Page 88 of Wicked Love

My cheeks flame.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” Tru says, reaching out to lay her hand on mine. “But we’re here for you, when and if you do want to talk about it.”

“I made such an idiot of myself at Luminary,” I say, groaning. “And it’s not that I don’t want to talk about it. I need to talk about it probably…I just know that it’s awkward, given that you’re all so close to Bowie.”

They wait for me to go on and my cheeks get hotter. Fortunately, the waiter comes then and takes our order and the fact that I’m getting a mocktail is a non-issue.

“Did you know when you texted?” I ask, laughing. “I was dying when you said that about Elle being pregnant.”

“No, we didn’t know,” Tru says, her eyes bright. “But I amso excitedabout it. We can raise little besties together!”

I press my hand to my heart, so moved that they’re being so incredible about this. I’m so new to this friend group and I’m not even dating Bowie…they could’ve potentially been weird about the whole thing.

“Has Bowie talked to you yet?” Elle asks.

“No,” I say, shaking my head. “I think I’ve thoroughly freaked him out.”

“That man,” Sadie sighs. “He’ll do the right thing though, Poppy. Don’t worry. He needs to get used to the idea, but he’s going to be a great dad to that baby.”

“That’s what my sister said too. I haven’t fully wrapped my head around it all, but I’ll be fine doing it on my own, ifthat’s what it comes down to. I’d rather my child have a dad who wants to be part of their life though.” I lift a shoulder and feel the tears building behind my eyes. I glance at the ceiling and fan my face, trying not to cry.

“I love Bowie so much, but I could kill him for making you even question whether he’s going to be there for you,” Elle says.

“It’s a lot to think about.” I sniff. “And I haven’t had much more time than he has, but a little…”

Sadie straightens and she’s smiling over my shoulder. “Looks like he’s had some time to think about it.”

I turn and see Bowie walking toward the table. When Bowie Fox walks into a room, heads turn and voices hush. He seems oblivious to it all.

He reaches the table and stares at me as he says, “Hi, Poppy.” He looks around at everyone and does the head-up tilt to them.

“Hi,” I say when he looks at me again.

“Do you think we could talk?”

“I’m kind of in the middle of something right now,” I say, nose in the air.

I hear a snort behind me from one of the girls, but I don’t break. Bowie’s had time to talk to me and he can wait until my night out with the girls is over.

He nods like that’s perfectly acceptable. And damn right, it should be.

“Okay. I’ll be right over there,” he says, pointing to a booth in the back.

“I might be a while,” I say, lifting a shoulder.

“I can wait.”

I nod coolly and he turns and walks to the booth across the room. When I look at the girls, they burst out laughing.

“That was so badass,” Calista says, cackling.

“I’m sonotbadass,” I say, groaning. “It’s just…he sort of left me hanging and that’s fine. But I’ve been looking forward to seeing you guys all day and now that he’s ready to chat, maybe I’m not.” My voice sounds prim and it makes them laugh harder.

“Well, we can do this another night too,” Sadie says.

“I want to celebrate Elle’s book hitting the New York Times!” I say.

“The baby news is much more important,” she says.

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