were real. I’m sorry, Pops.” His eyes gloss over with tears. “And yes, when you sent me away, I happened to bump into Miles. He was so tanked he didn’t know which way was up, so I steered him toward you. I thought you’d shove him aside and take off. And”—he looks to me—“when I came into the party, I bumped into you. I’ll be honest. I thought the two of you were trying to pull something over on me. Both of you confessing your feelings for one another—tomeof all people on the very same night? Anyway, I guess I owe you an apology, too. But—as much as I hate to admit this—a part of me didn’t want the two of you together. Poppy and I have always been close—the two of us have always been close.” He looks to me. “I guess that leaves me out of the equation now.”
“Not true!” Poppy is the first to lunge at him. “I swear it, Con, I love you. I want us to be even closer than we have been. Now that I’m back in town, I want us to do all those things we used to do. I’m willing to reinvest in us if you are.”
“I’m there.” He taps his forehead to hers. “And I’m there for you, too.” He nods my way.
“I’m in.” I slap him five. Some things are simply meant to be, and the three of us are meant to be knitted together for life. That’s the way I want it. There is no other way.
“I’m in.” Poppy lands her hand over mine, and the three of us lift on three and let out a mighty roar.
We’re in. Poppy and I are in for life.
I pull her in and steal a kiss off her lips, running the risk of having my mouth ripped off by Conner himself, and yet I survive the endeavor.
So I steal another.
