Chapter 14
Poppy
Quit You by Karley Scott Collins
It’s been a week since the CPS interview and things are finally settling down. I’m hefting up the door to the shop bay when a big, brand-new-looking black SUV that I don’t recognize pulls up like it owns the street right in front of my garage bay.
The windows all roll down, and Violet’s smiling face leans out the tinted window. Maggie’s in the passenger seat, waving excitedly, Mack’s wedged behind her, peeking out, and Cami’s grinning, leaning over like she knows something I don’t.
“Hey,” Violet calls excitedly with a big smile. “Get in, we’re going shopping.”
I blink. “What?”
Ollie steps up beside me and gives a casual nod, as if this is all completely normal, and calls out, “Hey.”
“Hey,” Mack and Maggie say in unison, waving.
“Hey, little bro. I’m taking my future sister-in-law wedding shopping,” Cami announces. “It’s time to pamper Poppy.”
My brain short circuits. Pamper me? I don’t even know what that really entails, and my first instinct isn’t excitement.
It’s math. Numbers lining up automatically in my head.
What it costs. What that money could cover instead.
Groceries. Gas. Owen’s shoes when he outgrows the ones he has, which will be any minute now.
Old habits die hard.
For so long, I’ve been the one who goes without. Skipping meals without thinking. Puts everything extra toward making sure Owen has what he needs. Comfort always felt optional. Indulgence felt irresponsible.
I hesitate, the word pamper hovering in the air like it belongs to someone else’s life, not mine.
“I don’t know,” I start, already pulling back. “That sounds… expensive.”
Maggie gives me a look. Not sharp. Just knowing. “Poppy.”
Cami leans in, softer. “You just worked your first week at a new job. You’re exhausted. You’ve earned this.”
“And,” Maggie adds, tapping the planner, “this is our treat, so sit back and enjoy it.”
I swallow, the resistance still there, but weaker. Because the truth is, it does sound divine. After the week I’ve had. After the years I’ve had. My body aches in that deep, bone-tired way, and the idea of someone else taking care of me for once makes my chest feel tight.
Wanting things still feels dangerous. But maybe it doesn’t have to be.
I let out a slow breath and nod, tentative but real. “Okay,” I say quietly. “Maybe just this once.”
And even as I say it, I can feel how badly I need it.
“No idea what that means, but I’m in.” I grin. “Thank you so much.”
Owen walks out and looks from the SUV to Ollie, eyes wide. “That sounds terrible.”
“Yes, it does,” Ollie says, smiling way too big as he agrees. “That’s why your sister’s going, and you and I are gonna go do guy stuff.”
“Yes!” Owen says, pumping his fist in the air, looking relieved. Then he pauses and looks at me. “Oh. Have fun, Poppy.”
I laugh as Violet hops out, wraps me in a hug, and pulls me toward the SUV. “Come on. Trust us. We’re going to have a blast.”
I glance at Ollie. He squeezes my shoulder once, soft and grounding. “We’ll see you later. Have fun.”
I grab my purse and coat from the office and climb in, and the door shuts behind me with a final thunk that feels like crossing into another world.
The SUV smells like coffee, Maggie’s perfume, and excitement.
Music’s already playing, something upbeat and loud, and by the time we’re out of town, everyone’s talking at once, singing along to the music, and passing around road trip snacks that they packed in a big cooler.
It’s a long drive to the big town where we’re going shopping, and they seem to have a great plan.
An hour later, I’m laughing so hard my cheeks hurt.
We talk about the reception they’re all planning, which is in two weeks, on a Saturday.
Walker and Violet have heated tents coming in.
A real catering company from Jackson. Cami’s making the cake because, of course, she is.
I wouldn’t want to have any other cake. Maggie’s already planning flowers like she’s running a military operation.
I can’t believe they’re doing this for us.
“Oh,” Violet says casually, like she’s not dropping a bomb. “And Riley Blue and Mandy Moran are coming to play.”
I nearly choke on my iced coffee. “How the heck did you manage that?”
Violet shrugs, trying not to smile. “Walker’s idea. He knows some people.”
Of course, he does. Walker and Violet are both amazing country musicians.
Walker is a country music legend who retired here in Bridger Falls.
He was a songwriter for a long time until Violet came along to stay with her Aunt Maggie.
Those two fell in love, and the rest is history.
They started their own recording studio, hosting artists and musicians, and producing songs.
