Page 50 of Ocotillo Kisses
She had, but was that enough? He knew what Poppy was saying was true, that Britt wasn’t staying, that she wouldn’t even be here through the party she was planning. He knew he wasn’t even in the top three most important things of her life. Maybe not in the top five. But he liked who he was when he was with her. He could find some of that playfulness he used to feel when he was younger, before his world turned upside down. Maybe because she knew him best then, and he wanted to appeal to that part of her. Beck had known him then, too, and Austin, but neither of them had brought out that side of him the way that Britt did.
When he didn’t answer, Poppy blew out a frustrated breath and dropped into the driver’s seat of her car. “Look, just forget going to Del Rio. I’ll find the planters somewhere else. Or get someone else to go with me. It’s no big deal.”
“Poppy.” He didn’t want to say he was sorry one more time, so he didn’t say anything. Just let her get in the car. “Are you going to be okay?”
She sent him a look that shriveled his skin. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
He was pretty sure that meant she didn’t want him in particular worrying about her, but he was going to worry anyway. “Text me when you get home so I know you’re safe.”
She made a noise deep in her throat and yanked the door free from his grip to close it. He stood in the driveway and watched her drive off before he made his way to the back of the house. Britt was waiting, wrapped in her towel against the breeze.
“I’m going to text Sofia to text me when Poppy gets home,” he said, trying to remember where he left his phone. “I know she won’t do it.”
“I’m sorry to be the cause of all this trouble,” Britt said.
He dragged a hand across his damp hair. “No, it wasn’t you. I mean, I told you I didn’t know if there was anything there, and after tonight, I’m sure there’s not.”
He didn’t look at Britt to see her reaction to that. He didn’t want her to think she was the reason. Well, she was, but not in the way she thought. She just made him see a little more clearly what he did and didn’t want.
He located his phone and texted Sofia and Ginny to let him know when Poppy got home. He was sure she would text one of them about what she saw tonight, about why he was worried about her.
Ginny texted back immediately, which kind of surprised him. “What did you do?”
“I’m sure she’ll tell you,” he muttered the words as he texted back, then made sure his ringer was on before he set the phone back down and turned back to Britt.
She was sitting on the edge of a lounge chair, her towel wrapped around her shoulders. He wasn’t sure if she was really cold, or if she was just shielding herself. Maybe she was regretting the kiss. God knew he didn’t want to know that right now, not with Poppy’s words playing in his head.
“I should go ahead and go home,” he said. “Unless you need help with anything. I don’t want to leave you with any extra work.”
She looked at him a long moment before answering. “No, I’m fine, thanks.”
He stood awkwardly near her lounge, giving her space to stand up if she wanted, but she didn’t. “I’ll see you in the morning. You want us to come get you, or do you want to meet at my place?”
“I’ll come over there. Might be good we’re getting out of town for at least one day. I guess everyone will hear by the time we get back,” she said.
“Ginny is already ready to kick my butt,” he said with a sigh.
“One thing I don’t miss about living in a small town,” Britt said with a smile, rising and placing a hand on his chest. But she didn’t lift her face for his kiss, just looked straight ahead. “Good night, Con.”
