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“So, if I’m not mistaken, the little blonde was also sleeping with Andrew? But maybe the tall blonde was too? Maybe it’s just safer to assume everyone was sleeping with Andrew?” Sam’s eyes were bright with his own laughter. “DidIsleep with Andrew too?”
I lost it again, laughing so hard I had to sit down. When I could talk again, I looked up at my best friends and grinned. “Let’s do the same at our wedding.”
Cyrus raised his eyebrows. “Wedding?”
I shrugged. “It’ll happen someday, don’t you think?”
“She’s still not speaking to us.” He rolled his eyes. “Let’s cross that hurdle first.”
Banner slapped Cyrus on the back. “Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. On our drive over, she saw the light.”
Sam’s face paled. “You didn’t.”
“She needed a ride. What was I supposed to do?”
“Say no! You lost your license months ago! You hold the record for the most tickets in town and you can’t see worth shit!” Sam pulled at his hair and bent down to point at the old man. “Never again. Do you understand me?”
“You’re not my mother, boy. You should be thanking me.” Banner jabbed his thumbs into his own chest. “Because of me, she had a near-death experience and faced her fears. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek.”
“Oh, you’re not talking about Poppy. I don’t know who you gave a ride here, old man, but it sure as hell wasn’t Poppy if you got a kiss on the cheek.” Cyrus laughed. “Nice try, though.”
“If I’m lying, I’m dying.” He slapped his cheek and grinned. “Put her smackers right here. She’s a lot nicer after almost dying.”
“I suddenly feel the need to lay eyes on Poppy to make sure she’s okay.” I stood up and looked around. The sanctuary of the church had cleared out and we’d lost sight of Poppy in the commotion, but judging from the sounds coming from somewhere else in the church, there was a party happening and I figured Poppy was there.
Cyrus pulled out his wallet and grabbed several bills. When he saw me looking at him, he gestured around at the state of the church. “When you enjoy the show, you tip.”
Sam groaned. “Come on, Bogie. Let’s get out of here before lightning starts raining down.”
We were an odd little group as we made our way into the reception hall next door. The three of us, Mr. Banner, who I belatedly realized was wearing a marijuana leaf T-shirt, and Bogie, who shoved his nose in my crotch as soon as we got into the room and managed to get a few curious stares.
Charlie’s laughter was impossible to miss as he stood up from where he was sitting across the room and waved us over. We’d been spending way too much time with him, but thanks to him we’d been kept in the loop about Poppy. If it hadn’t been for him telling us that she was coming back, we would’ve all lost our minds by then.
My lips tugged up in a stupid grin when I saw Poppy sitting at the same table. Her cheeks were bright red and I could tell she was feeling embarrassed, but she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and I couldn’t look away.
“We’ll make room. Sit with us.” Charlie shoved Paulie. “Scoot over, idiot.”
“You scoot over.” Paulie shoved him back. “I have a perfect view of that bridesmaid with the stiff right hook from here.”
I sat next to Poppy after some discreet shoving of my own with Cyrus and Sam. They filled the other empty seats and shot me dirty looks. I didn’t give one single shit, though, because as soon as I sat down next to her, Poppy’s scent reached me.
I looked over at her and watched as she looked up at me through her lashes. “Hi.”
Her cheeks darkened even more. “Hi. What are you guys doing here?”
“We thought we’d be moral support in case you showed up.”
I would’ve sworn she batted her eyelashes at me. “You guys came just in case I showed up? That’s sweet.”
“And one of the last notes on the bouquets from Andrew was him apologizing for trying to kiss you. We may have felt a little shitty for jumping to conclusions after the first card mentioned him being glad he got to hold you again or something like that.” I shrugged like it was nothing. “It was the least we could do to make up for our less than perfect behavior at the bar that night you came in your socks.”
“You thought I let him hold me?”
I nodded. “We’re dumb.”
She smiled and nodded. “Truly.”
Banner’s face appeared in front of me and I watched in horror as the old bastard wedged his way between me and Poppy. He even had the audacity to ask me to make some more room for him.
