Page 81 of Wicked Love

“Let’s…talk outside,” I say finally, my voice gruff.

Poppy nods quickly, ducking her head as she walks away. I look at Penn and he nods.

“You’ve got this,” he says quietly.

When I step outside, Poppy is pacing on the side of Luminary…away from the windows. When she sees me, she stops and looks at me with uncertainty.

“How about we start over,” I say. “What?—?”

Tears are streaming down her face now and I have a sick feeling.

“I’m pregnant. I realized it the night of your dad’s funeral…when I got sick at your house. And I’ve wanted to tell you ever since…I just didn’t know how…I wanted to be further along so I could be sure I even was, but I went to the doctor and,” she throws her hand in the air, “I definitely am. She said I’m due in November.”

“You knew last night?” I say, feeling numb and bewildered and a little delayed in the whole processing of this. “Since the night of my dad’sfuneral?”

She steps forward, her face a torment. “Yes. I’m sorry, Bowie. I should’ve told you, I know.”

I stare at her, the weight of her words settling over me. I feel like I’m drowning in this news. A baby.

“We used a condom,” I say weakly.

“I know.”

“I’ve always thought Rhodes was probably wrong about using a condom when Levi was conceived, but—” I close my eyes and press my fingers to the bridge of my nose, exhaling roughly.

“Things happen,” she says.

“Things happen.” My eyes open, and I try to focus on her. “I didn’t plan on ever having another baby.”

Pain flashes across her face and she nods, biting her lower lip. “I understand.”

“No, I…I just…I need a minute or a million to process this.”

She nods. “I get it, trust me.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

KUMQUAT

POPPY

After he’s walked away, I bend over, trying to catch my breath, and then hurry to my car so no one sees me crying.

Why did I just blurt it out like that?

Why didn’t I tell him the moment I found out about it?

I’m not sure it would’ve done any good, but the accusing look in his eyes when he said I’d known about it last night…

Last night.

I’ve been replaying those moments inmy bed over and over again. Our first time together was amazing, but last night was surreal. It far surpassed anything I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve practically been floating around all morning…until I saw him walk into Luminary, had a lust fit over him dancing, and realized I didn’t know how to play it cool. Especially with the baby news hovering over me at all times.

He looked gutted. I don’t know what I expected. Him to smile and say,Poppy, this is exactly what I wanted?No, I knew it would hit him hard. The guy just lost his father, not to mention raising Becca as a single parent. He needed more consideration with the news than it to be blurted out in a coffee shop for the whole town to hear.

The news will probably be everywhere by lunchtime.

I slam my fist on the steering wheel, my thoughts going a mile a minute. Bowie didn’t say he didn’t want the baby exactly…even though it’s not what he had planned…but he didn’t say he wanted it either.

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