I regretted indulging my curiosity. I should’ve stayed on top of the fucking mountain and left well enough alone. This was all Jade’s fault, somehow.
Poppy’s grunt of effort caught my attention. He’d grabbed the shoddy suitcase handles and dragged it two feet in the sand before stopping to catch his breath. What was even in that thing? Poppy wasn’t the type of person who valued possessions, so I doubted he’d brought a bunch of frivolous crap.
I sighed, reaching for the handles. “Let me do it.”
“No, I can manage.”
My hand paused, then I retracted it. He didn’t want my help? Fine. That was probably for the best. I knew I shouldn’t get involved.
So I stood there, watching Poppy struggle to drag the suitcase across the sand. The hotel was far away, and he was straining hard. Did he have help on other seasons, or did he do it alone? If so, was it always this difficult for him?
“The fuck’s in there, anyway? Thirty pounds of bricks?” I asked.
Poppy blew out a breath, shaking his head. “It’s not heavy. Only bulky.”
That jogged my memory. When I’d lifted the suitcase upright, it was strangely light. But it was half Poppy’s size, and the difficult terrain wasn’t helping.
“Give it to me,” I ordered. “I’ll carry it.”
“N-no, it’s okay.”
“You’ll be out here all night long.”
Poppy managed to take another step, grunting as he pulled the suitcase behind him. “Really, it’s okay. There’s no challenge tomorrow morning. I have—ugh—plenty of time.”
No challenge?
Then... was Jade really telling the truth?
My head swam with questions. If there were no Dragonfate Games, what the fuck was going on? Why was Poppy here?
“Ah!”
My head whipped around in time to see Poppy trip. I rushed to catch his fall. I grabbed his arm and pulled him firmly towards me—but not too close. Just enough to put him back on his feet.
Poppy caught his breath. He wouldn’t quite look at me. Instead, he glanced at his suitcase lying on the ground again. “Sorry...”
When I felt he was balanced enough to stand on his own, I let go of his arm. It felt thin and small in my grasp. I was relieved to release him. The responsibility of touching him felt too heavy, like the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Without asking permission this time, I snatched up his suitcase. Itwaslight. Even if it was stuffed to the brim with clothes, it should’ve been heavier.
“You coming?” I asked over my shoulder.
Poppy rubbed his wrist, then nodded. He caught up with me but lagged slightly behind, as if he didn’t want to stand too close. I tried to ignore the stab of pain in my chest.
Every step took an eternity, but I wordlessly dragged the suitcase to the hotel. When we entered the lobby, I wasn’t sure what to do. Should I help Poppy take the suitcase up to his room, or leave it to him? Did he want me there or not?
Poppy sighed and wiped his brow. “Um, my room is usually on the fourth floor.”
My heart skipped. So hedidwant me to continue helping.
“I’d carry it myself now, but...”
My brow furrowed. “But what?”
Poppy bit his lip, cradling his wrist. “Er, never mind. Let’s catch the elevator.”
I didn’t push him, even though I desperately wanted to know whatever he wouldn’t tell me. I hated being kept in the dark, but I sucked it up. I pulled the suitcase into the elevator, waited for Poppy to join me, then jabbed the fourth-floor button. We didn’t speak or look at each other as the lift ascended.
