Page 47 of For You I'd Mend
I didn’t want to be part of this conversation. I felt sick when Aries told me he was meeting Poppy for coffee tonight. Max seemed excited that Aries was making friends and gave him another twenty. He gave me a stern look until I unclenched my fists and headed to the back to lose myself in a custom sketch for one of my regulars.
Cammie
Did you know he did time for A&B?
Now, I did. My hands started to sweat as I typed.
Yes to the date. No to the A&B. Domestic?
The muscles in my neck and shoulders bunched as I waited for Cam to reply.
Lauren
WTF! You knew she was going on a date and you didn’t stop her?
Cammie
If he won’t date her, he can’t stop her from dating other people
Why are you texting each other? Aren’t you together?
Lauren
Focus, Theo. Poppy, your Poppy, is on a date with a guy who checks all her boxes. He’s a bad boy with an actual rap sheet. The girl is attracted to toxic like a moth to flame. She’ll be putty in his hands
Rowan
Agreed. She has never once expressed interest in anyone decent until Theo
Lauren
Thanks for finally joining us. If they try to leave together, should I stop her?
Rowan
Yes
No
Cammie
So, you don’t think Aries is dangerous?
Lauren
They were sitting together at one of Karma’s small bistro tables. Poppy looked gorgeous with her bold eyeliner. I’d never seen her wear that sweater before. It dipped just low enough to give a peek at the tops of her perky tits. She’d clearly put in someeffort for the date, and Aries looked like he’d ironed his shirt with the iron I’d never used in the apartment. They were so close their thighs touched, and my stomach soured when I saw their hands entwined.
Rowan
That’s a definite yes, Lauren
Lauren
Rodger
I left the chat. I never should have been part of it to begin with, and if I saw another picture of Poppy and Aries together, I might break my promise to Cal and Aiden and hurt myself. Sometimes the only way to dull the pain in my chest was to pull it from my skin. I cut, tattooed, or pierced away the ache until I was a walking testament to it, my scars as real on the outside as they were inside.
