Page 99 of Safe Place

Wyatt catches on immediately. “Let’s just go to my place,” he says, glancing at Poppy with a smirk. “Got a new couch. Maybe we can break it in together.” He throws her an easy, cocky wink—like it’s second nature.

Poppy raises a brow, amused. “Sold.”

Poppy and I are curled up on Micah’s sleek sectional, a shared blanket thrown over our legs and two mugs of tea in our hands. The penthouse is quiet without Micah and the guys in it—he and Wyatt are at Wyatt’s apartment to have their own talk or something.

“So…” I begin, side-eyeing her over my mug.

She grins, biting her lip. “You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be mad?” I ask. “I’m just a bit surprised, is all. You didn’t say a word.”

Poppy exhales and sinks deeper into the cushions. “I didn’t want to say anything until I knew if it was real. I mean, you and Micah seem kind of serious, and I just…I didn’t want things to get weird between the four of us if it crashed and burned.”

I nod, understanding. “So it’s serious, then?”

“I think so,” she says softly. “It kind of just happened, you know? We started out casual and then suddenly we were seeing each other every day—and then I realized I didn't want to see anybody else. I didn't even know if he wanted anything more, but he was the one who brought up making it official.”

“I love that for you,” I say, and I mean it. “How long has it been?”

“A while,” She winces. “Sorry for not telling you.” She falls back against the cushions. “Anyway, can we talk about the important part?” She fixes me with a very serious look. “Have you seen that man? Wyatt is hot. Like capital-H, life-ruining hot.” She shakes her head slowly. “He's ruined sex for me, Sophie. No one else is ever going to come close. I'm completely screwed.”

I stare at her for a second.

"Wait a minute.” I narrow my eyes. "All those times you came to see me on my break at Boston Brews—were you coming to see him?"

“Sorry.” She bites back a smile, but there’s a nervous flicker in her eyes. “I really like him. I didn’t think he’d ever see me as girlfriend material, though, you know? So I tried not to get my hopes up.”

I frown, turning to face her more fully. “Why wouldn’t he see you as girlfriend material?”

Poppy hesitates, her gaze dropping to the rim of her mug. When she finally speaks, her voice is quieter than I’ve ever heard it. “Sophie, I’m just a plain Jane bio major. Wyatt’s apparently loaded—maybe not Micah-level loaded, but still. His family’s super influential. His dad is some powerful judge or something.”

She shrugs, like she’s trying to make it sound like it doesn’t matter. But I can see the weight of it sitting heavy on her shoulders.

“I just figured someone like him wouldn’t look twice at someone like me,” she says. “Let alone want more.”

“Micah said he’s not a casual fling type of guy,” I say. “He doesn’t do hookups. So if he’s hanging out with you, it’s probably real for him too.”

Poppy hugs the pillow to her chest, biting back a smile. “God, I really hope so.”

I bump my shoulder against hers. “If he didn’t realize how lucky he is, that’s his loss.”

That gets a laugh. “Thanks. But I think he knows. At least, I hope he does.”

MICAH

“Where’d you disappear to earlier?” Luke asks, wrestling with the steamer like it personally offended him.

He’s attempting to de-wrinkle a suit—probably the one he wore tonight—and failing spectacularly.

“Just send it to the dry cleaners, Luke,” I say, watching the steam cloud up around him. “You’re going to ruin your suit.”

“Dry cleaning is too expensive to do it every single time I wear it. Why would I do that when I’ve got this top-tier steamer right here in my own home?” he replies, proud and delusional.

I sigh and hold out my hand. “Just give it to me. I’ll add it to my next pickup.”

“The deer and the rabbits,” he says.

I ignore it.