Chapter 17
Poppy
Nick parks in front of his parents' house, which is a pretty two-story brick home in a cute neighborhood.
“You sure this is a good idea?” I ask.
He kills the engine and smiles at me from the driver's seat. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I just feel bad.” I mess with the hem of the sweater I’m wearing. “Your parents are so sweet. Especially your mom. You can tell how excited she is that we’re together. It makes me feel like a jerk that I’m lying to her face about it.”
Nick’s expression softens. “It’s really okay. But honestly, it’s a good thing we’re doing this. My mom’s been pestering me for years to get a girlfriend. This gets her off my case for a little while and makes her happy.”
We get out of the car. He reaches into his backseat and grabs a bouquet of flowers.
“For your mom?” I ask.
He nods. “I get her flowers once a month.”
I almost trip walking up the driveway to the front door. “You do?”
He starts to laugh. “Yeah. Why is that so surprising to you?”
“I just didn’t know you did that. That’s really thoughtful.”
The corner of his mouth lifts. “You don’t think I’m thoughtful?”
I shrug.
He laughs and says, “Ouch.”
“Sorry. That’s sweet of you. I bet your mom loves that you do that for her. Have you always done that?”
“Just since I started college. I wasn’t the easiest kid in the world to raise, especially in high school.”
I think back to then, how Nick was kind of a troublemaker. He’d skip school sometimes and goofed off a lot in class. He got detention way more than any other kid I knew.
He got in trouble with his parents too, for taking their car without asking sometimes. And I remember a few times when Anna told me that their parents grounded him for sneaking out of the house to hang out with friends and go to parties.
“I remember you causing a bit of trouble in high school,” I say as we walk up the porch steps to the front door.
“I was a dipshit, that’s for sure.” He tugs a hand through his hair and glances at me, the look in his eyes embarrassed. “I did a lot of insensitive things.”
We stand at the door, and for a moment, his gaze turns thoughtful. Wait, is he talking about that hurtful prom-posal prank?
But then he turns away and opens the door. I shake my head. Of course he wasn’t thinking about that. He was a popular student athlete who was always partying and having a good time. He probably doesn’t even remember it.
When we walk inside, we kick off our shoes. I follow Nick through the entryway to the kitchen. I inhale the delicious smell of garlic, herbs, tomatoes, and roasted meat.
“You’re here!” Shannon steps away from the stove and hugs me. When she turns to Nick and sees the bouquet of flowers in his hands, she beams.
“Aww, thanks, sweetie.”
“You’re welcome.” He leans down to hug her. “I’ll put these in some water.”
“It smells amazing in here,” I say to Shannon.
“Oh, thank you. I made cabbage roll soup.” She stirs a massive pot simmering on top of the stove. “Now that fall is in full swing, and it’s getting chilly out, all I’m craving are hearty soups.”
“Thanks so much again for having me over.”
“Of course. You’re always welcome in our home. We love having you around.”
She gives my arm an affectionate squeeze before turning back to stir the soup.
“Anna didn’t ride with you two?” Shannon asks.
“No, her study group ran late, so she’s coming after that,” Nick says.
He opens the fridge and grabs a can of my favorite sparkling water. “Cherry lime is still your favorite flavor, right?”
I nod, surprised that he remembered. He fills a glass with ice, pours the sparkling water, and hands it to me.
“He ordered some from the grocery store and had them delivered to the house this afternoon,” Shannon says.
I blink at him, surprised that he went out of his way to make sure I had my favorite drink for dinner.
He did it because he’s trying to come off as a doting boyfriend in front of his parents. That’s not what he’s really like.
“Can I help you with anything?” I ask Shannon.
“Not at all. That’s what Nick is for. To do all the work,” she jokes, patting him on the back. He rolls his eyes good-naturedly before grabbing plates to set the table.
“You just make yourself at home,” Shannon says.
I sit at the kitchen island and sip my drink. A minute later, Scott walks in from the garage and says hello to me before washing up at the sink and hugging Nick.
“How’s the truck holding up?” Nick asks him.
“Still sparkling in the sunlight thanks to how well you cleaned it last month,” Scott says. He turns to me. “Nick cleans my work truck every month.”
My mouth parts in surprise. I turn to him. “You do?”
His cheeks flush as he nods.
Scott gives him another pat on the back. “My boy looks after me.” Scott’s smile is proud.
A warm feeling swoops through me. I had no idea Nick went out of his way to help his dad like that.
There’s a funny feeling in my chest. That doesn’t line up with the self-centered, obnoxious hockey bad boy image I have of him in my head.
Just then, the front door opens, and Anna walks in.
“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m late.” She runs over and hugs her parents, then hugs me.
