When Poppy released her from her bear hug, Miss Carol brushed the hair off Poppy’s forehead just like she used to do when she spent the night at her house right before she’d go to sleep. It was the safest she ever felt. “So, Zion has filled me in on all things AJ on the way home from the airport.”
Poppy looked at Zion. “Weren’t you at a photo shoot? Was that just a lie so you could pick up Miss Carol?”
“No, I had a photo shoot in San Francisco, and I just scooped up Miss Carol when I was done. It was perfect timing.” Zion leaned down. “But, we are dying to know. How did your baby-daddy talk go?”
Poppy glanced outside at AJ, who was standing with Niko. He looked so handsome, and she missed him. Her body physically ached as she looked at him. They hadn’t spoken all day, not really. They’d said hi, awkwardly, but no real conversation.
She looked back at Miss Carol and Zion. “It didn’t.”
Zion’s forehead wrinkled as his brows lifted in an accusatory fashion. “You chickened out?”
“No, I mean, not…really. I went to talk to him yesterday. I was there, I was going to talk to him, but then Deacon texted, and that’s when I found out about, you know, him being our half-brother. Did you know?—’
“Yes.” Miss Carol waved her hand dismissively. “I know he’s another one of Michael’s children.”
“You do?”
“Frankie filled me in,” Zion explained. “I filled in Miss Carol.”
Right. Of course, that made sense.
“What does that have to do with you talking to AJ?” Miss Carol questioned.
“AJ knew about it for aweek,and he didn’t tell me.”
“Mmm.” Zion made a nondescript sound.
Miss Carol looked at Poppy with the same look she got when she brought home a D in English.
“What?” Poppy asked defensively.
“I don’t see what that has to do with asking AJ for clarification about your situation.” Miss Carol’s right brow lifted, and Poppy knew she was in trouble.
“Heknewwho Deacon was for a week and didn’t tell me.” She tried to make her see the issue.
“Zion told me you two hadn’t even talked all week,” Miss Carol pointed out.
“We hadn’t, but?—”
“When did you find out that you were pregnant?” she asked.
Miss Carol was now in the cross-examining phase of her lesson/lecture. Poppy knew this stage well.
“Why?” Poppy challenged.
“When did you find out?” Miss Carol repeated the question while Zion’s eyes bounced between the women like he was watching a match at Wembley. All he needed was popcorn.
“Um, around two months ago.”
“And who knew that you were expecting?”
“Just me and AJ.”
“Did you ask him not to tell anyone?”
“Yes.”
“How long had you known AJ before you all found out?”
