4. Poppy
Chapter 4
Poppy
W e were all reading the words at the bottom of the screen when rain started to fall outside. There was no slow buildup to the downpour. One moment, it was quiet outside, and the next, the fat raindrops were lashing against the windows. Glancing out the nearest one, I saw the wind had also picked up, and the branches of the trees surrounding us swayed.
Looking back at the TV, I read the same alarming words over and over again. Severe weather. Thunderstorm. High winds. Flash flooding. Tornado watch.
My heart raced as fear gripped me. A tornado?
No, that couldn’t happen. This place didn’t have a basement. Where were we supposed to go for safety? My breathing grew heavy as panic set in.
“W-what do we do?” I asked, my voice shaky. “Where do we go?”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Mason said, moving toward me with a small, comforting smile on his face. He was always so calm about things, and as he pulled me into a hug, I felt a calmness seep into me, a comfort I definitely needed. “We’re going to be safe here.”
I glanced over at Joey, annoyed he didn’t step in to comfort me, but his attention was on the TV. He didn’t look concerned at all. Did he even notice?
“Yeah, you’ll be fine,” my dad said, his voice gruff.
Mason pulled away, and I saw Dad’s eyes were narrowed on him.
Was he annoyed Mason was the one to comfort me? Well, that was too bad, really. I hadn’t even seen my dad in almost a year. We weren’t close, and he lived in a completely different state. Aside from the occasional phone call, we really only saw each other during the holidays, and even that didn’t always happen.
“I’m going to need some booze,” Joey said, stalking off to the kitchen and opening one of the grocery bags we brought with us.
I sighed as I looked away, annoyed he was already planning to get drunk. We could be in crisis here, and he didn’t even give a thought to being too impaired to make sound decisions. At least my dad and stepdad were both here. They were people I could count on to keep me safe, despite my strained relationship with my dad.
“Maybe we should just leave right now,” Dad said, crossing to the living room window and looking out just as lightning flashed across the sky. “Head back to the airport and try to get flights home.”
I was about to point out I didn’t really have the money for that. I’d already booked my return flight and it was days from now. But Mason spoke up first.
“Like hell you are.” he said. “There’s a risk of flash flooding. You want to get swept away in that tiny ass clown car?”
Dad glowered at him, and I was worried they were about to start fighting again. I knew my dad didn’t like Mason, and I assumed it was because he was married to my mom. Tonight was the first time I’d learned they used to be friends, and Mason had stolen my dad’s girlfriend when they were younger.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing you get swept away,” Dad spat.
Mason ignored the jab. “The only option is for everyone to stay here, at least until the storm passes.”
“The TV says that’ll be days,” Dad said.
“Do you have a better idea?”
My dad was a stubborn man, but even he knew how to admit defeat. Kind of.
Instead of speaking, he turned to the stairs and stomped up them. I heard one of the bedroom doors slam, and I was sure he locked himself away for the night.
Mason sighed through his nose. “He’s such a delight, isn’t he?”
I giggled.
“Well, the kitchen is fully stocked.” He looked down at the large pile of grocery bags that they had brought in. How about I whip up something to eat. Dinner for the two of us?” Mason said, then Joey wandered back over with a short glass that stank of alcohol. “Or…I guess the three of us.”
“Sounds good, man,” Joey said, slapping his shoulder before going to plop himself down on the couch.
I followed Mason into the kitchen, taking a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen island. He pulled ingredients out of the bags and placed them in the refrigerator. I watched as he chopped vegetables and sliced a pork tenderloin. Putting together an Asian-style sauce, he whipped up a stir-fry that he served over instant rice.
We didn’t talk while he cooked. Mason was singularly focused on the task at hand, and I oscillated between watching him and staring at the storm out the window. As scary as the threat of a tornado and flooding was, I found myself fascinated by the sight of the trees swaying, lit up occasionally by the flash of lightning across the sky.
“What smells good?” Joey asked, coming in to the kitchen to refill his glass.
Most people would pour just a couple of ounces of hard alcohol into the glass to sip, but Joey wasn’t like most people. He almost filled the thing up. Joey settled onto a stool beside me at the island while Mason slid two plates in front of us. Joey picked up his fork and started to dig in.
“No need to thank me,” Mason drawled sarcastically.
“This looks great,” I said, pulling his attention from Joey. I could easily see his dislike for my boyfriend shining in his eyes. “Thanks for making dinner.”
Mason stayed standing on the other side of the island while we ate. He was leaning over, with one elbow braced on the top of the island as he ate. I discreetly ran my eyes over him. He wore a simple black T-shirt, but it did wonders for highlighting his muscular form, created by all of the hands-on work he did with his construction company. Mason didn’t let the fact he was the boss keep him from doing grunt work.
