Page 73 of For You I'd Mend
“Cal and I picked up a real bed earlier today. So, if you wanted to stay over—” I was a grown man for fuck’s sake. When I was younger, I had no problem telling a woman exactly what I wanted to do with her. With Poppy, I sounded like a high schooler hoping to score for the first time.
“I’d like that,” she said, giving my hand a squeeze. The trip to the restaurant wasn’t long enough. There was something so peaceful about driving with Poppy beside me, like we were still in the world, but insulated from it. Part of me wanted to blow offdinner and just ride around in the calm. Instead, I pulled into a spot near the pharmacy, just down from the restaurant, and tightened my grip on her hand. “I know you can do it on your own, but I’d like to open your door and help you down.”
“Would you believe you’re the first date I’ve ever had who offered to do that?” she said with a small smile.
Hopefully, this was the last first date for both of us. The thought popped into my head with such conviction, I almost said it out loud. “Well, there’s a first time for everything,” I said before climbing out of the truck and hurrying to her side.
After I helped her to the sidewalk, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. “In case there’s ice,” I said.
“And here I thought you just wanted to cop a feel,” she said as an older couple passed us on the sidewalk. The lady let out a little gasp, but the older gentleman winked at me.
I laughed and gave Poppy a squeeze before opening the door to Antonia’s for her. I honestly hadn’t been on many dates. Most of my hook ups had been the friends-with-benefits variety, though when the benefits ended, the friendships faded one by one. But with Poppy, I wanted more, which meant showing her we were firmly out of the friend zone.
“I feel like I have to whisper in here,” Poppy said as the hostess led us to a secluded table in the back. I pulled out her chair, and the shocked look on her face almost made me laugh.
“I’m guessing no one did that either,” I said, taking a seat across from her.
She shook her head. “I always went for the rebel types. Social graces weren’t exactly top of the list.”
“What was?” I asked, pushing the wine menu across the white tablecloth to her.
She shrugged. “Shocking people, I guess. Which was why I dated them.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I shock people daily. I think it’s the lobe gauging.”
“Pretty sure it’s the overall hotness,” she said, without taking her eyes from the dinner menu. “It certainly shocks me daily.”
“I know the feeling,” I said, taking a sip of the ice water the waiter dropped at the table.
She glanced up at me and blushed before looking down at the menu again. “Well, that, and the fact you’re so kind. You’re like a marshmallow wrapped in a bad boy shell. No, not a marshmallow. They’re gross. Maybe peanut butter.”
“I’m not sure this is going to work. Marshmallows are not gross.”
This time she put down the menu and locked eyes with me. “The only acceptable uses for marshmallows are in fondant, Rice Krispies Treats, or s’mores.”
“Well, as long as you’ll eat s’mores.” I reached across the table, took her hand, and ran my thumb across her knuckles. Her eyes grew dark.
The server chose that moment to approach the table for our orders. Poppy jumped at the sound of his voice but recovered quickly. All my tension evaporated before the appetizers arrived. We talked about the upcoming art exhibit. The pink bridesmaid dresses Rowan selected for the wedding. Their construction plans for the bakery. The portrait class I was designing for next fall and the likelihood of finding models in our small town. All the museums I wanted to visit with her that’d require a long drive and an overnight stay. It was similar to all the conversations we’d ever had, except actual touch replaced the constant tension I’d felt whenever we were together. I scooted my chair close to her and held her hand as much as possible while eating.
“Don’t tell my mom, but that was the best chicken parm I’ve ever eaten,” Poppy said as we stepped into the cold night.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
As we approached my truck, a car sped down Main Street. A moment later, it slammed on its brakes when it came up on a minivan waiting to make a left turn. The smell of tires burning, followed by the sound of metal crunching, pulled me right back into the nightmarish memory that had plagued me for years.
“I can’t believe Avery dumped me,” Cal slurred in the passenger seat beside me.
“You’re better off, man,” Aiden yelled from the back. “Now you can go wild when you get to campus. You’ll forget all about her as soon as you get your dick wet again.”
“And this is why you can never date my sisters,” Logan said and laughed.
“Dude, I can’t date your sisters because they might as well be my sisters.” Aiden made a convincing gagging sound, and I glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure he hadn’t hurled all over the back seat of Cal’s car.
My heart felt like it was about to burst from my chest, and I couldn’t catch my breath. The streetlamps faded as my vision tunneled. I bent at the waist and took deep breaths that quickly turned to pants. I felt myself sway and sank to my knees.
“Do you think she’d planned to dump me all summer?” Cal asked, slamming his head against the headrest.
“Yes,” I answered. “Which is why you’re better off without her, brother.”
