17. Chapter Seventeen Poppy
Chapter Seventeen: Poppy
M y heartbeat slows back down to a steady rhythm as I return to my sleeping nook. Kneeling in front of the suitcase that I’ve been living out of for weeks now, I dig around for something halfway decent to wear. My dress is in a disastrous state. When I send it out for dry cleaning, I’m sure the launderers will have a heart attack over the wrinkles that I’ve allowed to let form in the silk.
It’s just a dress, though. It can be fixed.
What can’t be fixed is the past. What’s happened has happened, and now there’s no going back. Percy went too far, and now he’s been taken into police custody.
And, for whatever reason, Joe has returned to the cottage. He arrived with metaphorical guns blazing, prepared to come to my rescue, but what does that mean? I know better than to take offense that he slipped out earlier this morning. He has two kids that he needs to look after. I’m not his first priority. I wouldn’t expect to be.
But he came back. On an early Sunday afternoon. There’s no excuse to be made about extra work or a materials delivery. He drove all the way home to deal with the two most important people in his life and then drove all the way back here to Mermaid Shores for… for what? For me? Did he somehow find out that Percy was planning to come over here? Was his arrival instinctive or just lucky?
I shake my head. I guess I’ll find out what the answers to all those questions are when I go back out there to the kitchen.
For now, I grab a pair of pink running shorts and a hoodie from a corny tourist shop in Malibu, and disappear into the one functioning bathroom in the entire cottage. Trying not to be too vain, I limit the time I spend in front of the mirror scrubbing away last night’s makeup, and run my hands through my tangled hair to the best of my ability.
“Good enough,” I tell my reflection.
This time, I know better than to walk barefoot through Joe’s construction zone, so I stop by the nook to slip my feet into a pair of slippers before returning to the kitchen.
Joe is leaning against what remains of the cabinetry, arms crossed, gazing out the window toward the front lawn.
When I clear my throat, he jumps slightly. Our eyes meet across the room. I feel a strange tugging sensation in my chest, like there’s an invisible string pulling me closer to him. I obey the sensation, stepping toward him, but stopping short of entering too closely into his personal space. For all I know, he came back to the cottage today to tell me that what happened last night can never happen again.
As in, we can never dance in each other’s arms again. We can never share parts of our souls with each other as I dig through my late father’s precious belongings. We can never fall asleep beside each other in the quiet comfort of the midnight silence. Not only because our relationship was only ever supposed to be professional, but because he doesn’t want me like that.
It would be my fault, after all. I’m the one who started the fake dating scheme when Percy showed up that first time. He’s the one who felt pressured to play along.
So, really, if he ventured back out to Mermaid Shores just to reject me once and for all, I have no one else but myself to blame. I should have seen it coming. It was stupid of me to get so caught up in how handsome and kind he is.
The silence that stretches between us isn’t heavy, and certainly not oppressive or awkward. Actually, I feel like I can finally breathe again. Still, the weight of the morning’s events still clings to me, leaving me feeling raw and exposed.
Joe’s gaze softens as he watches me. For the first time in a long while, I feel like I don’t have to pretend to be okay. So, I let the carefully curated smile fall from my face.
“I’m going to file a restraining order against him,” I say. It’s not what I planned on starting this conversation with, but I feel like it needs to be said. “Officer Fitz said I could come down to the station tomorrow afternoon to file a petition. It’s best if I have documented evidence of any previous incidents, too. And, um, she said I’d also benefit from witness statements. Friends and family who can attest to the fact that Percy’s behavior is dangerous and abnormal.”
“I’ll help in any way I can,” Joe answers automatically. “I’m more than happy to do whatever it takes to make sure he never bothers you again.”
I nod, a tight lump forming in my throat.
“Thank you,” I whisper, barely able to get the words out.
“Poppy…”
Before Joe can finish whatever it is he’s about to say, I feel a tear slip down my cheek. I blink in surprise, but once I do, it’s like I triggered the floodgates. All of a sudden, I’m crying like I haven’t since I was a child, the emotions of the past week finally crashing over me. I press my hands to my face, trying to hold it all in, but it’s no use. The tears come in waves, and I feel like I’m unraveling.
“Poppy,” Joe murmurs again, his voice soft. I feel his hand on my shoulder. Its warm and steadying touch grounds me, reminding me that I’m not alone. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
I shake my head, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I’m so sorry, Joe. For all of this… for dragging you into my mess. I didn’t mean for you to have to deal with any of this. Online, they’re saying all kinds of stupid stuff. I basically forced you to be involved with—”
“You didn’t force me to do anything, Poppy.”
Sniffling, I look up into his eyes.
He squeezes my shoulder gently, his thumb brushing against my collarbone in a way that’s both comforting and intimate.
“But—”
“You don’t need to apologize,” he murmurs. “I’m glad I was here.”
His words are a balm, soothing the raw ache in my chest. In his gaze, I feel seen for who I am, like he truly understands what I’ve been through without getting caught up in the mask that I used to wear back in California. There’s no judgment in his gaze, no pity—just a quiet, unwavering support that makes me feel safer than I have in years.
“I’m sorry, too,” I whisper, my voice shaking. “For the pictures… I don’t want you to think that I did that on purpose, or like that sort of thing might happen all the time. The truth is that Percy was behind all of it. Even at the gala, when all those photographers were crowding the entrance… he must’ve paid one of them off to specifically get a shot of us.”
