Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Wrapping my arms around him, I hold on tight. “I’m so glad we didn’t miss each other in this lifetime.”
Kisses are sprinkled on my head, and it’s the first break to relieve tension. He says, “We’ve even been given a second chance to get it right.” I love how romantic he is. “The soul knows who belongs together.”
In his arms in my pink bedroom, acceptance washes through me. This is enough. He is.
33
Laird
Poppy fits right in—to my life, my social circle, and my family.
My mom has held her captive for half an hour. Anytime I’ve tried to rescue her, she chooses to stay. Travel. Art. Me. They have a lot in common. To say this is my mom’s dream come true would be an understatement.
She has a married daughter who’s given her a grandchild. I thought the baby would take some heat off me, but my mom’s my mom. She cares and still worries too much about me. She’s not in a hurry for me to jump into a relationship again. She wants me to find my soulmate like she and Dad found each other.
They’re an incredible example of a great marriage. It’s also difficult to live up to that expectation. Sometimes shit goes wrong. Love goes sideways.
I’m with Poppy after the worst time in my life, and I can tell I’m finally on the right path.
The party winds down as the sun sets. Seeing Tulsa’s brothers and their families before we hit the road again was good. The tour is something I can’t stop thinking about. I just got Poppy back, and now I’ll be leaving soon. We’ve successfully avoided discussing what happens next, choosing to live in the moment. The downtime of the past few days has been good for both of us—her decompressing from being on a boat for weeks and me gearing up for a high-energy tour. My workouts have doubled per day. I’m eating leaner and drinking to hydrate and to help me build up endurance for the performance I want to give across the US during the sweltering summer months.
The remaining piece to a perfect puzzle is her.
Poppy traveling with me is my ideal plan, yet I don’t expect it. She has a life, her own goals, and this fucking wedding she’s still being guilted into catering for her mother. I don’t want to add to her stress. The tour is twenty cities in two months, but I can’t live without her for that long. I already know that, but I won’t force her to go for me. I want her to be there for her.
A hand on my shoulder has me turning around, but I already recognize the familiar grip. “Hey, Dad.” We’ve already talked a few times at Nikki and Tulsa’s party, but it’s always good to spend time with him and get his thoughts on things I struggle to work out on my own.
“Will you have time to cruise down to La Jolla to catch some waves before the tour?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure.”
“It would be nice.”
It’s never lost that Nikki and I have the best parents. Whatever our dreams were, they were there cheering us on. Sports? Sitting front row in their lawn chairs. Dropping us off on the first day of school? Parking the car and getting out to wave goodbye. The reason I can walk on stage and perform in front of a stadium full of people? Our confidence in life and our band is all rooted in them.
Slapping our palms together, we hold on as we bump shoulders. “I’ll make sure to come visit.”
Widening his stance next to me, he says, “Poppy’s different.”
I look at him and laugh. “What the hell does that mean?”
A subtle punch to my arm has me sway away from him in mocking. “What’s she doing with you?” He chuckles, his eyes stretching across the pool to where the love of his life chats with mine.
He’s easy to hang with—a businessman who managed to stay grounded in his success, always put his family first, and can be a friend or dad, whichever you need at the time.
Grinning with pride that I scored the girl and won her heart, I’m tempted to peacock around the joint, but he doesn’t put up with bullshit like that. “She’s pretty fantastic,” I reply. No matter how old I get, I still value my parents’ opinions and want their approval. “She’s agreed to move in with me.”
“That’s a big step, Son.”
“She still has a few months left on her lease, but truth be told, it feels right being with her. I hate even saying it, but . . .” Dropping my head down in embarrassment, I rub the back of my neck.
“But what?” he asks, giving me the time I need to share things like this. He’s never one to rush someone pouring out their emotions even though it feels like exposing a part of me that makes me uncomfortable in front of others.