20. Chapter 20
Chapter twenty
Rowan
Poppy slumped into a kitchen chair and put her head on the table. “Damn Lauren, and her delicious cocktails.”
I chuckled and checked the dough I had rising on the counter. “I’m sorry. In her defense, you sucked them down pretty fast.”
“They didn’t taste like alcohol.” Poppy lifted her head and gave me a bleary-eyed stare. “I figured they were weak.”
I shook my head. Poppy groaned and put her head back on the table.
“I’m making you monkey bread,” I said, pulling a clump of dough from the bowl.
“With pecans?” Poppy mumbled into the table.
“Sure.”
“And bacon.”
“Um, that’s not usually in monkey bread, but why not.”
Poppy propped her head in her hands and watched me form the dough into balls and roll them in melted butter, cinnamon, and sugar. I hummed while I whisked together brown sugar, butter, and cream in a saucepan, cooking it until a rich, golden caramel formed.
“You got laid, didn’t you?” Poppy said.
I’d been so focused on what I was doing, I’d almost forgotten she was there. I snapped off the gas burner and grabbed the pecans from the cabinet, ignoring her question.
“Yep,” Poppy said as I started assembling the monkey bread in a Bundt pan, layering the pecans, dough, and caramel.
“Shoot, I forgot the bacon,” I said. “I should have made it before the caramel.”
Poppy waved her hand. “We can add it on top after the bread bakes.”
I slid the monkey bread into the oven and set the timer while Poppy studied me like a specimen under a microscope. After all the exertion of last night and working in the kitchen this morning, my back was begging me to lie down and stretch. Poppy had other ideas.
“So, are you and Cal a thing now?” she asked as I tried to escape the kitchen.
I let out a sigh. Poppy wouldn’t rest until she had an answer, and I worried she’d get sick if she tried to follow me upstairs. “Do you want coffee? It would help with your headache, assuming you have one.”
“Of course, I have one,” she said with an exaggerated sigh. “I don’t see how you don’t after a night of those demon drinks.”
“Cal and I shared them,” I said pouring her a mug. “You and Lauren drank twice as many as I did.” Poppy may tell people she drank her coffee black like her soul, but I added enough sugar and milk to qualify it as a dessert.
“I hope she’s just as hungover as me,” Poppy said, rubbing her forehead.
I laughed and handed her a mug. “She was opening Karma when I texted her at five to make sure she was ok. She has a freakishly high tolerance for alcohol.”
“That would have been good information to know before last night.” Poppy took a sip of coffee and groaned. “So how did you take care of me and sleep with Cal? Please don’t tell me you did the nasty in my studio.”
I pulled out a chair and joined her at the table, even though sitting made the pain in my back worse. “What was the last thing you remember?”
“Watching a chick who looked like Cammie sing.”
“That was Cammie.”
“Really? Was she good or was that the booze?”
“She was amazing.”
Poppy nodded. “Glad I remember it. But honestly, everything after that is fuzzy. What happened?”
I felt a stab of guilt. She was worse off when I left the bar than I thought. “Um, I went home with Cal after that.”
Poppy’s eyes widened. “You left me?”
“With Theo. He promised to make sure you got home ok. And he did. He was taking care of you when I got back this morning.”
Poppy paled and wrapped her arms around her stomach.
“Do you need a bowl?”
She nodded, and I grabbed the largest mixing bowl I could find and put it on the table in front of her. I stayed beside her in case she needed me, and because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to hide the pain from my face if I sat again.
“Do you think he saw me puke,” she asked quietly.
I didn’t answer and she groaned, the sound echoing in the bowl.
“He’s never going to ask me out now.”
I drummed my fingers on the table, debating if I should share Cal’s interpretation of Theo’s X tattoos. “If he doesn’t ask you, it’s not because of what happened last night or anything you did. He clearly cares about you. A lot.”
Poppy glanced at me over the rim of the bowl. Her hard exterior was gone. She looked so much like the little girl who refused to attend her father’s funeral, my heart lurched. “But not enough,” she whispered.