His beard was always neatly trimmed, his hair cut short with purposefully dyed silver locks. When I saw him last, he was already showing signs of graying, so I suppose he decided to embrace it and dye his whole head silver. It suited him well and he looked damn good too.
His hazel eyes lifted from his plate to meet mine, and I dropped my gaze, swallowing hard. I could feel my cheeks heat in the blush over being caught staring. Hopefully he didn’t think much of it.
“So,” I said, clearing my throat. “I didn’t think to ask earlier because I was so shocked to see you, but what are you doing here?”
“You mean, why would I go on vacation without your mom?” he asked. “Sometimes a man needs a little time alone.”
I had a feeling he was holding something back, but I didn’t press. It wasn’t really any of my business.
“And the two of you?” he asked, waving his fork back and forth between me and Joey. “Is this some kind of romantic getaway?”
“You could say that,” Joey replied, and I could tell by the way he slurred his words he was drunk. A glance at his glass showed he’d already finished his second drink. He threw an arm over my shoulders, jostling me and making rice spill from my fork onto the island. “Babe can’t get enough of me, if you know what I mean.”
He winked, and I cringed when I saw the dislike etched into Mason’s face. Why would Joey say that? He knew Mason was my stepdad. It was inappropriate to talk to him about our sex life. And it was a total misrepresentation. After what happened last week, our sex life was on life support, not thriving the way he suggested.
“I just hope you guys aren’t expecting me to be well-behaved because you’re here,” Joey went on, and I noticed his eyes were red and glassy.
“Joey, maybe you shouldn’t?—”
My words cut off as he put his face against my neck, pressing a kiss there. I tensed up. Not only was that the most physical we’d been in a week, but it was happening right in front of my stepdad. It was mortifying.
“Interesting tattoo you have there,” Mason said, changing the subject. He pointed to the black Chinese symbol on Joey’s inner forearm.
Joey grinned, pride puffing up his chest. “Yeah, me and some of the guys from the shop went to a tattoo shop last spring, and we each got one.”
“The shop?”
“Joey works at a vape shop,” I explained.
“Figures,” Mason said, rolling his eyes.
Joey didn’t notice his derision as he continued to look at his tattoo. “It’s Chinese for serenity.”
Mason's eyebrows rose, a smirk forming on his lips. It had a hint of mockery that made a spark of mischief flare in my chest. My suspicions were confirmed when he let out a laugh.
“I hate to tell you this, but that’s not what the symbol means.”
“What are you saying?” I asked while Joey’s brows drew together as if he was having trouble following the conversation. Not surprising, considering how drunk he was.
“The tattoo means stupid sheep,” Mason said. “Pretty sure it’s an insult to the person who picked it.”
I looked down at the tattoo before meeting Mason’s eyes again, trying to figure out if he was joking or not. He shook his head, indicating it was true.
I bit my lip hard to stifle laughter. I didn’t want to fight with Joey on our first night here, and he’d be pissed if I shared a laugh with Mason at his expense.
“Whatever,” Joey said, folding his arms across his chest. I had to wonder if he was just trying to hide the tattoo now, but I wasn’t going to ask him. “I call bullshit.”
I wondered what the tattoos his co-workers got meant. Glancing at Mason again, I could see he found this whole thing pretty damn funny.
“Let’s go upstairs, babe,” Joey said, not even bothering to whisper in my ear. Apparently, he was tired of socializing. “Tonight is when I start making things up to you.”
I doubted his ability to actually do what he claimed, and I was not about to let him disrupt my meal just to prove a point. I took a quick glance at my plate, and Mason must have sensed my reluctance because he spoke up before I could say anything
“Poppy needs to finish eating,” he said. “I don’t want the food to go to waste.”
Joey’s eyes seemed to have trouble focusing on Mason, and all I could think about was the whiskey dick if I went to bed with him right now. He needed a little time to sober up if he wanted to have sex.
Maybe that would also give me a chance to get my head wrapped around sleeping with him again without feeling repulsed by what happened last week. I didn’t want to picture that skinny redhead riding him while we were in bed together.
“Come on, Poppy,” Joey said, getting off his chair and swaying on his feet for a moment. “Let’s go break the bed.” He laughed at his own words, oblivious to the fact Mason and I didn’t join in.
I shook my head. You go ahead. I’ll be up after I finish dinner.”
Joey’s laughter cut off, and he looked annoyed as he forced himself to focus on my face. That whiskey must have been strong, because he was trashed.
“Whatever,” he mumbled.
