Cami nods seriously. “Aww. He doesn’t like it, guys.”
Violet tilts her head again. “Funny how that works.”
Toddy’s fists clench. He looks around like he’s waiting for backup. He finds none. Half the bar is watching and holding back laughter, some not holding it back at all. Maggie appeared at the counter with her arms crossed, looking amused. Poppy’s tucked into my side, steady and strong.
“This place is a joke,” he spits.
“No,” Violet says. “You are. Move away. You’re not welcome here in Bridger Falls.”
That’s all it takes. Toddy turns and storms for the door, muttering under his breath, shoulders tight with rage. The door slams behind him hard enough to rattle the windows.
There’s a beat of silence. Then I lose it. “Oh my God.” I practically wheeze with laughter. “Captain Shit Muffin. I’m stealing that one, Cami.”
Jack wipes his eyes, shaking with laughter. “Coach Tooty.”
I shake my head, laughing despite myself. “I can’t believe none of us went to jail just now. We all hate that guy.”
Cami grins and lifts her drink. “No one messes with Owen. He’s going to love this story.”
Violet clinks her glass with Cami’s. “Especially when men are being assholes.”
Poppy leans into me, her mouth at my ear. “Thank you for not throwing a punch.”
I kiss her temple. “I didn’t have to. They handled it.”
“Thank you for not welding his truck door shut.” I grin.
“Who says I haven’t?”
“You haven’t had time,” I say with a laugh.
She shrugs. “You’re right.”
I’ve never been prouder to be surrounded by these people.
Chapter 31
Poppy
Feathered Indians by Tyler Childers
We’ve been settling into a semi-normal routine. As normal as it can get, when life drops big surprises on you, one right after the other.School just got out, and we just got home and pulled into the bay.
Ollie’s standing in the bay, holding Ellie up in the air like Mufasa holding Simba, when I pull into the bay to park, and the way he’s smiling so proudly makes me laugh.
Owen’s talking a mile a minute beside me, with Bandit perched between us in the cab of the truck, words tumbling over each other, backpack half unzipped, hoodie sleeves pulled over his hands. I park and cut the engine, heart already racing and excited to see Ollie and Ellie. Owen’s out of the truck before I can say anything, sprinting towards Ollie and jumping up and down, telling him something exciting. Bandit is next to him, tail wagging wildly, just as excited for whatever is happening in this moment. Those two have basketball practice tonight, and Owenis very excited, to say the least. For a kid who went from living alone with his older sister to having two parental figures and a little sister in a month, I’d say he hit the jackpot. A month ago, everything felt uncertain, and now? Now, it’s exciting and full of hope.
Ollie watches him like he’s just as excited as Owen is. While Owen is yammering, Ollie is intently listening, focused on him, nodding and grinning. Ellie’s comfortable in his arms and sleeping, her little face scrunched, not a care in the world.
And I think...damn. This is my whole world right here in this auto shop bay, where memories here feel like bad ones, not the good ones standing in front of me right now. I mocked that white picket fence life, but life sure has a way of laughing and handing me something that looks an awful lot like it. Two kids and a dog, a home, and Ollie? Yeah, maybe that picket fence life isn’t so bad after all because it feels strangely like it fits on us anyway.
Ollie’s smiling so big, and he’s practically bouncing on his heels, hands shoved into his pockets like he doesn’t know what to do with them. His eyes are bright and shiny and fixed on me like I’m the only thing in the room.
“What?” I say, breathless. “What happened?”
Lately, I’ve been really trying to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. And right now, I have a feeling something big has happened. And judging by his face, it looks like it’s good.
He crosses the space between us in three long steps. “We got the paternity results back. She’s biologically my half sibling,” he says, voice thick. “She’s ours.”
