Chapter 35
Nick
Ihand in my College Algebra midterm exam and walk out of the classroom feeling confident.
I’ve never felt this good after a test before. I know I didn’t ace it, but I’m certain I passed.
And it’s all because of Poppy.
I smile like a goober as I pack up my things and head toward the exit. The professor looks at me like I’m crazy. I don’t blame him. Most people aren’t smiling after a midterm.
But that’s all I’ve been doing lately, ever since Poppy spent the night at my place during that winter storm.
I woke up with her cuddled into my chest. I was grinning just like I am now.
I pull out my phone and text her.
Me: Just finished my last midterm. I’ll be by your place to pick you up at 3. Does that still work?
Poppy: Yup :) How’d you do?
Me: Pretty good, I think. I definitely passed.
Poppy: I know you did. You studied so hard.
Me: I owe it all to you, hot tutor.
She sends a blushing emoji, and I smile. I can’t wait to spend a long weekend with her at the cabin that the guys and I rented. I love spending time with Poppy, no matter what we’re doing, but it’ll be nice to get away from campus and classes and have some alone time in the quiet mountains.
A few hours later, I park in front of her apartment. I hop out of my car right as she walks out of the building, suitcase in hand.
I run over and take it from her, then grab her waist, pull her against me, and kiss her.
When we break apart, she’s smiling and blushing.
“Hey,” she says in a soft voice.
“Hey.”
I scoop her hand in mine and walk her to my car, open the passenger door for her, then load her stuff in the back.
I hop in the driver’s seat, pull onto the street, and head for the highway.
“So how long’s the drive to the cabin?” she asks.
“About an hour and a half,” I say. “Blake and Leo are already there. They didn’t have class today, so they left this morning to get everything set up.”
When Poppy glances at the cup holder in the center console, her eyes light up. “You got me a cherry lime sparkling water?”
She pops open the can and takes a long sip, closing her eyes and humming.
“Of course I did. It’s your favorite. I packed more in a small cooler in the backseat in case you want some on the ride there. And snacks too.”
She twists around and grabs the paper bag I packed. When she looks inside, she gasps.
“All my favorites.” She beams at me, then leans over and kisses my cheek. “This is so thoughtful, Nick. Thank you.”
“I’m your fake boyfriend. I should always have your favorite snacks and drinks on hand for a road trip.”
I smile despite the way my brain snags on the word “fake.” I want more than anything for this to be real, but I don’t want to push her when she’s not ready. But I want to show her how I’d treat her if she were mine for real.
She grabs a bag of gummy sharks from the bag I packed.
“I can’t believe you remembered that I like these,” she says before popping one in her mouth. She offers me one.
“Of course I remember. You’ve been eating these since high school.”
She sips her drink and turns to me again. “You’re really sweet to do all this for me.”
I grab her free hand in mine and press a soft kiss against her knuckles. “I like taking care of you.”
Her hazel eyes are bright and warm as she looks at me.
“I can’t wait till we get to the cabin,” she says. “I’m excited to relax and do nothing with you.” She winks at me.
“Me too.”
By the time I pull into the gravel driveway of the cabin, it’s pitch black. I park behind Blake’s SUV and kill the engine.
When Poppy and I hop out of the car, she stares up at the indigo sky, which is glittering with stars.
“Wow,” she murmurs. “You can see so many stars out here. How gorgeous.”
I smile at the awestruck look in her eyes. I unload our bags, and together we walk up the porch stairs and through the front door.
We’re immediately greeted by Blake and Leo. They walk over and hug Poppy.
“You guys made it,” Blake says.
“Thanks for letting me tag along,” Poppy says.
“Yeah, of course. Happy to have you. And happy to split the cost of the cabin with another person,” Leo says.
We all laugh. We follow them to the kitchen. They tell us they’ve got some pizzas in the oven warming up for dinner.
“Is your girlfriend here too?” Poppy asks Blake.
“She’s not coming. We broke up.”
“Oh, no. I’m so sorry,” she says.
“Yeah, dude. That sucks,” I say.
Blake just shrugs. “It’s okay. It’s for the best.”
I wait for him to say more, but he doesn’t. I guess he doesn’t want to talk about it. He doesn’t seem all that sad, so maybe it’s not a big deal to him. I guess it’s good that he’s not too torn up about it.