“You’re good, sweetie. Soup’s still got a few minutes,” Shannon says.
Nick finishes setting the table while Anna sits on the stool next to me and takes a sip of my drink.
“Ryker and Madeline are coming too, right?” Anna asks.
“Yup. They should be here any minute,” Shannon says.
Like clockwork, one minute later, Anna and Nick’s older brother, Ryker, walks through the front door holding hands with his wife, Madeline.
I stand up and say hi to Ryker, in awe of his size. He’s as tall as Nick, but his build is more solid. He’s probably at least thirty pounds heavier than Nick. And he’s got the same bourbon-brown eyes and thick, dark brown hair.
I shake Madeline’s hand and smile. This is my first time meeting her, but Anna’s told me all about her. She’s a former Olympic figure skater who is now the skating coach for the Denver Bashers professional hockey team. She and Ryker just got married this summer.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” I say. “Congratulations on your wedding.”
She flashes a bright smile. She has long, fiery red hair and piercing blue eyes. She’s strikingly beautiful.
“Thank you,” Madeline says. “Anna’s told me so much about you. She calls you her brilliant best friend.”
I chuckle. “She’s being kind.”
Nick walks up to me and wraps his arm around my waist. He kisses my cheek. “My sister’s right. Poppy’s crazy smart.”
Ryker’s gaze turns curious as he looks at Nick and me. “Wait, are you two…together?”
Nick nods proudly. “Yup.”
Ryker just blinks. “Wow, really?”
Nick nods again, grinning. Ryker blinks again, like he can’t believe it.
“I can’t believe she’s with me either,” Nick says, totally unoffended.
Ryker nods. “Yeah, I mean, she’s really smart. And you’re not.” His tone is serious, but I can tell he’s joking. Ryker’s a serious guy, pretty much the opposite of Nick, who’s constantly joking around and smiling.
Everyone laughs. Madeline gently smacks his arm, like she’s scolding him.
“I’m just impressed my dumbass little brother got someone like Poppy,” Ryker says.
Nick rolls his eyes and laughs, like he’s not the least bit bothered.
Shannon frowns at Ryker. “Don’t say that about your brother.” She checks on the soup. “Dinner’s ready.”
Everyone sits down at the table. Ryker helps his mom serve up the soup while Anna, Madeline, and I visit.
When we all start eating, everyone raves about how good the soup is.
“So yummy,” I say, savoring the rich flavors. “This is my new favorite soup.”
“Nick knows the recipe,” his mom says. “Make him cook it for you sometime.”
She gives a knowing smile to her son. When we finish our bowls, we all go back for seconds.
All of us are good after two bowls, except for Ryker, Nick, and Madeline, who help themselves to another serving.
“This is amazing, Shannon,” Madeline murmurs. “I’ve been craving this soup nonstop. It’s the only thing that tastes good right now.”
“Fall soup cravings?” Shannon chuckles. “I’m having those too.”
Madeline wipes her mouth with a napkin, sitting back in her chair. “Yeah. But another type of craving, too.”
She looks at Ryker. His serious expression eases, and his mouth curves up in the faintest smile.
“What kind of craving…” Shannon trails off before noticing the way Madeline rests her hand on her stomach.
She gasps. So does Anna. My eyes go wide when I put it together, too.
“Wait, are you… pregnant?” Shannon says.
Madeline beams and nods her head. Shannon hops up from the table and runs over to hug her. So does Anna. Both of them are teary-eyed as they embrace her. Scott smiles and shakes his head like he’s in disbelief. He steps over and hugs Madeline and Ryker.
“Holy crap, that’s awesome,” Nick says. He stands up and hugs Madeline, then turns to Ryker. “Dude. You’re gonna be a dad.”
Ryker chuckles. “Yeah. I am.”
He pulls his big brother into a hug, patting his back. “Happy for you, Ryker.” When they break apart, Nick clamps a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’m gonna spoil the crap out of your kid.”
Ryker grins wider than I’ve ever seen. “You’d better.”
I tell Madeline and Ryker congratulations. I turn to Nick and see the giddy look on his face. He smiles wider than I’ve ever seen.
He tugs a hand through his hair. “I’m gonna be an uncle.” He looks at Madeline and Ryker. “I can’t wait to teach your kid how to skate. And play hockey. I’m gonna give the best piggy back rides, too.”
I chuckle at how adorably excited he is. That warm feeling from earlier swoops through me once more. Seeing this hockey player bad boy go all soft for his future niece or nephew is making my insides go gooey in the best way.
I didn’t think Nick would be such a sweetie when it comes to kids. But that’s one more thing about him that surprises me in the best way.