Page 21 of Wicked Love

“How about we go easy, Becca? Maybe some oatmeal or some toast and jelly?”

“Pancakes!” she insists.

I look down at my menu and smile. “What if we share? I get pancakes and you get oatmeal and we see how your bellyfeels. If your stomach feels good and not sick, I’ll share the pancakes with you.”

“We share?” she repeats. “Levi shares Bogey with me. Bogey is a dog,” she says. “I love Bogey.” She nods happily. “Dad, I share with Poppy. We share.”

I smile at her and she pats my back. “Excellent.”

“Ex-cellent,” she repeats.

When I sneak another look at Bowie again, he’s watching me. He looks down at his menu quickly.

“Sounds good,” he says.

The ice man approves.

CHAPTER SEVEN

FOOL TOOL

BOWIE

I messed up royally last night. It didn't feel like it while it was happening. Fuck, everything about it felt right in the moment.

Poppy.

Everything about her is so…good. She's beautiful. She’s fun and funny. She’s kind. Dancing with her made me feel more alive than I’ve felt in years.

I knew better than to drink while beingaround her because it broke down some of the walls I’ve worked so hard to keep up.

And the way she felt against me, the passion in her kisses…the way she looked, the sounds she made, all of it…well, despite how right it felt, it was a colossal mistake that should’ve never happened.

I wanted nothing more than to go back in there and sink into her heat again and again and again.

I adjust myself in my seat as I sneak looks at her across the table, where she's sitting next to Becca. They’re laughing at the picture Poppy just drew on the kid’s menu.

Why does she have to be so fucking cool?

Last night, I knew what a tool I’d been as soon as I had a little clarity. While Becca was sick, I sobered up and acknowledged the mess I’d made, having sex with Poppy. It felt fucking amazing, butfuck. Long after Becca had fallen back to sleep, I lay awake, cursing my poor choices and talking myself out of going back in there to continue what we’d started.

I couldn't go back to that room, thatbed, or I would just sink deeper into the Poppy trap.

She noticed that I didn’t return her smile when she came into the restaurant, and the way she ignores me now feels wrong, but this is the way it has to be. I can't afford to go down that rabbit hole. She's local, she's nice, she's becoming friends with all of my friends. Becca loves her. She'shere, for Christ's sake, invited to the wedding of my friends after barely knowing them a minute.

She’s not going anywhere…which means I cannot afford to get invested.

I feel like the world’s largest asshole, but I’m actually saving her a world of hurt. No one needs my baggage.

Across from me, Ruby Landmark, Weston's sister Felicity’s sister-in-law—try saying that fast—starts talking about her emus and I just pray to God Becca won't overhear her as she invites everyone over to visit. I've managed to avoid seeing the emus when we’ve come to Landmark Mountain. I’d much rather take Becca on the gondola to the top of the mountain or something else fun, but Becca loves animals. Problem is, she won’t want to leave them.

Sure as heck, it catches Poppy's attention and she turns to look at Ruby.

“Did you just say emus?” she asks.

Kill me now. I bury my head in my hands.

“Emus?” Becca repeats.

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