I took her hand and gave it a squeeze.
“Ok,” she said, pulling her hand away and straightening. “I want details about you and a certain neighbor. You were a terrible sister for abandoning me last night. You owe me.”
“I made you monkey bread.”
Poppy shook her head. “Not good enough. You even forgot the bacon again. And now it’s too late to cook it before the bread’s done.”
I glanced at the timer. “There’s time.”
“Good. Talk while you fry.”
“I mean, how much detail do you want?” I asked, pulling the bacon from the fridge.
“Nothing graphic. My stomach is still queasy. Just, where things stand with y’all.”
“It was just sex.” I turned on the heat under Mom’s favorite cast-iron skillet and laid in the bacon. I could feel Poppy’s eyes boring into me while I washed my hands, but she didn’t say a word.
“You had the biggest crush on him in high school,” she said softly. “I remember how you used to look at him when you brought Chris and me to his football games.”
I shrugged. “Everyone did.”
“Fair,” Poppy said. “But admit it, your inner sixteen-year-old is dying of happiness right now.”
I laughed and flipped the bacon. “Maybe a little.”
Poppy’s chair screeched back from the table. I glanced over my shoulder to see if she was bolting for the bathroom in favor of the bowl. Instead, she wrapped her arms around me from behind, laying her head on my shoulder. “Be careful, Rowan. Brad hurt you, but a guy like Cal can break you into pieces you’ll never be able to put back together.”
I nodded, my eyes burning. Cal had been upfront about what sleeping together would mean, but I’d be lying if I said I had zero feelings for him. On top of his ability to tease every ounce of pleasure from my body, he had a caring side that made my heart ache to know him more. He’d make someone a wonderful partner, someday.
If Poppy hugged me any longer, I was going to break down. “Can you grab the confectioners sugar, butter, and cream cheese,” I said clearing my throat. “I need to make the icing.”
“Oh, we’re going full guns today,” Poppy said with a laugh.
She grabbed the ingredients and took over cooking the bacon while I made the glaze. We chatted while we worked, and again I was struck by how much lighter my sister was in the kitchen. When the monkey bread was ready, we filled our plates. Poppy crumbled bacon on top of hers, and I did the same.
She shot me a worried glance when I groaned into a chair, but was lost to the sugary goodness before I’d settled in my seat.
“Why haven’t we ever done this before,” Poppy said, moaning around another mouthful of monkey bread.
“You sound indecent.”
“This bread is indecent,” she said, licking the icing from one of the bread balls.
“Stop licking the balls, you perv,” I said and laughed. Then a thought hit me. “Or let me take a picture of you.”
“Who’s the perv now?” she said raising her eyebrows.
I laughed.
“Go ahead,” she said, picking up a piece of the bread with her fingers and posing with her tongue stuck out, eyes closed. I grabbed my phone, snapped the picture, and showed it to her.
“Don’t show that to Mom. I look like a porn star.”
She kind of did. Which was why I did my sisterly duty and forwarded the picture to Theo in reply to his last How’s she doing text.
He typed something. Then the three dots disappeared. Then started again. Finally, he just replied thx .
I laughed so hard I snorted.
“What’s so funny?” Poppy narrowed her eyes at me. “Did you send that picture to Lauren?”
“Nope,” I said, locking my phone and putting it on the table.
She grabbed it, unlocked it, and gasped. “You bitch.”
Then her face softened as she scrolled back through my text exchange with Theo. “He was really worried, huh?”
I nodded and sipped my coffee. My phone rang in Poppy’s hands, and she frowned. “Wasn’t Gwen your mentor at Pinnacle Group?”
“Give me that,” I said, grabbing the phone. Sure enough, my former mentor was requesting a video call, which would have been strange when we worked together, let alone now.
“Good,” Gwen said when I accepted the call. “You’re sitting down.”
She was at her desk in the office, which was also odd for a Saturday.
“All hell is breaking loose here,” Gwen said, glancing toward the hallway. “I thought you’d want to see it. The head of HR just fired Kelli and Brad. Look!”
