“And hot it’s been. If I don’t show up with you, my mother is likely to come here and find you herself.”
Poppy is nervous. I get it. But she has no reason to be. My parents are going to love her. And if they don’t, it doesn’t matter because I’m going to be keeping her.
“Okay, code word: water,” I tell Poppy.
“Code word? For what?”
“If it gets to be too much and you really want a moment alone or for me to get you out of there, ask me to get you a glass of water and I’ll get you out,” I explain.
“Oh god, you think I need a code word? How bad is this going to be? I’ve never met anyone’s parents before, Sammie.”
“Relax. It’s just so you have a way out if you need it. You’re not going to need it. It’s only my parents and Imogen, whom you’ve already met.”
“Okay, I can do this.” Poppy inhales a deep breath and lets it out. With her hand clasped in mine, I open the front door to my parents’ house. “I can’t believe you grew up here. I was right. You are spoiled.”
“I’ve seen your ranch, Poppy. It’s hardly roughing it.” Granted, I don’t know where she grew up. I know she said she’s always lived on the ranch, but I doubt she lived in her little cottage with her parents, and I don’t imagine two families would have lived in the main house.
“Oh, you’re finally here.” My mom approaches us, coming out of fucking nowhere. “You must be Poppy. Imogen was right. You are gorgeous. Andyou’reright. He is spoiled. His father doesn’t know how to say no to either of them.” My mom takesPoppy into her arms, glaring at me over a shoulder. “You can let go of her, Sammie J. I’m not going to steal her.”
“I think I’ll keep hold of her just in case,” I say, yanking on Poppy’s arm lightly and pulling her back to my side.
My mom smiles and then kisses my cheek. “Your father is in the dining room. He went overboard.”
“Oh god, what’d he do?” I groan.
“Well, you didn’t tell us what Poppy would eat, so we had to get a variety of foods.” Mom shrugs.
“Oh, you really didn’t need to do anything extra for me, Mrs. Russo. I’ll eat anything,” Poppy says.
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s Lailani. We’re not formal around here. Come on, let me introduce you to my husband.” Mom tries to pry Poppy out of my hold again. I don’t let goagain. “Sammie J, seriously? Let the poor girl go.” Mom uses herdon’t fuck with mevoice. And I finally relent. “He was like that with his blankie when he was three too. I had to hide the thing at his aunt and uncle’s house and the little turd found it two days later.”
“Mom!” I groan.
“What? I’ve been waiting a long time to tell all the embarrassing stories I have stored up about you.” My mom smiles, but it’s the look of happiness on Poppy’s face that has me biting my tongue. She seems a little bit more at ease, and that’s what I want.
My mom is a people person. She can read someone before they even know she’s seen them.
I follow my mother and Poppy through the house. “Where’s Imogen?” I ask.
“She’s in her room. You want to go get her?” Mom replies.
“Nah, I’ll message her.” I pull out my phone and send my sister a text.
Me:
Come and help me get my girlfriend back from Mom. She’s already stolen her.
Imogen:
Be right down, and don’t worry… Mom only has eyes for Dad.
Me:
How are you feeling?
Imogen:
Fine.
