Page 141 of Wicked Love

My mom steps forward, and before Poppy or I can say anything, she reaches down and actually repositions Poppy’s boob, lining it up for Jonas like a football being placed for a field goal.

“There,” she says matter-of-factly. “He should latch better like that.”

For a moment, Poppy and I are stunned speechless. Poppy’s eyes are round and her cheeks are pink. Then Jonas latches on, and Poppy breathes out a sigh of relief.

Helpful, yes, but also the kind of boundary crossing that’s just a little too much. Poppy smiles weakly at my mom, a mix of gratitude and shock.

“Thank you,” Poppy says.

My mom steps back, folding her arms with a satisfied nod.

There’s a beat of silence and then my mom clears her throat. “Yep, it’s probably time that I get my own place, isn’t it?”

I catch Poppy’s eye. She looks relieved and is biting back a laugh.

“You said it, not me,” I tell Mom, raising my hands in mock surrender.

Mom grins. There’s no argument this time—no guilt, no pushback—and I’m grateful. Maybe we’ve grown beyond those old patterns. She’s proven she can be helpful, despite it being mortifying at times, and now she knows when it’s time to step back.

“Maybe after Thanksgiving,” she adds.

“Okay, Mom. Thanks. That sounds good. Somewhere close, though, so we can see you often.”

She pats my arm. “I like the sound of that.”

When we crawl into bed that night, Jonas asleep in the little bassinet on Poppy’s side, I turn and face Poppy.

“I’m in awe of you,” I tell her. “And I feel like the luckiest man alive.”

She turns and smiles at me. “I’m so glad you opened your heart to me, Bowie. I love our life. I know we’re just getting started, but I love it so much.”

I lean in and kiss her.

“Me too, little mama. Me too. Life is beyond good.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

HERBS AND SPICY

POPPY

The house smells like sage and rosemary, with a hint of cinnamon lingering from the apple cider simmering on the stove. We’ve pushed together extra tables and borrowed chairs so everyone can sit around the long makeshift dining arrangement. Friendsgiving at our place has turned into an extravaganza. It’s not just our friends; it’s our families too, all mingling as if they’ve known each other forever.

Rhodes’ parents are even here and I absolutelylove them. I confess to being more than a little starstruck by both of them. I’ve watched Troy Archer’s movies from the time I was a little girl, and I’ve followed Amara in magazines and on social media for almost as long. My mom always loved them too and she and Amara hit it off right away.

Jonas dozes in a sling against my chest, his breathing rising and falling in a rhythm that calms me. I’m absolutely obsessed with him. We all are. Becca adores him. She’s flitting around, greeting everyone, and then comes back to check on her baby brother every few minutes. She shows off her frame collection to anyone who will look, now featuring multiple pictures of Jonas.

Mrs. McGregor fusses in the kitchen, making sure all the dishes have a serving spoon. My mom chats with Bowie’s mom near the fireplace, the two of them looking over my way every now and then with proud looks. Marley and Eric stand by the dessert table, laughing with Tru, as they watch Caleb and Levi cooing over Avery. Tobias—yes, Tobias actually came—is sitting in the living room with Rhodes and Weston, trading quiet jokes and stories, and I can see Bowie chuckling from across the room.

I catch Bowie’s eye and he gives me the slow, contented smile that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners. In that moment, I can feel all the effort, all the love…all the changes in him that have led us here. He comes over, slipping an arm around my waist and pressing a kiss to Jonas’s head.

After everyone’s settled with plates heaped high, the room fills with a buzz as everyone talks and eats.

“Just putting it out there, I volunteer to taste-test every dessert,” Penn says.

“One bite per pie,” Sadie says then laughs. “Kidding!” she sings.

Bowie clears his throat. It’s subtle, but everyone knows tostop and listen when he decides to speak. “So,” he starts, glancing around the table. “We’ve been thinking about doing something special in February…”

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