Page 2 of Forever Focused

Death rode a pale horse; he thought within a split second as his eyes widened in alarm. No, it doesn’t - he wears khaki pants and a Flyboys T-shirt!

“Oh noooo… GAGE!”

“Gage! Honey!”

“GET AWAY FROM HER, MICHAEL!”

Poppy’s father, Houdini, was advancing on him rapidly, and he could see flames in the other man’s eyes and understood. Poppy was a priceless treasure to be cherished, and someone was bothering her, Michael would be possessive and protective like this.

“Mikey, baby, you need to leave Poppy alone, honey…”

“Mike? Oh, mannnn… Mikey, I’ve told you to quit kissing on Poppy – I also told you that her daddy would tan your hide…” He felt his father come racing to his side, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck like he was ten years old, dragging him away from Houdini as the other man seized his daughter’s arm.

“Told ya’…” Madison jeered loudly – and Michael glared at his sister. She wouldn’t want this to happen if it was her and her precious Emmett.

“Y’all are too young to be doing all of this…” his father started, slapping Michael’s hand away as he tried to free himself. “Nineteen! You’re an adult, and she’s a minor for another two days. That means jail time if you cross the line, kiddo! And Houdini is crazy enough to press charges. Poppy is his only child!”

“I’m not going to press charges – BECAUSE IT WILL NOT GET THAT FAR!” Houdini snapped angrily.

“Moooommm… tell Dad to stop,” Poppy uttered in a plaintive voice. “I like Michael.”

You could have heard his trajectory, his path, come to a complete and screeching halt with those three words. He stopped struggling against the painful, skin-pinching hold his dad had on him and looked at them strangely. Poppy… liked him?

Liked?

“I thought you said you ‘loved’ me…” Michael uttered openly, hearing the pain of rejection in his voice and not bothering to hide it as Poppy looked at him pleadingly. He felt adrift, suddenly alone, and heard his father’s voice as he released him.

“Go apologize to her father… and breathe. Your time will come, but you must save face, build trust, and earn that man’s respect if you are ever going to show your face around the Walters family. I know you are hurting, but do this, Mikey – and trust in me to help you, son…”

Michael looked his father in the eye, took a deep breath, and nodded.

“Stay focused,” his father urged under his breath, encouraging him like he’d done so many times in the past. He knew these men, served with these men, and had never led him wrong. He’d been encouraging him for months to back away and leave Poppy alone, and this had to be why. His father knew she didn’t love him and didn’t have the heart to shatter his son’s heart.

“I apologize, Mr. Walters. It was a sincere misunderstanding,” Michael said coolly, not bothering to look at Poppy. If she didn’t feel the same way, he wasn’t about to let her trample further on his broken heart. No, right now, he just wanted to get away from everyone and lick his wounds.

“What?” Poppy blustered, her expression horrified as she stared at him. Michael could feel her eyes on him, fighting that pulling sensation with everything in him as he stared down her father, squaring his shoulders.

“It will not happen again, sir,” He said firmly, not looking away from Houdini’s face – and Poppy’s mother, Abby, walked over to lay a calming hand on his shoulder.

“Daddy?” Poppy whispered tearfully, turning to her father for a hug as she began crying.

“Poppy, go with your mother.”

“I was supposed to solo.”

“Alpo, can you take my girl up?” Houdini asked grimly, his eyes moving from Michael to look at his friend.

“You know it, brother,” his father nodded. “I’ve got you – and thank you for not beating my kid to a pulp.”

The conversation flowed around them as their parents chatted back and forth. He watched Poppy walk away, looking over her shoulder at him with such hurt that he wanted to run after her. He was placing every ounce of his trust in his father because he made some good points.

Poppy wasn’t eighteen yet – and he was considered an adult. He was flying out to the Academy soon and couldn’t have a commitment back home – and obviously, the commitment he thought they were establishing was one-sided.

“She’s never gonna forget that, you dork,” Madison slowly walked over, taking a seat in the distance beside him – smiling.

“Shut up, Mads…” Michael grumbled, throwing a rock.

“You quit egging him on,” his mother grumbled, turning back to the others. His mind was playing all the ‘what if’ scenarios in his mind and none of them were coming up with any answers. He was going to simply have to let Poppy, his first love, go because she didn’t feel the same. It wasn’t his time, wasn’t his place, and this would always be his home – the last thing he wanted was to be unwelcomed by people he once considered close.

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