Page 148 of Stay Wild Darlin’

She was walking—no, staggering—up the side path that led toward the patio, heels slipping in the dirt, red lipstick smeared across her cheek. Her hair was wild. Her eyes glassy.

She was obviously wasted.

My throat dried up instantly, and my stomach dropped into my boots.

Poppy turned to me, wide-eyed.

No, no, no.

This couldn’t happen here.

Not at her birthday. Not with our people watching.

Cutting through the thick, gut-wrenching silence, Cora turned in her high chair and said, “Mama.” She reached her hands up toward Poppy, her little fingers grasping like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The air snapped taut.

“Fuck me,” Beau muttered.

“Got that right,” I said under my breath, already moving.

I stepped off the patio, crossing the gravel in three strides, trying to beat the hurricane.

Brooke saw me coming and smiled.

The kind of smile that meant war.

51

Dalton

“It’s funny, y’all. I was over at The Dive, having a beer—figured I’d stop in since I ain’t been around in, oh, about a year. What do I hear? My baby daddy’s throwin’ a party for my baby.” She stepped off the gravel and onto the grass. “I don’t know why I wasn’t invited, but I’ll go ahead and chalk it up to the invite gettin’ lost in the mail.”

“The mail?” I seethed through gritted teeth, already stepping between her and the patio. “I don’t even know where the fuck you’ve been, Brooke. How the hell am I supposed to mail you anything?”

This wasn’t only booze. She was high. Pupils blown wide, jaw working too hard behind a glossy, detached smirk. She looked right through me, not at me.

“Brooke, let’s get you inside. We can talk in private,” Beau said, suddenly at my side.

I made the mistake of glancing over my shoulder. Poppy had already pulled Cora from her high chair and was holding her tight against her chest. Her eyes were wider than I’d ever seen, and the fear rolling off her hit me like a gut punch.

I had to move. I had to do something.

There was too much unraveling at once. I needed to protect Cora, get Brooke out of here, and reassure Poppy that everything was okay.

“Nah,” Brooke snapped. “Y’all aren’t celebrating my baby without me. I’m back. Mommy’s back, Cora.”

She shoved past Beau and dodged Papa Banks. In a matter of seconds, she was standing in front of Poppy.

Poppy didn’t flinch. She clutched Cora against her chest, her whole body locked up, but she didn’t back down.

Fable was beside her instantly, calm but ready.

Harleigh was fire. She stepped up on Poppy’s other side.

“Back the fuck up, Brooke,” Harleigh hissed, stepping in front of Poppy like a shield. “You know I like a good fight.”

Brooke’s eyes snapped to her, wild and glinting with something dangerous. “The fuck is this?” she sneered, eyes narrowing as they landed on the shirt stretched across Poppy’s chest. Her lip curled. “You think you can play house with my kid?”