“Can you go put a shirt on so I don’t have to look at that ugly bare chest for the rest of the morning? It’ll turn me off my muffin,” Adrian says as we all settle into seats.
“I kind of like the view,” Poppy remarks, and Adrian lets out a groan.
“Please tell me you aren’t going to become one of those sickening couples who are all lovey-dovey in public. I don’t think I’ll be able to take that,” Adrian replies before he takes another sip of his coffee.
“Seriously, I know you don’t know me that well, but do I look like the type of girl to act like that? I mean, the worst it’ll probably get is if you walk in on us fucking on the office desk. But if you can cope with that, then we’re sweet.” Poppy manages to keep the straightest face as she waits for his reaction, and I don’t know what to say or do. What I do know, though, is that as soon as we’re finished talking, I’m ordering that replacement desk to be delivered to the bar office.
“I don’t know whether to believe you or not,” Adrian says, narrowing his gaze and studying Poppy’s face. “Shit, you’re good,” he says, shaking his head, still not sure if she’s joking or telling the truth. And I don’t think I want him to work it out, either.
“Anyway, we don’t know how long those boys will be occupied in there, so we need to talk before they come looking for me again.” Taking Poppy’s hand in mine, I lift it and give it a little kiss.
“See, that.” Adrian points, making a joke. “That right there, kissing her hand like a gentleman. Shit, I’m doomed.”
If there’s one thing I can count on with my friend it’s that he never takes life too seriously, and it’s one of his greatest traits—most of the time.
“Jeez, no wonder you’re still single.” Poppy laughs at him. “But I’m warning you now, Autumn is off limits. You’ve both had your one-time fling, now move on. And I’m not joking.” Her tone of voice is more serious now.
“Yes, ma’am.” He mock salutes Poppy. “You don’t need to worry, we’re just friends. She’s a cool lady, but we aren’t anything more.”
“Make sure it stays that way. She needs to find a guy to settle down with, and from what I’ve heard, you’re not planning on ever settling down, so… that tells me you’re not that gentleman.” She looks at Adrian sternly, giving him a warning that she’s not joking, and he nods to acknowledge he understands.
The room falls silent for a few seconds, so I start what we really need to talk about.
“Do you want me to tell Adrian everything or would you like to? It’s your story to tell,” I ask Poppy, wrapping my arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer to me on the couch.
She thinks on it for a moment and then looks up at me. “No, I think I need to do it. The more I talk about this, hopefully it will normalize it all. It’s one of the things Meara mentioned.” She sits up a little taller, and I couldn’t be prouder of her than I have been watching her get through and manage the last few days—well, since the accident really. But that doesn’t mean she’s walking this road alone either.
“Okay, if it gets too hard, just say so and I’ll step in.” I kiss her on the forehead and she starts telling her story.
Chapter Nineteen
POPPY
It took a while and a few interruptions from the boys, but I managed to tell Adrian everything that’s happened, from the accident through to Tessa turning up last night. I shed a few tears and had to stop a few times to take a moment, just to collect myself. But I did it on my own, and it feels like a sense of achievement.
Poor Adrian is just sitting on the couch, elbows on his knees, head resting in his hands and staring sympathetically at me.
“Holy fucking shit, Poppy. You are one strong woman. I had no idea. Well, I knew your story was more than this big guy was saying, but nothing like this.” He stands and steps toward Landon and me. “Can I hug you?” he asks.
His reaction is that I’ve made him see me differently, like I’m a little delicate, but that’s not what I want. I needed to tell him everything so that Landon has someone to talk to about this. I have Autumn and my mother, but Landon was keeping my secrets and had no one to talk to besides me. He’s extremely close to my mom, but she doesn’t know the whole story aboutthe accident or anything about Dean, so he couldn’t talk to her either.
I push up off the couch to standing, and Adrian wraps me so tight in his arms. Not like Landon does but more like a big brother, which I appreciate. Adrian is just trying to let me know he’s on my team too, but I don’t want people feeling sorry for me. Landon stands beside us as I pull back from Adrian’s arms.
“Okay, now that’s enough of this sappy crap. You’ve both got a bar to run, and I need to go home and have a shower. Because I smell like you.” I playfully slap Landon in the middle of his chest.
“I knew it, you two are going to be insufferable. It might not be all lovey-dovey, but I’m going to know when you’ve had sex, aren’t I? This guy will be walking around with that stupid-ass grin all day, knowing you smell like him.” I suspect Adrian is keeping up with his joke about us being over the top in our affection around him to break the heaviness of the last hour, and I appreciate it.
“What can I say, I’ve got a lot to smile about.” Landon pulls my back against his chest, looping his arms over my shoulder and joining across my chest, giving me something to lean against to keep the weight off my leg.
“Yeah, my friend, you do, and I couldn’t be happier for you both. I’m going to head home, go for a run, and see if I can find a lunch date. Don’t worry about the bar tonight, I’ll handle it.” Adrian taps Landon on his bicep, then leans down and kisses me on the cheek. “You ever need me, I’m here. If Landon can’t be here, then I’m your next call, you understand me?” Adrian says calmly, ducking his head down a little and looking at me straight in the eye.
“Thank you, it means more than you know that I have you all in my corner,” I reply.
As Adrian straightens up again, Landon says, “I think I should work tonight, but thanks for the offer. Why don’t youtake tonight off? I owe you for all the extra shifts you’ve been covering for me.” He changes his focus from Adrian back to me. “You okay to spend the night with your mom? She could probably do with some one-on-one time with you, without me or the boys hanging around.” I turn my head to the side to see him looking questioningly at me.
“This guy, I tell him I love him, and he’s asking permission to leave me alone with my mother, like I’m not a grown-ass woman,” I say out loud, and we all chuckle. Really, it has nothing to do with that, and there is so much more at play here. Landon is making sure I feel safe enough with him at the bar that’s a good thirty minutes away from here, depending on the traffic. I doubt that Tessa will turn up here again after the commotion Landon made last night, but I know that’s what he’s worried about.
“Go to work, Landon. I agree it’s important to get back to your normal routine for you and the boys. Too much change at once is difficult for little ones their age. Besides, I think I need a good night’s sleep.” That just makes Adrian laugh even louder.
