Page 135 of The Grump Next Door
“Poppy.” His voice drops. Serious. “You belong here.”
The camera clicks before I can respond. Before I can tell him that belonging somewhere for a week doesn’t mean you get to stay. Before I can ask why he’s making this harder than it needs to be.
“Beautiful!” The photographer’s already moving on. “Now just the brothers!”
I escape to the bar, order something stronger than champagne. CeCe slides up beside me.
“So.”
“Don’t start.” I know that tone. That’s her I-have-opinions tone.
“I’m just saying, I’ve never seen you in a family photo before. Three years and you’ve never once been in a family photo.”
The words hit harder than they should. I grip my glass tighter. “Ivy insisted.”
“Uh-huh.” CeCe’s watching me too closely. “And Dean’s hand on your back? Did Ivy insist on that too?”
I down my drink. “I need you to not.”
“Not what?”
“Not make this into something.”
“Babe.” She turns me to face her. “It’s already something. The question is what you’re gonna do about it.”
Before I can answer, the band announces the last dance. Couples flood the floor. The lights dim to just fairy lights and stars.
And Dean’s there. Again. Always.
“One more?” he asks.
I should say no.
I take his hand instead.
This time when he pulls me close, I let myself feel it. The warmth of him. The way we fit. The absolute certainty that I’m fucked.
Cool.
“Poppy?”
“Mm?”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I can feel the tension in his body, like he’s working up to something. “This week…”
“Don’t.” I press my face into his shoulder, breathing him in. “Please. Just… let me have this.”
His arms tighten around me. “Okay.”
We sway while Mason and Ivy kiss under the stars and George provides ambient scenery, and everything is exactly as perfect as I planned.
Except for the part where I’m falling for someone I can’t have.
But that’s tomorrow’s problem.
Tonight? Tonight I’m dancing with Dean Whitaker while the fairy lights blur into stars and his heartbeat keeps time with mine.
And for now, that’s enough.
