Page 106 of Wicked Love

The table erupts and I laugh so hard, I have to fan my face.

“It loosened things up,” I say, shrugging. “Sorry, not sorry.”

“So, what are your intentions with my sister?” Marley asks Bowie, making us all laugh again.

I peek at Bowie through my hand and he looks happy.The happiness hums in my veins, so full I can’t keep it inside anymore.

“Bowie and I are having a baby,” I blurt out.

The words come out louder than I meant them to. Instantly, everyone goes silent. Dad’s fork hovers in the air, Marley’s smug smile freezes, and Mom’s jaw drops. Bowie tenses for a split second and then his hand squeezes mine under the table.

For a heartbeat, no one breathes.

Marley recovers first. “What?” she shrieks, nearly tipping her chair as she lunges around the table to wrap me in a hug. I told her to act like she didn’t know yet so my mom wouldn’t be hurt, but she’s overdoing it just a bit. “Oh my God, Poppy! That’s amazing!”

Eric whoops loudly. “Congratulations, you guys.”

My dad grins so wide his face might split. My mom tears up, pressing a hand to her mouth as she stands and pulls me in a tight embrace.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispers. “This is wonderful news.”

Grammy pats my back. “A baby! We’ve needed a baby around here.”

After my dad hugs me, he claps Bowie on the shoulder. “Welcome to the family.”

Bowie gulps and tilts his head. “Thank you, sir. Thanks for being so kind. I’m honored to be here.”

Our eyes meet and he reaches out and takes my hand again.

“Poppy makes me want a life I’d long given up hope on having for myself.” He swallows and I squeeze his hand. “I feel really lucky to have met her.”

My throat tightens. “I feel lucky too,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

WE’RE DOING THIS

BOWIE

Poppy opens her door and smiles up at me. I’ve taken her on multiple dates now, but I still can’t believe it. I wake up every day looking forward to seeing her, wishing she was in my bed every night, missing her when she’s not. I step closer and kiss her.

“You ready for this?” she asks.

“So ready.”

Once we’re driving, her hand rests on mythigh, making slow circles with her thumb that are probably innocent but are making me hard.

“After this, we can tell Becca,” she says. “And your mom…and the McGregors…”

After Easter, we decided we’d wait to tell them until Poppy was twelve weeks along. Just to be sure everything is okay with the baby.

“I can’t wait to see Becca’s face when she finds out she’s going to be a big sister,” I say. “I can picture her face already. She’s going to lose her mind with excitement.” The thought makes me grin, some of the tension easing from my shoulders.

I’ll feel better once this appointment is over…actually once that baby is in our arms, but I’m trying to not just be a downer with all my fears.

“I cannot wait,” Poppy says, grinning at me.

Inside the clinic, we move through the halls hand in hand. I still have moments ofwhat the fuck am I doing in a relationship?but Poppy makes it so easy. Honestly, she’s the one forcing us to not just speed-walk into this relationship despite how we’ve gone about things backwards.

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