11. Poppy
CHAPTER 11
POPPY
I t’s been twenty-four hours since my date with Colter, and we should be out right now, but instead I’m sitting in my car with a Tupperware container full of food and a bag from the pharmacy, and I’m filled with doubt.
I re-read the text that Colter sent me a few hours ago.
“I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to cancel. I have a migraine.”
I had texted him back, asking him if he needed anything, but when I didn’t get a response, I got worried. I tracked down Abby’s phone number and called her asking her for her help. She didn’t want to give me Colter’s home address at first, but I finally convinced her that I was just worried and wanted to check on him.
I’ve parked in the parking lot of the rehab center, and I’m facing the path that goes behind it. I’ve been here multiple times, but this is the first time I’ve noticed this path. I get out of my car, grab everything I need, and start walking. The whole way to his cabin, I’m second-guessing myself. I should have put on something else besides a T-shirt and shorts. I had just gotten out of the shower when he texted, and I just went with it. As I pass the first few cabins, I start to get nervous. What if he was just trying to break the date without hurting my feelings? What if he’s at home with another woman?
I practically stumble on my feet. The thought of him with another woman makes me crazy.
I stop on the sidewalk, then turn to look behind me and then back in front of me. Before I can talk myself out of it, I put one foot in front of the other and keep walking until I’m standing on Colter’s porch. I breathe in, trying to calm my nerves, and then tentatively knock on the door.
I’m about to knock again when I hear footsteps and then the door swings open. Colter is standing in front of me wearing black shorts that hang low on his hips, and my mouth drops as I take in his bare chest with the smattering of hair. My first thought is I want to touch him, but when I see the way his eyes are closed to barely slits and the pain on his face, I know I can’t just stand here and drool over him.
I hold up the bag and speak to him in a low tone. “I hope it’s okay that I stopped by. I wanted to make sure you were okay and bring you a few things.”
He leans against the edge of the door. He’s trying to hide the pain he’s in, but I can tell he’s hurting. He brings a hand up to shade his eyes. “I need to lie down.”
He turns on his heel, and I’m left standing at the front door. I don’t even hesitate. I walk in, take my shoes off, put the container of food in the refrigerator, the headache relief wrap in the freezer, and then follow through the door that Colter walked through.
He’s sprawled on his back, one arm up covering his face, and he groans. “I’m sorry, Poppy.”
I sit on the edge of the bed beside his hip. I hate to see him in pain like this. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I didn’t want you to see me like this, but maybe it’s a good thing. This is me. This is the shit I have to deal with, and it’s not pretty most of the time.”
I run a hand across his arm. “And what? You think this is going to scare me off?”
He sounds so sad and dejected. “It should.”
“Well, you don’t know me very well then.” I don’t wait for him to answer. Instead, I open the bag and start pulling out the contents of my purchase. Pain reliever, over the counter, pain patches, ice packs, anti-nausea medication. I set them all on the nightstand. “Have you taken anything?”
He nods. “Yeah, I’ve taken two migraine medicines.”
“Okay, well, I put some headache wraps in the freezer. It will take a few hours for them to get cold. I have some pain meds, a pain patch, and I put some food in the refrigerator.”
His voice is soft as a whisper. “Do you need to be anywhere?”
I shake my head. “No, I had hoped you’d let me help you, but if you want me to go, I will.”
He lifts his arm and peeks at me with one eye open. “You sure you want to stay?”
I lean over to look at him. “As long as I’m not bothering you, I’d like to stay.”
He scoots over to the middle of the bed. “Lie down with me.”
I turn off the lamp, and then I lie down next to him, making sure I don’t jostle him. He pulls me flush against his body, my head against his chest. I stroke his back, up and down, over and over. Softly, I ask him, “Is this okay? I read that some people can’t stand to be touched when they have a migraine, so if I’m bothering you?—”
He cuts me off. “You’re not bothering me. Don’t stop.”
We lie here for a while, and eventually, his breathing slows, letting me know he’s gone to sleep. I’m not sure how long we sleep, but when I wake up, he’s staring at me in the darkness.
“Hey,” I whisper.
He kisses my forehead. “I like this.”
I snuggle into him. “Like what?”
He kisses me again and then rests his cheek on my head. “Waking up with you in my arms.”
I smile into the crook of his neck. “Can I heat up some food for you?”
He groans. “We’ll have to order something, I haven’t been to the store in a while.”
I raise up and disentangle my arms and legs from him. “I made dinner for you.”
He sits up slowly. “You made me dinner?”
I can feel the blush on my face before I answer. “Yeah, I thought instead of going out I would feed you.”
I disappear into the kitchen and pull out the plate of food. As I heat it up, I find a cup, put some ice in it, and then fill it up with water. He walks into the kitchen, and even though his hair is all over the place, the pain seems to be lifting.