It’s really fun to meet everyone who comes through town.
A little surreal sometimes, but really cool.
It’s not surprising that Walker convinced two of the top country music legends to sing for us at our reception.
Ollie isn’t even going to believe it when I tell him tonight.
I shake my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe it.”
She leans closer. “Don’t you dare tell him I told you this, but we’re writing you guys a song. Just for you. It’ll probably eventually go on an album but know it’s your song.”
I press my hand to my chest. “Aww, Violet. I can’t wait to hear it. No one has ever written me a song before.”
My eyes burn a little, but it’s the good kind. I love that they are excited for us, regardless of whether this is real or not. I’m beginning to feel sad that this is a pretend marriage. And a pang of sadness hits me that it isn’t real. Because it’s starting to feel real.
At the first store, they don’t even let me protest how they’re fawning over me. When we open the door, there’s a table set up with a charcuterie board, champagne, and cider waiting. There are even iced cookies that read "yes to the dress" and are in the shape of wedding dresses.
“This doesn’t feel like shopping,” I say, looking in awe at everything. “This is a party.”
“Yes,” Cami agrees, grinning. “This is a Poppy party. It’s not every day my brother and best friend get married.”
They pull dresses I’d never pick for myself. Things that fit and look amazing instead of hiding my curves. Maggie cries over the first one I try on, which is dramatic and unnecessary but somehow perfect. She clasps her hands and says, “My baby is getting married.”
And somehow, that heals something in me I didn’t know I needed. I pictured my mom being with me on a day like today but having Maggie and all my friends with me is as close to that as I could ask for.
When I step out in the dress that ends up being the one, they all go quiet.
Cami whistles. “Well. Damn. I hope Ollie keeps the fire department on standby. Because you’re a smoke show, Poppy.”
Mack grins. “Ollie’s gonna pass out when he sees you. They better have the paramedics handy, too.”
My stomach flips at the thought of what Ollie’s going to think when he sees me.
Then I picture him standing there in a tux and my heart clenches.
I bet he’ll look so freaking good. I’ve only seen him in a tux at Violet’s wedding and prom.
And he looked so good. I remember seriously lusting after that man that night and thinking I shouldn’t have been thinking of my best friend like that.
And now here I am marrying him. Pretend marrying him. But, still.
Later, when my hair’s washed, cut, and blown out, and my makeup actually looks like me, just brighter, we sit on velvet chairs in a little boutique with champagne flutes in our hands. I glance around and realize that Violet and Mack are drinking cider.
“What if it stops being pretend?” I ask suddenly.
They all look at me, then they laugh.
Okay, not the reaction I was expecting.
“What?” I laugh, along with them, because honestly, this whole thing is absurd.
“Nobody really thinks this is pretend, but you, Poppy. My brother is head over heels in love with you. Everyone can see it,” Cami says as she sips her glass. “And you better not break his heart because he’s the best.”
I would never hurt Ollie. I love him was my immediate thought. I love him. Shit, I do. I really love him so much.
Violet looks over at me. “Girlllll, what kind of friendship do you think this is? This is a whole relationship. Ollie’s been waiting for you to catch up.”
I stare into my drink. “I don’t think I want a traditional marriage. I don’t want a white picket fence. Ollie deserves more than that.”
What I’m really thinking is that maybe I don’t deserve that. It’s not that I don’t want it. I just don’t think it’s possible for me. I’ve never had that life and don’t know if it even really exists.
Cami reaches over and takes my hand. “What if all he wants is you, Poppy?”
Maggie hums. “I love you, sweetheart, but I think you’re both being ridiculous.
I’ve never heard Ollie say he wants some traditional fantasy life that you seem to have worked up in your mind that is superior to the life you’re living right now.
Life isn’t like that. It’s not always picket fences like that.
Sometimes it’s just like this. Friends that become family.
And best friends who become your life partner.
You getting to do life with your best friend sounds like a pretty good life to me.
No matter where you live. And picket fences are ugly.
Sometimes you need barbed wire like the ranches have. Keep people like Sully out.”
I laugh at that last part, because she’s not wrong. Our life is more like barbed wire than a picket fence. And I thought that was a bad thing, but maybe it’s not.
Violet smiles softly. “Some people don’t want the picture-perfect life. They want the right one. And the right one is right for you.”
Lunch turns into cocktails, with Mack agreeing to be the designated driver, and when Violet orders a lemonade, the table goes silent.