Chapter 36
36
brYCE
Darren tries to call me for the third time since we got into Calgary. Shielding my screen from Delaney, I decline again and then shove my phone into the inside pocket of my shorts.
It’s obvious as fuck that he’s not happy I’m spending the day with his ex-girlfriend, but quite frankly, I don’t care. There was no way I was going to tell my girl that her friend couldn’t come when she batted those sky-blue eyes at me and crawled into my lap to beg. And once she kissed me?
Game over.
“This place is gorgeous, Poppy,” Daisy exclaims mid-spin.
The second Beautifully Bold location is somehow better than the first. It’s brighter, with more space and a water heater that doesn’t require a monthly checkup. And Poppy’s here. She’s the best part of the place.
I’m hanging back by a window, letting Daisy fill the silence that followed an awkward chorus of hellos once we arrived.
Poppy and I haven’t spoken much recently. She’s the one person who I’ve always shared almost everything about myself with and who knows the truth about my relationship with Daisy, yet I’ve held back from her out of pure selfishness.
I’m angry with the hours between us and have been taking it out on our friendship. What I’m doing is unfair to the both of us, and I won’t deny that. Still, that doesn’t make it hurt any less or her absence any easier to swallow.
My best friend tightens her ponytail of thick, hazelnut-coloured hair and smiles at Daisy. “Thank you. It’s my love child.”
“When did you dye your hair?” I ask sharply, catching the two women off guard.
Daisy tugs her brows together as Poppy turns to me with a frown and says, “Two weeks ago. I sent a picture to the group chat.”
“I haven’t checked it.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Delaney, who hadn’t moved from her place by the door, shifts enough to glance between the two of us with wide eyes. She’s not a stranger to either of us, but we’ve made her feel that way over the years.
For fuck’s sake, she was always around when we were growing up. Poppy used to refer to her as a sister, always asking Darren when her big sis was going to be coming over. We were quick to release her like a fish we didn’t want to keep on the line once everything went down.
Now she’s here, and having her stare between Poppy and me like she has no idea who we are . . . it hits harder than I was anticipating.
Daisy moves to my side and gazes up at me with warmth and understanding that I doubt I deserve after the mess I’ve made.
I focus on her and let her presence smooth a calming balm over some of my most anxious parts. She doesn’t have to do much more than just stand beside me, offering her silent support, to have me ready to confess the feelings swelling in my chest.
“Can we just talk, Bryce?” Poppy asks. I keep my eyes hooked on Daisy’s. “Please? The class doesn’t start for a half hour.”
“I’ll take Della to get something to drink,” Daisy announces. “Coffee?”
Poppy smiles appreciatively. “There’s a nice smoothie shop about a block away.”
“Got it,” Daisy chimes.
Cupping my cheek, she pushes forward and skims a kiss across my mouth. I chase her lips, but she pulls back before I make contact, already expecting my move.
She drops her voice to a whisper. “Sort this out, Bryce. Don’t miss your chance.”
I hook a finger beneath her chin the moment she makes to move and turn her face toward me. This time when our lips meet, I don’t let her slip away so quickly. I spread them with my tongue and steal a proper taste before tapping her chin and releasing her.
“Don’t be long,” I mumble.
She smiles at me, revealing a flash of white teeth, and I reluctantly let her walk away this time. It’s not until she links her arm through Delaney’s and they disappear out the door that I pull my attention to where Poppy stands watching, her mouth gaping.
“I missed a chapter,” she notes carefully.
“What?”
Her brows shoot up to her hairline. “That wasn’t fake. Not for you, and sure as hell not for her. When did that happen?”
“It was never fake for me.”
“I know that. Does she?”
Guilt squeezes my stomach. “No.”
“How are you handling that?”
“Have you been taking counselling lessons in your spare time?” I snap, my protective instincts flaring wide.
“No. If I had been, I’d know better than to ask you these questions head-on. I’m your best friend, Ice. ”
“Are you?”
She flinches. “Am I what?”
“Nothing,” I mutter, shifting my body so I face the windows along the side of the studio instead of her.
Feet pad along the floor, and then hands find mine, clasping them in a tight hold. I don’t pull from the touch. If anything, I want to pull her into my arms and squeeze her instead.