As soon as the microwave dings, I set the plate down on the table along with his drink. “Eat up. I’m going to use your restroom.”
I go and freshen up, using his toothpaste and my finger to brush my teeth, and when I walk back into the kitchen, his plate of food is half empty. “This is so good.”
I open the freezer door and pull out the cool wrap. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it. I got you a cold wrap. The box says it helps with migraines. Do you need it?”
He shakes his head and then scoots his chair out from the table and gestures to his lap. “Sit down.”
I put the cool wrap away and then look at the three other chairs and then back at him. “You want me to sit on your lap?”
He nods and pats his leg.
I laugh like he’s joking until I realize he’s serious. “I’m not going to sit on your lap.”
He reaches for my hand and threads our fingers together. “Why not?”
I point to his plate. “Because you’re eating, and I’m too big to be sitting on anyone’s lap.”
He sucks in a breath. “I’m not asking you to sit on anyone’s lap. I’m asking you to sit on mine.” He tilts his head to the side and looks up at me like this is something he really wants.
I jut my chin at him. “Why?”
He tugs me toward him. “Because I want to be close to you, but I also want to finish my food.”
How can I argue with that? Gingerly, I sit down on his leg. I mean to hover, holding my weight on my legs, but he circles his arm around my waist and pulls me to him. He’s turned me to the side so that I’m facing him, and he’s all smiles now.
He twirls the spaghetti on his fork and brings it up toward me. I put a hand up to stop him. “I ate earlier, and I just brushed my teeth.” When I say the words out loud, I realize my blunder. “I mean, I didn’t bring my toothbrush to your house. Shoot, I didn’t use your toothbrush either… I used my finger and your toothpaste. I had morning breath and…” I let my voice trail off, embarrassed.
He brings his hand up and cups my neck. “You sure you’re not hungry?”
I don’t trust myself to answer him without rambling on like an idiot, so I just nod my head.
He finishes his food while I sit awkwardly on his lap. As soon as he’s done, he stands up, putting me in the chair he just vacated.
I watch him move around the kitchen, cleaning the plate and fork. He empties the cup of water, and I just sit and stare at him. It’s not fair that he’s as handsome as he is.
As soon as he’s done, he holds his hand out to me.
I grab it without thinking, and he pulls me to my feet and then walks with me back to the bedroom.
He directs me to the bed and then walks into the bathroom with an “I’ll be right back” thrown to me over his shoulder. I sit awkwardly on the edge of the bed, and when he opens the door, he walks toward me like he’s a man on a mission.
He climbs into the bed and pulls me down with him.
I lie breathing softly next to him. I’m not a good person. He’s recovering from a migraine, and all I can think about is sex. “I should probably go.”
He doesn’t lift his head; he just locks his arm around me and pulls me flush against his body. I can feel his hard manhood pressed against me, but I try to ignore it. “You know, so you can rest.”
He snuggles against me. “I am resting. Thank you for coming over here, Poppy.”
“You’re not upset? I sort of just barged in.”
He chuckles. “Honey, you can barge in here anytime you want to. I’m sorry I canceled on you.”
I let out a sigh. “I wanted to help you, but I almost talked myself out of coming. I was worried I’d get here and you’d be with another woman.”
He shakes his head. “I wouldn’t do that to you. Plus, since I first laid eyes on you, you’re the only woman I want.”
I sigh and let myself lean into him. “You sure you don’t want me to go home? You should be resting.”
He sighs as he strokes his hand up and down my back. “I am resting.”
I lie against him, and even though he is feeling better, I can tell he’s not a hundred percent. Maybe I should leave, but I don’t want to. This may not be what we had planned for tonight, but maybe this is just as good because I feel closer to him now than I did even yesterday.
His breath ruffles my hair. “What are you thinking about?”
I kiss his neck and whisper, “I’m glad I came here.”
He leans back so he can look into my eyes. “I’m glad you did too. Before tonight, I would never have thought of asking you to come and see me like this. I’m not weak?—”
I cut him off. “Weak? Have you looked at yourself? No one could say you’re weak.”
He searches my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
I nod. “I do know what you mean, and no, you’re not weak. I’m glad I came here because I want you to know that you can trust me, Colter.”
Something flashes across his face, but before I can question it, it’s gone. He leans into me and presses his lips to mine. The kiss is everything and all-consuming, but before we go too far, I pull back. “Sleep. Get better, and then we can do that.”
He tightens his arms around me. “Are you going to be here when I wake up?”
I traces circles along his collarbone. “I won’t leave while you’re sleeping.”
He snuggles into me, and it isn’t long before he’s back to sleep. I lie here thinking about everything I’ve learned about Colter and wanting more than ever to be a part of his life. I’ve never felt so welcome, needed, and protected before, and I don’t want to lose it. He wraps his legs and arms around me, and I fall contentedly into sleep.