Bennett was quiet for a moment and then said, “I am scared to tell you. I am worried you will take it the wrong way.”
“Hum, why do I think I am not going to like this?”
“Well, this is Taylor’s first holiday all alone. I decided to stay in town and do Thanksgiving with her.”
“Of course you did,” said Poppy, rolling her eyes.
“Poppy baby, please don’t make more of this than it is. It is just me being there for a friend who has been through more than anyone should ever go through. She is like a sister to me.”
“Okay, I will let it go. But, admit it, it has been a lot to take. If the situation was reversed, and I would always be with some other guy, you would have hated it.”
“Not going to deny that any thought of you with another guy makes me see red. I have been half out of mind thinking of you hooking up with all those artsy college guys. Please tell me you haven’t been with anyone else.”
“Are you kidding me? I have been too busy missing you to see, much less talk, to another guy. What about you? Have you…been with anyone else?” Poppy was not sure she even wanted the answer to that question. It would destroy her if he said he had been with someone else. But she had to know.
“Hell no. All I have done is work my butt off trying to get to you. You are it for me. Don’t ever doubt it.”
It was ridiculous how happy his words made her feel. She was so happy, she almost told him about the baby. But that was not a conversation she wanted to do over the phone. Instead, she said, “Not going to lie. Even though I was not tempted to be with anyone else, some days, I think my hormones are screaming your name.”
“You think I don’t get that? Just the belief that I would find you and fix this is all that has kept me going. Please tell me you thought of me every time you touched yourself because you have had astarring role in all my naughty fantasies. Speaking of naughty things, tell me what you are wearing.”
Chuckling, Poppy, who was wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt, said, “Oh, you know, I am just laying here naked.”
Bennett shouted an expletive and said, “Red, are you trying to kill me?”
“Nope, just trying to get you going.”
“Done. Just hearing your voice did that. But now, let’s get back to you being naked. Tell me more.”
Chapter 11
Poppy’s Aunt Brenda’s House
Memphis, Tennessee
November 2000
For the next two hours, they took turns revving each other up. It was so sexy and fun, and for the first time in months, both felt a sense of hope and peace that this love could be saved.
The next day, Poppy and Gran actually ate at the hospital to be near her aunt. She had planned to spend all day Thursday and Friday with Gran, but her aunt needed her grandmother. So Poppy told Gran she needed to return to New York to study.
Carrington House
Searcy, Arkansas
Of course, instead of going to New York, Poppy headed to Searcy to surprise Bennett. She moved her bus from Saturday morning to the first bus out on Friday. Her bus would get in around 8:00 that next morning. The bus left at approximately 5:00 in the morning, and Poppy pulled into Searcy right on time. She hitched a ride tothe Carrington house with a kid she knew from art class who was on the same bus from Memphis.
As soon as she got to the house, she went to the back to the sliding glass door to Bennett’s room. She still had her key. She unlocked the door and slipped in quietly in case he was still asleep.
The first thing she noticed was the bed was unmade and empty. She could see where two heads had indented the pillows. Obviously, two people had slept in that bed the night before.
The next thing she saw was clothes. Women’s clothes on the floor. The dress, heels, and underwear were all dropped as if they had been removed haphazardly. Slipping around the corner to the bathroom, Poppy was stunned. Through the glass of the shower, she saw Taylor Stroupe. She did not know where Bennett was, but she had seen enough. Like a sister, my ass, thought Poppy as she slipped out of the bedroom, with Taylor never being the wiser. She was storming down the driveway when she took a moment and decided maybe there was a reasonable explanation. Taking a deep breath, Poppy turned around and walked toward the front door. She was about to ring the bell when she saw Bennett walk across the entryway wrapped in a towel. She could hear him whistling, something he always did each morning after they were together. That was all Poppy needed to see. Almost collapsing, she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and walked the entire way to the bus stop.
New York, New York
Memphis, Tennessee
Gulf Shores, Alabama