She turned the phone to the hallway, and I watched as my soon-to-be ex-husband and former boss walked down the hall, each carrying a file box.
Gwen turned the phone back to her face. “I’m assuming you knew they were sleeping together.”
I nodded. “The accident happened right after I walked in on them together in her office.”
Gwen blew out a breath. “Well, that explains why you quit without notice. I thought you’d had some life epiphany when that scooter hit you and decided you weren’t cut out for finance. Brad never mentioned you were separating.”
“It doesn’t exactly paint him in a good light.”
Gwen nodded, her face sad. “I wish you’d have told me. I could have moved you to a different team.”
“I didn’t want to see either of them again.”
“Well,” Gwen said. “Now you don’t have to. Turns out Kelli was completely incompetent. IT did a little digging and determined you created all the reports she’d been assigned. They also looked through her emails and IMs and discovered the relationship with Brad.”
“That was enough to fire him?” I asked, leaning back in my chair. “They weren’t even in the same department.”
Gwen shook her head. “No, but they dug into his digital history as well and discovered he was sending inappropriate messages to his new management trainee. She asked to be reassigned last week.”
“Pig.”
“So,” Gwen said with a big smile. “There are currently two positions open in your old team, including the leadership role, which means I’m eager to hire replacements. Especially someone with experience who has proven she has the skills for the job.”
Poppy had watched me through the entire exchange but dropped her eyes to her plate and began pushing the remains of her monkey bread back and forth, her fork making a horrific scraping sound.
I blew out a breath. “I’d have to think about it,” I said. “You were a great mentor, and I enjoyed working at Pinnacle, but the place has some pretty dark memories for me now. Plus, I’d have to move back to DC. I’m going to need time to consider.”
Gwen nodded. “That’s understandable. Why don’t I get together with HR and see what I can do to make this an offer you can’t refuse. I’ll email it over on Monday. I wish I could tell you to take as long as you need, but we’re so understaffed, the best I can do is hold the position until the end of the month.”
“Two weeks is fair,” I said, trying to ignore the grating sound of Poppy’s fork. “Thanks, Gwen.”
“I’ll be in touch,” she said and ended the call.
“Cut that out,” I said, grabbing the fork from Poppy.
“So that’s it, then,” Poppy said, crossing her arms. “Guess you need a ride back to DC.”
“I haven’t even seen the offer yet. Why are you getting worked up? You knew this was temporary. All my stuff is still in boxes in the living room.”
Poppy shrugged. “I knew you’d want your own place, eventually. Mom’s ’80s music obsession is reason enough, but I guess I was hoping you’d stay around here.”
“Poppy,” I said, softly. “You know jobs like mine aren’t in Peace Falls.”
“Forget I said anything.” She shoved her chair from the table. “I’ll be in my studio. Thanks for the monkey bread.”
She passed Chris on the way out. He gave her a big, sweaty hug, but instead of shoving him off like he probably expected, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight before leaving. He walked to the kitchen sink and watched her stomp across the backyard to the shed. “What’s wrong with Pop?”
“She had too much to drink last night.”
He turned and leaned against the sink, crossing his arms in a movement so similar to Poppy, my breath caught. “Bullshit.”
“Fine,” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “She’s pissed I came home early from the bar. Want some monkey bread?”
He plopped into the seat Poppy had vacated and started pulling pieces from the pan.
“I can get you a plate,” I said.
He shook his head. “No need. I’m going to eat the rest.”
I chuckled.
“I love having you home, Ann.” He looked up from the pan and flashed me a huge smile that made my heart ache. He’d grown up so much since I moved to DC. In a couple years he’d be off to college, and the little boy who once followed me everywhere would have a life full of experiences and people I’d never know.
I got up and walked around the table to give him a hug. “Oh, gross,” I said, when the sweat from his t-shirt soaked mine.