He stormed off towards the stairs, tightly gripping the handrail as he ascended. It crossed my mind that I should go assist him, to make sure he safely reached our room and got into bed. That's what a good girlfriend would do.
But that really wasn’t me anymore. Not after what he did. I needed a little space from Joey. Ever since I caught him cheating, he’d been up my ass every single day, monopolizing my time as much as possible. I knew it was because he didn’t want to give me the time and space to think things through. Then, I might come to the conclusion that what he’d done wasn’t forgivable.
“You want to tell me what the hell is going on with you two?” Mason asked, and I jumped at the closeness of his voice. He’d come around the island to sit next to me on the stool Joey just left.
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “It’s…complicated.”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “Don’t try to avoid the question with a vague response. Now, tell me, what’s going on? Why did he say he had to make something up to you?”
I bit my lip, considering whether or not I wanted to tell Mason the truth. I knew what happened was a reflection on Joey’s character more than anything else, but that didn’t stop me from feeling embarrassed about it. Did he cheat because I’m boring in bed? Or because I’m too curvy for him? Am I just not special enough to be faithful to?
I couldn’t help feeling low when these thoughts circled my mind, and I didn’t want Mason to look at me and wonder why I was such a loser that not only did my boyfriend cheat, but I was giving him another chance.
But I needed to talk to someone about it or I might explode.
“Well, it happened last week…” I told him every ugly detail of what happened that day, including how stupid and heartbroken I felt.
The whole time, Mason quietly listened, providing support and comfort just by being near.
Well, he provided another reaction inside of me, but it was one I was trying desperately to ignore.
This was far from the first time I’d felt a surge of sexual attraction for my stepfather. I was seventeen when he married my mom, and I immediately noticed how attractive he was. I could just imagine how it would feel to be in his strong arms, pulled against his broad chest while his full lips dominated mine.
Of course, I felt guilty for those thoughts. It was so wrong, so inappropriate. I’d be completely horrified if my mother or Mason ever realized what went through my head. It made my last year of high school hell, and it was part of the reason I was so eager to live in the dorms when I went to college. I needed to get the hell away from my sexy stepdad before he realized how much I wanted him. It would have been so embarrassing.
Now, I was twenty-three, and I still wanted the man.
As I finished my story, I found I felt better. Just talking about it eased some of the heartache that lingered from that day. I wasn’t sure what that meant about my relationship going forward, but I was already here with Joey. I supposed I owed it to both of us to give this a shot. I cared about him for a reason, after all. He could be a good guy.
“You know your boyfriend is a dick, right?”
Mason’s blunt words startled a laugh out of me. They contradicted the thoughts I just had about about Joey, but I couldn’t help finding amusement in the way he stated his opinion.
“He…he screwed up, but we’ve been together for six months, and I promised I’d try to work things out with him.” I’d finished eating now, and I shoved my plate away. “I guess I better go up there. He’ll be waiting for me.”
I just hoped enough time had passed for him to sober up at least a little bit. Mason and I stood at the same time. We were so close now the spicy scent of his cologne wrapped around me, and I couldn’t resist inhaling deeply. To my shock, Mason pulled me into a hug again, but it felt different than earlier. Then, it was all about comfort and security. The way Mason’s arms squeezed me now made heat rush through my veins. His warm breath fanned my neck, and I couldn’t resist the urge to shudder. My thighs were clenched together, and I wondered what it said about me? I was way more turned on right now than I was when Joey tried to get me in the mood.
When he pulled back after a long moment, he didn’t go far. Only inches separated us as he brushed my hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. His hazel eyes darkened, and my heart pounded against my ribcage.
The moment was shockingly intimate, and my lips parted as I thought of him kissing me. Was he actually going to…
“You know, Poppy, you are way too beautiful to let some asshole walk all over you. The only time a man should be fully in charge of you is in the bedroom. And even then, it’s only if he knows what he’s doing.”
My eyes widened, shock rattling my brain. I didn’t know how to respond to that, but I didn’t really have to. Mason pulled his hands away and moved behind me to collect the plates from the island. He brushed against me, and I gasped as I felt his erection against my ass.
My arousal cranked up until wetness gathered between my thighs. I was frozen with indecision for a moment, but then I realized I didn’t really have a decision to make. Mason was married to my mother. There was nothing to be done about my desire for him or the hardness I felt brush against me.
I really wanted to ask him if he was a man who knew what he was doing in the bedroom, but that felt like playing with fire. I didn’t want to cross a line and make things uncomfortable.
With that in mind, I headed to bed with a quick, “Good night.”
The words came out as more of a squeak than anything else, and I heard Mason’s deep chuckle following me as I rushed up the stairs.