Page 11 of Wicked Love

She folds her arms and starts to pout.

This doesn’t bode well for me and can only mean I’m in for a showdown.

I pick up our plates and walk them to the counter, careful to delegate the barely-there bread to the trash, and the plates to the cleaning bucket. I’ll likely need both hands to help move Becca out of here.

When I turn back around, Poppy is quietly talking to Becca. I can’t make out what she’s saying, but I watch as Becca smiles at Poppy. I return to the table, grateful for whatever Poppy said to Becca to turn things around.

“We have to go, Becca,” I repeat.

“I see you soon, Poppy,” Becca says, leaning over to hug Poppy.

“That sounds great,” Poppy says. “Enjoy your Saturday.”

I nod at her and we walk away.

“We flirt, Daddy,” Becca says.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“No, I don’t think so,” she repeats.

I wouldn’t trade the whole world for my daughter, but she’s more than most women can handle. Just one of the many reasons I don’t bother dating. No one is more important to me than her.

CHAPTER FOUR

TRANSPORT ME

POPPY

I don't know why I’ve been so nervous about this wedding. I guess because these people are what I would consider celebrities…in my world, they are. But when I’ve talked to Sadie and everyone, they seem so down-to-earth. I’m sure I’ll be fine.

It was crazy running into Bowie and Becca the other day. Bowie is so hard to read. He isn’t rude, but he’s not warm either. He’s somewhat icy. And apparently, he andhis friends are clued in on my attraction to him. I don’t think I’ve flirted with him, but it’s hard not to check him out when he’s in the room. If I run into him, I’ll attempt to play it chill and not give away how hot I think he is.

Oh God. I am so out of my element.

The wedding is in Landmark Mountain, an adorable town about an hour and a half away from Silver Hills. When Sadie called to make sure I knew she wasn’t kidding about my invitation, she said, “Please come. I know Landmark Mountain isn’t convenient, but we just love the town. Weston’s sister lives there and you’ll love her extended family so much. Weston’s brother-in-law’s family owns a lodge and we’ll reserve a room for you after the wedding, so you don’t have to drive back late that night.”

“I have to work late that day, but I’ll be at the wedding,” I’d promised. “And the lodge sounds perfect.”

“Yay, I’m so glad you’re coming,” she’d said, and at the time, I couldn’t wait for this day, but now that it’s happening,I am so nervous.

The drive to Landmark Mountain is beautiful. I’m running so short on time that I did my hair and makeup on a break at work and then I change into my dress in the lodge’s bathroom. I’ll worry about checking in later, the wedding is about to start.

I follow the flowers to a beautiful room with glass ceilings. It is magical. I’m ushered to a seat on the bride’s side and transported into another world. Pink and white flowers are everywhere, white lights and candles creating a sepia-toned mood.

The ceremony is breathtaking and so touching. A little boy, I believe it’s Rhodes’ son, pulls Caleb down the aisle in a white wagon. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Becca looks so pretty in her princess dress, and she can’t stop smiling asshe walks down the aisle. Despite how beautiful Weston and Sadie look, it's hard to tear my eyes away from Bowie in his tux. Bowie, Rhodes, Penn, Henley, and another stunning man are all standing up with Weston, and Sadie has Elle, Tru, Calista, and another beautiful friend that I don't recognize. The couple I don’t recognize stare at each other with such love, I think they must be the sister and brother-in-law of Weston’s that Sadie mentioned.

Weddings can be hard as a single woman. I’m sure they’re not difficult for everyone, and if I didn’t want to get married myself, I guess they wouldn’t be for me, but…they are. I long to have that connection with someone. To fall in love and have someone to share all my secrets with…to fall asleep in his arms at night and know that he’ll be there the next morning and the next. I’m not big into dating apps, and with how busy I’ve been with my job, it’s been hard to find time to date. I’m still busy with work, but now that I’m in Silver Hills, my evenings are freer. It’s not like Silver Hills is overflowing with single men who want to date me though.

The one man I’ve met that I’d be interested in getting to know better is way out of my league…and completely uninterested in me.

When the wedding is over, I wander into the section designated for the reception and look for my table number. As soon as I find it, I walk to the table. No one else is there yet. I turn to look around and Bowie is standing there, staring at me.

The way he looks me over makes me think maybe he likes what he sees, until his eyes meet mine and he frowns.

“I’m surprised to see you here,” he says.

“Yeah, I was so surprised to get an invite! I met Sadie at Twinkle Tales a couple of months ago and then reconnected at the signing…then ran into her again at The Fairy Hut and she was kind enough to extend an invitation.” I run out of air and take a deep breath.

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