He opens the fridge and grabs a can of beer, then tosses it to me. He hands Poppy a bottle of water.
“Your sister doesn’t like beer, right?” he asks me.
“Right. She’ll be drinking mostly water. Just like Poppy.”
She raises her bottle in a toast before sipping it, which makes me chuckle.
The four of us talk about how midterms went. A half-hour later, the front door opens, and Anna walks in with her suitcase. We all say hi. She and Poppy hug.
“I’m so glad I’m not the only girl here,” Anna jokes.
“Me too,” Poppy says. “How did your last test go?”
“Fine, other than the fact that it was scheduled at four, which meant by the time I finished and grabbed my stuff from my apartment, I hit rush hour traffic on my way out of the city,” she says.
The two of them sit down on the couch to visit. Leo takes one of the pizzas out of the oven and slices it up. We’re all chowing down in the living room when Travis walks in.
“You finally made it,” I say, standing up to greet him.
“My last final was at four-thirty. It sucked,” he mutters.
I hand him a beer can. Blake offers him a plate of pizza. He sits down in the armchair next to the couch and inhales a single slice. I catch Anna wrinkling her nose at him in disgust.
“Let’s toast,” Blake says, holding up his can of beer. “To finishing midterms and spending the next few days having fun in the mountains.”
We all cheer and toast with our drinks.
“And to the massive hot tub on the back deck,” Leo says.
“I can’t wait to get into it,” Poppy says.
“I can’t wait to see you wearing a tiny bikini, all wet,” I whisper into her ear so no one else can hear.
She fights a smile. “Behave yourself,” she says softly.
“Sorry, wild girl. I can’t help but go crazy when I’m around you.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the way her smile turns giddy.
We finish dinner, then take our suitcases to the room we’re staying in.
“Who’s ready for the hot tub?” Leo hollers from the living room.
“Me!” I shout.
Poppy unzips her suitcase. I close the bedroom door and pull my swim trunks out of my bag. Then I plop down on the edge of the bed, lean back on my elbows, and look at Poppy.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Watching my girlfriend change into her swimsuit.”
She tilts her head at me. “Seriously?”
“Hell yeah. I have a front row seat right here.”
I lick my lips, and she shoves my shoulder.
“You’re shameless,” she says with a laugh.
“Damn right I am. Now lose the clothes.”
She rolls her eyes, but she’s smiling. “So bossy.”
She slips off her sweater and tosses it on the ground. My gaze fixes on the light blue lacy bra she’s wearing, how it barely contains her gorgeous breasts.
“Fuck, that’s pretty.”
Her smile is shy as she unzips her jeans and slides them off. She’s wearing matching blue lace panties.
The urge to sit up and take them off of her myself courses through me, but I make myself stay on the bed. I watch as she slowly peels them off.
When she tosses them on my lap, I grin. I fist them in my hand. “These are mine now.”
She rolls her eyes and goes to grab the red bikini she grabbed from her suitcase, but I shake my head.
“Not yet.”
Her cheeks flush as she stands there. She folds her hands behind her back like she’s nervous.
I sit up and reach out to grab her waist, pulling her to stand between my legs. I rake my gaze over her gorgeous body, admiring her soft, pretty curves.
“You are so fucking sexy.”
I lean forward and press a kiss to her tummy, groaning at how soft her skin is.
“Every inch of you is perfect,” I murmur against her body.
“You really think that?”
“Yes.”
I turn her around to get a view of her ass. I give her cute cheeks a light smack, and she lets out a soft squeal.
I lean forward and press a soft kiss to her ass cheek, then I bite her softly. She moans.
I smile against her plump cheek. “You like that, huh?”
“I think so,” she says in a breathy voice. “No one’s ever touched or kissed me there.”
“Well, that’s gonna change, honey. Because I love your sweet ass and I can’t wait to eat it.”
I turn her around, relishing the surprised look in her hazel eyes. She also looks intrigued. Good. I’m not about to do anything she doesn’t want.
“Y-You want to kiss me there?” she asks, her tone shy. It’s so damn cute.
“Yeah. Not now, though. Later. We’re taking it slow, remember?”
Her lush mouth curves up in a soft smile.
I reach up and give her candy pink nipple a gentle pinch.
“Now get your swimsuit on, wild girl.”