I trail off, unable to find the right words. The fear of his judgment and his disappointment feels so overwhelming that it threatens to choke the breath out of my lungs. It’s important to me what he thinks.
Joe just shakes his head, his eyes softening. “I saw the pictures. I didn’t think anything of it, at least, not in terms of blaming you for it,” he responds quietly. “You don’t owe anyone an explanation—not me, not the world. I admit that I was a little freaked out when I saw my face on the cover of US Weekly earlier today, but I’m sure the public will get bored of me soon enough. All that really matters to me is that it doesn’t trickle down to my boys.”
I shake my head. “They’ll be fine. I promise. Percy will have to back off now, and since I’m not even in Los Angeles anymore, people are going to lose interest in me sooner rather than later, which is exactly how I like it. And you don’t have to worry about being my fake boyfriend anymore.”
He shrugs. “It wasn’t so hard.”
“You don’t have to lie for my sake.”
A quiet huff of laughter escapes him. “I mean it, Poppy. Pretending to be with you… it didn’t feel like I even had to pretend. That’s what I came back here to talk to you about.”
I swallow hard. “Oh?”
“Well, first and foremost, I didn’t want you to think that I snuck out because I was embarrassed or ashamed. Especially after you showed me Isabeau. I know how much that must have meant to you.”
I don’t know what to say. It’s rare that I’m ever speechless, so the best I can do is nod.
“And another thing, Poppy…” He pauses, inhaling a deep breath before continuing. “The lines between us have been blurred. Since the beginning, really. And I just wanted to make sure you know that I—I really don’t mind.”
“You… don’t mind?”
“I like you, Poppy Minton.”
I grin. “I like you, too.”
But Joe’s expression is serious. “No, I mean that I like you. I’m very fond of you. Not to mention the fact that you’re very beautiful. There’s a reason I jumped into action the moment I saw that the police were here, and it’s not just because I’m overprotective on the best of days. It’s you, specifically, that I care about.”
To think that this man, with all his gruffness and rough edges, has grown to care about me…
In truth, although there’s still so much more I want to learn about him, I can’t deny that I care about him, too. Meeting his sons and learning about how he lost his wife… how can I see him as anyone other than an amazing man who has a big heart? Even if he doesn’t exactly show that big heart to everyone all the time?
Not to mention how sweet he’s been since he learned the truth about who my father was. I’ve never been able to talk about my dad like that with anyone. Not even Deb. Joe understands, not just because he’s also lost his father, but because there’s a quiet part of him that speaks to a hidden side of me.
I think I was meant to come to Mermaid Shores to find him.
I clear my throat, just to make sure that he hears me loud and clear when I admit, “I care about you, too.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“That’s good to hear, Poppy.”
The warmth in his voice is like a lifeline, and I cling to it, feeling a mixture of relief and gratitude flood through me. I lean closer to him, drawn to the quiet strength he exudes. My gaze drifts to his mouth, and I realize that I want nothing more than to close the distance between us. To feel his warmth, his solidity, against me.
For a brief, electric moment, I think he feels it, too. His eyes flicker to my lips, his hand tightening ever so slightly on my shoulder, and I feel a thrill run through me. My pulse races. The space between us feels charged, alive with something I don’t fully understand, and yet want desperately to explore.
But then his phone rings, shattering the moment. He pulls back, mumbling a soft curse under his breath as he fumbles to pull it from his pocket. He glances at the screen, and I see his face tighten, worry flickering in his eyes.
“It’s Flo—my mom,” he mutters, his voice tense. He answers the call, stepping away, but his gaze stays locked on mine, a silent apology in his eyes. I can feel the absence of his touch like a missing limb. “Hey, Ma. What’s going on?”
There’s a long pause, and I see the color drain from his face as he listens. “Wait—what do you mean, he’s not there? Are you sure?”
I feel my own heart twist with concern at the panic that seeps into his tone, watching as his expression grows more serious with each passing second. I can only hear bits and pieces of the conversation, but it’s enough to understand that something is terribly wrong.
“Alright, I’m coming right now,” he says, his voice tight with urgency. “Just keep looking, okay? Call me if you find him.”
He hangs up, his hands shaking as he shoves his phone back into his pocket. He glances at me, his face pale and filled with an emotion I can only describe as fear. It looks strange on him. He doesn’t strike me as the sort of man who gets afraid all that often.
“It’s Cody,” he says, his voice rough. “My youngest son. He’s… missing.”
A cold shiver runs down my spine. I reach out instinctively, my hand finding his. “Gosh, Joe… I’m so sorry. Missing? What can I do?”
He shakes his head, his jaw clenched as he looks toward the door.
“I’ve got to go,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. But before he leaves, he turns back to me, his gaze fierce and unwavering. “Listen, I know he’s in police custody now, but if Percy shows up again, you call the police immediately. Don’t hesitate. Officer Fitz is an old friend of mine. You can trust her wholeheartedly.”
I nod, my heart aching for him. “Go find Cody,” I whisper, trying to keep my voice steady. “I’ll be okay.”
He hesitates for a moment, his gaze lingering on me, and I see something unspoken in his eyes—a mixture of worry and regret and something else, something that feels like a promise that he doesn’t quite know how to make.
Then, just like that, he’s gone. His footsteps crunch in the gravel driveway as he heads for his truck, leaving me alone in the barren, silent house.
Left with nothing to do but stand in the bones of my new home all by myself and wonder what just might have happened between us, I watch his truck pull out of the driveway. My heart feels heavy with a kind of unfamiliar worry.