“Look at me, Ice,” Poppy demands, pulling at my hands.
I force myself to. The deep-rooted sadness I’ve buried over the past few months is yanked back to the surface at the helplessness in her expression.
“I fucking miss you, Poppy.”
Her face crumples, tears filling her eyes. “I miss you so much.”
When she wraps me in a hug, I’m powerless to the sting behind my eyes. Her vanilla-scented perfume smells like home and comfort, and I hug her close, squeezing too hard.
“I’m proud of you, Pops. For your success and the love you’ve found. But I don’t know where I fit into your life anymore,” I whisper.
Her hold on me tightens to the point of pain. “You fit where I need you to and where you want to be. There will always be a spot reserved for you right at the centre of me. I’m sorry I’ve made you feel like you weren’t a focal point in my life. I’ve been trying to find a balance, but I’m doing a shitty job of it.”
“I’m used to the lives we all had years ago before everything started to change. First, it was Anna on tour with Brody for months on end, then you moved to Calgary, and it was like everyone was outgrowing Cherry Peak but me.”
“Bryce,” she says on an exhale. Loosening her hold, she stares at me, eyes glistening. “Not everyone needs to outgrow their home. I might be gone, but nowhere I go will ever be Cherry Peak.”
I wipe away the lone tear that’s escaped. “I’m just having a hard time adjusting. ”
“So am I. And if there was a way that I could move back home with Garrison and make it work with his job, I would. You know that, right? I never would have left.”
“I know, Pops.”
She’d have been content with only one studio as long as she had everyone she loved and needed in her life around her. But she also deserves this success more than anyone else.
“There hasn’t been a single day that’s passed since I left where I haven’t hated being away from you. I’m sorry, and I’ll do better with splitting my time.”
I’m a fucking mess of emotions. That’s the only explanation I have for the words that explode from my mouth.
“I love her.”
Poppy blinks a few times, her lips parting on invisible words.
“Daisy,” I add, shoving a hand through my hair. “I love her.”
“Oh, wow. Okay. You love her.”
“I do,” I confirm.
“When did that happen? When did all of this happen? Because from what I saw, she might be in love with you too.”
I laugh on instinct, shaking my head. “She’s not in love with me. But things started changing a few weeks ago. Just small things, like her taking care of me when I was sick and we were trapped at my parents’ house, and me always keeping the house stocked with her favourite shit. I was interested in her before, but it’s so . . . it’s so fucking different now.”
Poppy’s lips pull into a soft, understanding smile. “Different how?”
“Watching her from afar, I knew she was caring and kind and beautiful. But there’s so much more to her than that. She’s brave and confident and loves to get a rise out of me. I’ve never had anyone push me as much as she does. It’s like she’s dug into my brain and found my instruction manual,” I ramble.
“You do love her.”
My laugh is brighter than usual. “I do.”
“So, it’s safe to say it’s not fake anymore? ”
“We’ve agreed to go slow.”
“Is that a yes?”
“I haven’t told her that I was interested in her before.”
“Will she even care about that?”
I bite the inside of my cheek and dart my eyes around the studio. “I don’t know.”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think she will. Look where you are now. Who cares about you being interested in her before? But you need to own up to it, even if just to clear your conscience. Don’t start a relationship with a lie, even one like that.”
I don’t disagree with her. I’ve always known that I would have to tell Daisy about my preexisting infatuation eventually. Even if it was only a crush, I went into this knowing I was interested in her.
“When did you become so knowledgeable with relationships?”
“Ever since I learned what real love feels like. The kind that shifts the world beneath your feet not once but every single day.”
“Yeah, I think I’m starting to get that.”
“There’s nothing I want more for you than to get to experience a love like that, Ice. Nothing . You deserve someone who’s going to make you wake up with a smile on your face, even when you slept like shit the night before,” she says, tears leaking down her cheeks at a quick pace.
My stomach swoops as Daisy’s name repeats itself in my mind. “Don’t cry, Pops. I’ve already been gushier than I wanted to today.”
She shoves my shoulder. “You can never be too gushy.”
“Are we good now? You and me?” I ask cautiously.
Poppy pulls me in for another hug. “If you’re good, I’m good.”
