Page 94 of Drop Three

Poppy sends Jethro a soft smile before introducing herself to his date, Sadie. I feel like I should put my arm around Poppy or something, I don’t know. Nothing feels right, but I know I should at least try to show her I’m somewhat interested.

Am I, though? Hell if I know.

I wrap my free arm around Poppy’s waist, and she immediately leans into my space. She smells like flowers—not eucalyptus, I make note.

I can hear the conversations around me escalating in volume, and I know Navy is in the mix. I can’t make noticing her obvious. We’re in Cal’s home and he would surely catch on if he spotted me—especially after my most recent transgression.

But her laugh is all I hear. I want to be on the receiving end of it.

“Dude, this place is sick. I can’t believe how different it looks,” Jethro says.

Cal had some of the guys over not long after he and Kodi moved in, and it looked nothing like it does now. I’m impressed, to say the least.

I pretend to look around the space but use it as my opportunity to glance at Navy once more. She was surrounded by some of my teammates and their dates when she entered, so I didn’t get a good chance to take her in.

I don’t love what I see, I’ll tell you that.

Crew Briggs.

With his hand wrapped in Navy’s.

Fury and rage storm through my body as I fight back the urge to tackle Crew fucking Briggs to the ground.

I hear Jethro ask Poppy what she does for work beside me, yet I couldn’t feel farther away.

His hands are onmywoman. Whether it’s true in the real world or not, it might as well be branded in my fucking DNA that Navy is mine and only mine.

If only I could tell him that.

Breathe, Bodhi, breathe.

I need to get a handle on the anger pulsing through my veins. This is not the place to cause a scene—especially for something I have no control over, and ultimately something I put on myself.

Navy laughs a full and genuine laugh while Briggs has a cheesy fucking grin plastered across his face. Of course he’s giddy; he’s got the most beautiful woman in all of existence on his arm for the night.

I hope he realizes the treasure he’s holding.

“So, how long have you two been seeing each other?” Jethro asks Poppy and me, bringing my attention back to the group in front of me.

Poppy gets to it first. “Oh, we just met. Cal introduced us. I actually helped decorate their home. That’s how Kodi and I met.”

“Right on,” Jethro responds.

I nod.Jesus, I suck at this.

I guarantee I’ll never hear from Poppy again. It’s a shame, too, because she’s beautiful and kind. If I wasn’t emotionally harbored to someone else, I would probably be all over her.

Why, out of all the guys Navy could date, does it have to be Briggs?

My friend.Although, I’m not too satisfied with that category for him at the moment. Despite that, he’s a good guy and he’s been a good friend to me.

I just happen to loathe his choice in women.

I give Jethro a nod. “Speaking of Cal, you seen him anywhere?” I ask.

He shakes his head, looking around the room for the host.

“Nope.” Hmm.

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