AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Probably. But they deserve a break. Your dad works hard, sweetheart. Your Uncle Cameron too.”
“I know, Mom.” Her cell chimed and she snatched it off the counter. “It’s Lily. She says hey.”
My cell lit up a second later and I received the same message, accompanied by a photo of her and Kaiden in their fluffy white robes in front of a window looking out onto a postcard perfect wintery scene.
“Not jealous at all,” Poppy grumbled.
“Your time will come, Pops.” Her mom smiled. “Now if you two girls are good here, I need to head out.”
“Sure, see you later, Mom.”
“Wrap up warm both of you.” Felicity grabbed her purse and headed out.
“Is Bryan giving you a ride to work?” Poppy asked, and I shook my head.
“Cal offered to pick me up on his way in.”
“Cool. So… last night…”
“Poppy.”
“What?” She smothered a grin. “You’ve got to know it’s driving us wild not knowing what’s going on between you two.”
“We’re friends.”
Poppy pinned me with a pointed look. “Friends who hang out, alone.”
“You and Aaron hang out alone sometimes.”
“It’s different. He’s… he’s one of my best friends.”
“Hmm, if you say so.”
“Hey,” she balked, “what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.”
“Whatever.” She poked her tongue out at me. “You know, it would be okay if you like him, Peyton. You seem… different lately. Happier. Lighter. Bryan is good for you.”
My stomach twisted. If only she knew the truth.
“What?” Her expression slipped. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine. You’re right. I do feel different.”
My broken heart was slowly being pieced back together. The jagged holes being filled with light and love and happiness.
Only Poppy didn’t know the truth.
She didn’t know it wasn’t Bryan bringing me back to life.
And I wondered what she’d say when she knew the truth, when they all knew the truth. Because surely seeing me this way far outweighed the events that led me to this point.
I knew people would look at me and Xander and see something wrong.
Something taboo and forbidden.
But how could something healing me from the inside out, ever be a bad thing?
