Packing my bag takes me all of about fifteen minutes when I get home fromBuns & Roses. But once that’s done, the antsy feeling that’s been consuming me all day returns. Like a madwoman, I try to stay busy to trick time in passing faster.
I’ve tried deep cleaning, which was pointless since I’d basically moved into Cruz’s place to take care of him. When that failed, I sat down to read Mia’s newest book. Despite it being one I would normally devour, it couldn’t hold my attention. Finally, I hauled out my yoga mat and dumbbells to workout. It lasted all of ten minutes before I gave up. I was so jittery I was afraid I’d end up dropping a dumbbell on my foot.
My thumb hovers over the refresh button on my phone’s browser. It’s borderline obsessive how many times I’ve found myself in this exact situation today.Click. I bounce on the balls of my feet, watching the line crawl across the top of my screen. When the flights load, my stomach plummets. Nothing.
Maybe I should just drive to the airport and try to get a standby flight. I chew my bottom lip, grabbing my keys and suitcase to do just that. The startled gasp from the hallway almost makes me stumble over my carry on.
A surprised shriek echoes through the hall. I was not expecting to find Poppy standing on the other side of my door. And she’s not alone. It never ceases to amaze me how Mia’s a much prettier version of her older brother, and what I imagine Janet would have looked like at her age.
She’s got the same almond-shaped eyes as he does, but hers are a striking blue-gray that you don’t see very often. Her chestnut hair is a few shades darker than her brother’s, hitting her collarbone in a wavy bob. She opens her arms as her full lips curl into a grin. All three of them, Janet, Hendrix, and Mia, have the ability to make you feel welcome with just a smile.
I step forward, accepting her hug. “What are you guys doing here?” I ask over Mia’s shoulder.
“I figured you were going stir crazy over here, so we decided to come and keep you company, but it looks like you’re leaving. Did you get an earlier flight?”
“Not exactly. I was losing my mind just sitting here. My plan was to wait at the airport for a standby flight.” I step back into my apartment, holding the door so they can follow me.
“You could do that. Or we could all watch the game here tonight,” Mia offers sweetly.
“No, you two should go. That’s why you flew in early. I’d feel terrible if you missed it for me.” That’s mostly true. I don’t want to be a burden, but friendly faces sound a lot better than pacing the airport alone.
“You can’t talk us out of this. We can go to a game anytime. Now, what should we do for dinner?” Poppy asks, opening the drawer where I stash all my takeout menus. Fanning them out, she holds them up in front of Mia.
The raven haired beauty taps her chin for a moment, scanning the options before she plucks a sushi menu from the middle. “This will do.”
We migrate to the living room, where we spread the menu out on the coffee table. Making the rash decision to order the sushi boat.
“I think we may have underestimated the amount of sushi that they could pack into a two foot long boat,” Mia says forty-five minutes later, with wide eyes as we make room on the coffee table for the cute but very large raw fish vessel that Poppy is carrying in from the kitchen. The wooden monstrosity takes up most of the coffee table, leaving only the corners for our drinks.
“You know we can watch a movie instead.” Poppy pauses her mission to load her plate full of rolls, looking at me with soft eyes from across the table.
I shake my head. “Oddly enough, watching helps.” I tilt my head to the TV where the pregame show is on. “I feel closer to him. Even if he can’t play, I know he’s watching from his hotel room.” I can picture him reclined against the headboard of some nondescript hotel room, his legs crossed at the ankles and one arm casually propped behind his head as he watches the game alone. Queue the churning feeling in my stomach from the guilt of letting him do this by himself.
“Stop looking at the TV like that.” Mia’s hand flies out, shoving at Poppy’s shoulder who’s biting down on her lower lip, heated eyes glued to the screen. Entranced as Hendrix goes through his stretches on the field, making his white pants pull tight across his butt.
“Can’t help it, he’s got a great ass and I love him.” She pops a piece of sushi into her mouth, undeterred.
“Are you guys going to make me regret staying with Hendrix? If I hear even one mattress creak, I’m gone.”
“It’s not the mattresses you need to worry about with those two. Steer clear of the kitchen counter,” I tell Mia.
Poppy’s mouth gapes open like I just spilled her deepest secret, and Mia’s hands fly up to cover her ears.
“That was uncalled for. To think I could have gone my whole life without knowing that information!” she shouts, looking absurd with her hands still clasped tightly around the sides of her head. “I’m a romance author. I need zero help imagining the scenarios those two have gotten into. Do you want to be responsible for permanently damaging my ability to write spicy, kitchen scenes?” The way she shudders next to me is almost comical enough to make me forget about all my worries.
“Oh, stop. I’ll leave a container of Lysol wipes on the counter if it will give you peace of mind. Speaking of bookish things, tell us about your signing.” Poppy’s voice is raised, and she tugs on Mia’s arm, trying to get her to uncover her ears.
She lets her hands drop to her lap. “You promise you’re done assaulting my ears?” she asks, giving us both a pointed look.
I nod, pointing to my mouth, which is too full of sushi to respond.
“Scout’s honor. Now spill,” Poppy says, swallowing down her bite and raising her wine to her lips to wash it down.
“It’s a big reader event. There’s a huge group of romance authors in town. They host panels, parties, and of course there’s a big signing. It’s actually pretty cool. We get to interact with our readers and meet other authors.” Mia’s smile stretches wide across her face, showing off her straight white teeth.
“Oh wow. I didn’t know that was a thing,” I comment.
“You’ll have a table next year. Voice actors are invited to this one as well.” Mia nudges her shoulder.
