Page 105 of Wicked Love

“Right,” Marley snorts, and my mom hums softly, unconcerned.

“It’s got fiber!” Dad says, gesturing with his fork. “We all need fiber.”

“But it’s also high in sugar. And doesn’t digest well.”

“TMI,” Eric says, laughing.

Becca has been following the conversation like a tennis match and tugs on Bowie’s sleeve. “Daddy, I eat corn?” she asks, as if wondering if it’s okay.

He smiles at her and nods.

There’s a flicker of tenderness when he glances at me and I can’t wipe the smile off my face.

“It’s really nice having you here, Bowie,” Mom says. “I’ve heard Poppy’s side of the story, but what did you think when you met our daughter?”

“Mom,” I groan.

“What?” She laughs, pointing at the two of us. “A man that looks at you like that isn’t afraid to answer the question. Are you, Bowie?”

I bury my face in my hands and Bowie tugs at my fingers, gently lowering them. He’s smiling and my goodness, I don’t know if my heart can take much more of this day.

“I thought she was beautiful, but Becca was the smart one. She was all in from the get-go. She wouldn’t stop hassling me about taking her to Briar Hill.”

Everyone laughs.

“Aw,” my mom says, smiling at Becca.

“I love Poppy,” Becca says proudly.

“I loveyou,” I tell her.

Alex barks at something outside and it catches Becca’s attention.

“I go play with Alex,” she says, starting to get out of her chair.

“Eat a few more bites,” Bowie says.

She crams a few more bites in quickly, which cracks everyone up, and then she rushes over to Alex.

“The yard is fenced in if she’d like to throw the ball to him outside,” Dad tells Bowie.

He nods and tells Becca she can go outside if she wants. She loves that idea and they step outside.

Eric asks Bowie about the team and what it’s like winning multiple Super Bowls.

“It’s wicked stellar,” he says, which earns him a huge laugh. “I highly recommend. Much better than what we went through this past season, but we’re coming back. Cal has really stepped up since we lost Henley, and we’re adjusting.”

“I preferred hearing about how much you’re into my sister,” Marley says.

“You guys are killing me,” I say, putting my iced glass up to my cheek to cool off.

“You put Eric through it the first time he came over for dinner,” she says, laughing.

Eric groans. “I’d finally put that out of my mind.”

“I wasn’t that bad,” I argue, but then I snort, laughing. “Yeah, I was.”

“You asked what my intentions were, and I said I wanted to get to know your sister…and you said…’from what I’ve been told, you’ve already gotten to know herverywell.’”

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