Decker waved a hand. “Never mind. Go on, young one, explain away.”
“Point is, you don’t ‘play it.’ It isn’t a game. Not with a woman like Poppy.”
A sharp arrow of defensiveness poked through his sternum. “Never said it was.”
Miles pulled out the board and handed it to Decker. They were using seventy-year-old ash wood that offered a lighter look and cleaner finish, just like the originals. Because it was purchased from a restoration lumber yard it needed to be stripped down a layer so that the grain was highlighted.
“Then stop making the endgame sleeping with her. Instead, take the time to get to know her.”
“I do know her.”
“Okay, prove it.”
Decker puffed his chest out because he’d already pulled back some layers. “She’s afraid of heights, is a snorer, runs a successful show, and was once locked in a closet at gunpoint.” Even thinking about it made his fists clench. “She loves pizza, dogs, and being right.” The last part made him smile. “She could make a simple swimsuit look?—”
“Careful. That sounds close to sexualizing a smart, successful woman.”
“Right. She is orderly and prim, which makes me laugh. She likes to be a team player and to be included on decisions. She’s a real people pleaser who will do anything to make the people around her feel heard.” Decker crossed his arms and puffed out his chest like he’d just blocked the puck and won the Stanley Cup.
“Okay, you have a few things in there, but do you knowwhyshe’s a perfectionist or needs to feel a part of a team? Or why she feels the need to hear people out? Most of what you said are observations.” Miles pulled another board from the planer and set it on the worktable.
“For example, did you know that after her dad bailed, her mother fell into a depression and lost custody of Poppy whenshe was just eight and then her mom died when she was ten?”
“No,” he whispered, his heart taking a nosedive at the thought of how hard that must have been on anyone, let alone a young Poppy who was so sensitive and open. He knew her childhood wasn’t a happy one, but he never imagined it was that horrific.
Why didn’t he know any of that? He thought he knew her, but Miles was right, whenever she was around, all that came out of his mouth was shallow, flirty, idiotic shit. He couldn’t seem to get his head right around her.
For example, last night. She was opening up to him about what was important to her, what was on her plate, why a distraction would cost her everything, and all he’d done was think about himself and gone in for the kiss.
What an asshat.
“Okay, so how do I fix this?”
“It’s the five C’s of dating. Communication, compatibility, commitment, care, and compromise. Right now, you need to work on communication. You need to listen to women, dude.”
“What are you, my therapist?”
“I guess I am,” Miles said in wonder. “Wow, me giving the infamous Jamison Decker love advice.”
“I wouldn’t call it love advice.” Stronglike. Maybe. But love? They’d only known each other a few weeks. Then again, his parents had married within three months after their first date.
“I didn’t think you were human until this week.”
“What were your options?” Decker asked.
“Superhero. Olympian. Gold Medalist. MVP. Hockey god.”
Something about that made his gut clench because a lot of people had told him he was their hero. But those words coming from his nephew’s mouth felt different. Made Decker feel like that was something he had to work hard to prove true. Becauseright then, he felt like a fraud. And why would a woman like Poppy go for a fraud?
“I’m not a superhero. I’m your uncle.”
Miles gave a goofy sideways smile. “Yeah, I’m starting to figure that out. I guess we both have a lot to learn about each other this summer,” Miles said with so much excitement in his voice Decker grabbed the kid and pulled him into his arms.
“I’m happy that you’re here, too.” He pulled back and the kid was bright red, from his cheeks all the way down his neck.
“Jack said you can stay, but it’s an all-or-nothing arrangement. Once you’re in, you’re in; there’s no escape. So you won’t see your friends all summer. You up for that?”
No hesitation. Just a confident, “Yup.”