“Hey, you hugged me,” he said, popping the last piece of monkey bread in his mouth. “I’ll go shower, but then would you help me meal plan for the rest of the week? I’ve got to eat better than this.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
I was finishing up the dishes when my phone rang again. I glanced at the unknown number and almost sent it to voicemail, but the area code was local. Thinking it could be Lauren or my mom, I answered.
“Hey,” Cal said. “Hope you don’t mind. Theo gave me your number.”
“Well, hello,” I said, leaning against the counter. “I guess this is payback for the sexy picture I sent him.”
“Should I be concerned you’re sending my best friend sexy pictures?”
I laughed. “Not at all.” Brad was jealous any time I spoke to another man, which made sense now that I knew he cheated on me. Why would he trust that I’d take our vows seriously if he didn’t? Cal’s tone was teasing. But a part of me wondered if he just didn’t care if I sent Theo a picture of myself. “Chris just took down half a pan of monkey bread, so I’m guessing your training went well this morning.”
“It did. Aiden joined us. He’s going to work with Chris on the days I can’t.”
“That’s really nice of him.”
Cal started laughing, the deep, rich sound sending ripples of some emotion through my body. Lust. Longing. The feeling strong and indescribable. “Oh, yeah. Theo hates you right now.”
I felt a smile tug at my lips. Cal might pretend not to care, but he’d been texting Theo while we talked.
“I should have come inside with Chris. I clearly missed out on that monkey bread.”
“I’ll make it for you anytime.”
“How about tomorrow?”
I laughed. “I could probably fit that into my schedule.”
“Could you fit a picnic in as well? Eating one. Not making it.”
“Caleb Cardoso, are you asking me out?”
He paused a moment and my cheeks heated. Maybe he had a work event he needed to attend and thought it’d be smart to bring a patient who hadn’t bashed him online. Or a church picnic. He didn’t strike me as particularly devout, but maybe he was one of those evangelical types that was encouraged to bring a friend to Sunday service. Then again, those people typically didn’t have hot, no-strings sex.
“I am,” he said, so quietly I almost didn’t hear him.
“Oh, ok,” I said, suddenly nervous. “Well, in that case, I might make something else. Monkey bread is really sticky. Too sticky for a picnic. It would draw in ants, and we don’t want that.”
Cal chuckled. “No, we do not. I’m sure whatever you bring will be delicious.”
His voice had dropped to a sexy timbre as he spoke, and my stomach flipped.
“How’s eleven, tomorrow?” he asked, returning to his normal tone.
“Sounds good,” I said, suddenly very warm. I needed to stop panting before my brother came back. “Bye.”
I ended the call before he had a chance to say anything else.
“Did you tell him you’re leaving?”
I glanced over my shoulder and found Chris standing in the kitchen doorway, his hair still damp from the shower. “I texted Pop to make sure she was ok, and she filled me in. So, does Cal know? It’s pretty shitty either way. Either you told him before you told me, or you’re going out with him when you know it can’t last more than a couple weeks.”
“Chris—”
“And don’t tell me it’s none of my business, Ann. You’re my family. Both you and Cal. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt.” He stopped and shook his head.
I opened my arms. He crossed the kitchen and wrapped me in a tight hug. “I didn’t tell him or you about the job offer because I haven’t seen it yet. I honestly don’t know if I want to take it. Cal knows I plan to move from Peace Falls as soon as I find a job. I promise, I’d never do anything to jeopardize your friendship with him.”
Chris pulled away. “DC sucks. There’s nothing but traffic and politics and assholes like Brad. Plus, if you stay in Peace Falls, you can come to all my games this fall.”
“Noted,” I said, giving his back a pat. “But you have to make the team first. Let’s plan some meals. But not here. If I have to sit in those wooden chairs, I might cry.”
He grabbed a notepad and a pen as I settled on the couch. For the next hour we looked up recipes and made a grocery list. The whole time, I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I’d enjoyed being with my family and Lauren since I’d been back, and how much I’d miss them if I left. I did my best not to think about Cal. It was too soon to tell if he’d be something to keep me here or the push I might need to leave.