AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And that’s our cue to get you away from the general public.” Jude cleared his throat and then I was lifted off my feet by Cyrus. When I struggled, Jude moved so I could see him and shook his head. “You’re lucky none of your brothers are here tonight. You’d never hear the end of this.”
“Oh, Poppy!” Sara showed up with her hands on her hips. “You’re dead tomorrow, woman.”
I grinned and went limp in Cyrus’s arms. “That’s fine.”
“I wanted to ask before you left…did you give Morgan’s number to Sam? She asked about it again.” Her smirk told me she was messing with me, punishing me for embarrassing her. “She’s a beautiful woman, Sam. Make sure Poppy remembers to give you her number. You know how forgetful she is.”
Sam met my gaze and raised his eyebrows. “Have you been holding out on me, Poppy?”
I frowned and looked away. “Nope.”
“Night, guys. Good luck with her.” Sara shot me one more smirk before strolling off to finish her date.
I flipped her the bird and groaned. “I’m going to accidentally cut her arm off tomorrow instead of my own. Let’s see her smirk then.”
23
***Sam***
Bogiebarkedbymyside, letting me know Poppy was home, and took off toward the front of the house. I saved the progress I’d made on the account I was working on and went outside with Bogie to greet Poppy. Some days I felt like a puppy, waiting to greet her and begging for attention. It was fucking awful, but I couldn’t stop myself from looking for her.
She was already arguing with Bad Mood Banner and holding her head like she was still nursing a rough hangover. Feeling bad for her, I walked across to her yard and wrapped my arm around her waist, gently leading her into her house. Instead of moving away from my touch to keep arguing, she melted into my side and groaned.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you, Sammy.” She opened her door without her key, something I’d talk to her about later, and went straight to her couch. “Seeing you means I’m home and this day from hell is over.”
I grabbed her a glass of water before sitting next to her. “Tell me about it.”
She drained the glass and flopped back on the couch, stretching her legs over my lap. Her eyes were bloodshot and I could tell she felt terrible, so I didn’t allow myself to think much of the move. “The power tools were so loud. I’ve never not enjoyed a power tool, Sam, but I wanted to cut the cords today. Sara brought a damn party screamer to school and blew it next to my ear no less than ten times.”
“A party screamer?”
She growled. “The thing you blow into and it screams. Why is that even a thing? What a stupid invention.”
I leaned back into the cushions and rested my hands on her legs. Everything felt so different since the kiss that even that simple touch felt risky. I was always worried that I’d slip and show too much, but after the kiss I’d been downright stiff around her. In more ways than one.
“A kid brought a sex toy to school. A cock ring. Of course, I was the one who stumbled across it. Do you know how much I didn’t want to confiscate a cock ring from a teenage kid? God, Sam, I wanted to die. I had to write a report about a cock ring.” She groaned. “And then Morgan kept asking me about—”
I’d been so busy trying to ignore the word cock coming out of her mouth that I wasn’t sure why she’d just stopped speaking. I ran her words through my head again and smiled. “Morgan, huh? Isn’t that the woman Sara was talking about?”
“Yes.” She didn’t add anything else, just stared back at me.
“What’s the deal?”
She crossed her arms under her chest and looked away. “There’s no deal. I just forgot t0 mention that a coworker of mine wanted me to give you her number.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Why do you think, Sam?” She laughed then. “She wants to go out with you. She was hoping you’d call her. Sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
I reminded myself that Poppy didn’t know that I didn’t date. “Okay?”
She sat up and pulled her legs under her. “I’ll find her number and give it to you. She’s very pretty and nice. I’m sure you’ll like her.”
I didn’t want to outright refuse, in case she asked why. Instead, I tried to think of anything that would get me out of it. “It’s been a while since I’ve dated. I’m probably not very good at it.”
She stared at me for a while before frowning and looking down at her hands. “I could help. I do owe you a favor still.”
“How would you help?” A stray eyelash rested on her cheek and I couldn’t stop myself from reaching for it. I leaned in and held my breath when her eyes snapped to mine and her own breath caught in her throat. I gently picked the eyelash up and held it in front of her mouth. “Make a wish.”