“I’m sorry for pulling back. You’re my best friend.”
“No more apologies. I love you. ”
I nod against her shoulder. No more apologies sounds just right to me.
“I love you too.”
If I have to watch Daisy bend over in front of me one more time, I’m going to burst into a giant ball of flame and accidentally burn this place to the ground. My grip on the pole is punishing as she follows Poppy’s instructions and sways her round ass in my face. It’s one of the only moves I approved of with her healing tattoo, and now I’m regretting us coming here at all. I should have insisted we wait another week or two.
Poppy is ignoring my death glare, smirking to herself while moving from student to student and giving them tips on how to improve their form. I haven’t been listening for shit. God help me, I’ve barely broken a sweat because I’ve been stuck in a standing position, watching my girl all class.
The pole beside Daisy was empty when she and Delaney got back from grabbing us smoothies, and I knew I should have chosen that one. Instead, I parked myself directly behind her, thinking that would be the best possible fucking spot.
It was my possessive streak that forced my hand. I didn’t want anyone else to be able to stare at her ass, and now I’m paying the price.
“Lower, Daisy. Let your shoulders go loose as you hold the pole in a lower spot. Yes! Now, sway your hips and let the music guide your movements,” Poppy encourages her.
The wink my best friend shoots me over her shoulder has me baring my teeth like a feral dog.
Daisy is oblivious to my struggles. Her hair falls around her face like a curtain as she drops her head and puts her entire focus into Poppy’s instructions.
I let loose a pained noise and attempt to put effort into the beginner move. It doesn’t fucking work, and instead, I bend forward only to become eye level with her ass. If I thought the leggings she wore hiking were bad, they were basically a Mrs. Lemieux–approved work skirt compared to the tiny fucking shorts she has on right now.
My eyes nearly cross when I take in how high they’ve ridden up. At least an inch of both her ass cheeks are exposed, the rounded, plump skin directly in front of me. So close I could take a bite out of them with my teeth. I’m seriously considering banging my head on the metal pole just to shake all of the dirty thoughts free of it.
Like how little effort it would take to sneak up behind her and yank the shorts up even higher, wedging them between her cheeks and tight pussy. Would she soak right through them? Could I taste her if I licked her through the fabric?
My breathing shallows, and I loosen my hips as I hike my ass in the air and sway. Daisy’s shorts are hot pink. I’d bet her cunt would soak right through them with two strokes across it. The pink wouldn’t be able to hide the wet spot. Not the way my black ones are hiding mine.
“You’re drooling,” Poppy drawls, passing by me to help Delaney.
I nearly kick my foot out at her.
“I’m not used to this sort of thing,” Delaney huffs.
“That’s fine. You’re doing really well. Here, let’s try this next.”
It’s impossible to look at what they’re doing. One second, Daisy’s swaying, and the next, she’s snapped upright. The air in my lungs burns when she curls her entire torso backward and stares directly at me. Her head hangs upside down, and her tits heave with her panted breaths as she uses her tight hold on the pole to swing herself side to side.
Knees bent and legs parted around the pole, she swishes her hair in the air and blows me a kiss.
I grit my teeth, nipples threatening to stab through my sports bra. Daisy’s eyes brighten with mischief, and her biceps contract with the subtle shift of her arms. She adjusts her hands on the pole and uses her arms to squeeze her tits together.
They bulge against the material of her bra, and I glance at the ceiling before focusing back on the crease of her chest.
I tighten my stare and lift an eyebrow. “Keep it up, Sunshine.”
“Am I in trouble, Bryce? What’s with the tone?” she asks, one pouty lip quivering.
“The moment I get you in private, I’m going to have you beneath me.”
A shit-eating grin. “Promises, promises.”
She has no idea what I have planned, and that’s only going to make it more fun for me. If she thinks she can tease me like this somewhere I can’t have her, I’ll just have to spend hours reminding her that she’s mine somewhere I can.
We’ve taken things slow, but I think it’s obvious that we both need more now. I’m going to have the time of my life exploring all of the different ways I can make her come and scream my name. Once I’m done with her, there won’t be a doubt in either of our minds that we’re the exact type of love Poppy was explaining to me.
If I don’t have it with Daisy, then I never want to with anyone else.