Page 33 of Wicked Love

Henley

A Chinese Crested. Spectacular. I could not have imagined a better dog for you, my friend.

Her name is Martha and it’s okay, get all the wisecracks out of your system now, because she doesn’t need to hear that mess in person.

Weston

I need to go on a honeymoon more often. You miss me so much you got a dog. You love me. You really love me.

Penn

I miss you, but hell no, I’m not buying a dog.

Weston

Guess you don’t love me enough.

Rhodes

Get home and convince Bowie to go out with Poppy. He’s got a dog, I think he’s ready. And Bowie, get your ass over here tonight! A new dog is no excuse and you know it.

Yawning. Have fun tonight. Peace out.

I turn my sound off and go play with Becca andMartha.

It’s possible that I’m the king of compartmentalizing emotions, but I’m just doing the best I can.

Martha’s head leans on my hand and I scratch her head softly. She gives me one long swipe of her tongue and I grimace but smile down at her.

“You’re not so bad, are you?”

CHAPTER TEN

ONWARD AND UPWARD

POPPY

“Okay, let me see the outfit,” Marley says, motioning for me to move back from the phone.

I set the phone on my bathroom vanity and step back.

She frowns and shakes her head.

“What?”

“You can do better,” she says.

I sigh. “What if this is what I feel likewearing?” I pull down my long-sleeve T-shirt over my jeans. “It’s a good color on me, right?”

“You can do better,” she repeats. “Do we want Bowie to see you and keep giving you the ice man stare or do we want his mouth to drop and him to not be able to keep his eyes off of you?”

“I want him to stare at me, but me to go like this.” I wave my hand and then pretend like I’m shooing something away.

She laughs and rolls her eyes. “Okay, your boobs do look good in it, but turn around, let me see the view from the back.” I turn and she yells, “Absolutely not.”

“What’s wrong with the back?”

“It’s covering your tush and that thing is fine! No. Let me see something else. Something that shows off your assets. Come on, Poppy. This is not a work event.”

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