Chapter 37
37
brYCE
“I can’t believe that you don’t like cowboy boots. Either of you!” Poppy guffaws, flicking a finger between Delaney and Daisy as we pass endless aisles of dresses. “You’re fake Cherry Peakers.”
The dress shop is overstocked and busy, but I haven’t had it in me to complain about either of those things. It was Poppy’s idea for all of us to come to the mall before we left town. She pulled the I have nobody here to go shopping with card, and I still felt too guilty from our conversation earlier and the lack of communication between us to turn her down.
It doesn’t matter what we do as long as we can spend more time together. Even if I have to suffer through hours of shopping for a wedding that isn’t even happening until this summer.
“Anna didn’t wear them when she first got to town,” I point out in a weak attempt to help take the heat off them.
Poppy shushes me while shoving hangers along a metal rack and flipping through the dresses. “That doesn’t count. She was from big-city Vancouver. These two were born and raised here!”
“Does your boyfriend wear them?” Daisy asks innocently.
“He does.”
I release a rough laugh. “Liar.”
Poppy shoots fire-lined eyes in my direction. “Have you forgotten that he worked on Steele Ranch? He’s worn them a time or two.”
“That doesn’t count, and we both know it. And he only worked there for a couple months. Don’t get carried away,” I say.
“Speaking of boyfriend,” Daisy cuts in and slides between me and Poppy with a loopy grin. “Is it going to be boyfriend for much longer, or are we finally going to see you with a ring the size of the moon?”
Poppy’s sigh is dramatic as fuck but so very her. She lifts her hand in front of her and stares at the bare ring finger.
“You’re asking the wrong person. I’d have married him two years ago.”
“Do you think he’s dragging his feet?” Delaney asks.
She’s the one of us who doesn’t know all that much about Poppy and Garrison’s relationship. I’m guessing what she does know, she’s heard from gossipers in town.
“Garrison isn’t really the type to beat around the bush. I think it’s more to do with his career and all of the changes in our life recently than dragging his feet,” Poppy explains, letting her hand fall.
“He could not want to overshadow Brody and Anna’s wedding either,” Daisy offers.
It will be the biggest wedding Cherry Peak has ever seen. They recently chose Steele Ranch as the venue, and yeah, it’s an important location for the two of them, but I think it’s also the only place with enough space.
Delaney feels the sequined straps of one of the dresses before pushing the entire thing away with a grimace. “I thought the wedding wasn’t until summertime?”
“It’s not. But planning has already started. I’ve told Garrison that I don’t want a long engagement either. So he knows that when he proposes, the wedding has to be at maximum three months afterward. I’m not giving him time to change his mind or swooping in to tie the knot before Anna and Brody do.”
“He wouldn’t change his mind regardless of how long you waited,” I say.
“Realistically, I know that. But insecurities are a bitch.”
Daisy gifts her a soft, honest smile. “He couldn’t do better than you. Something tells me that he’s more than aware of that.”
“You’re the sweetest, Daisy. If Bryce doesn’t keep you, I’ll have to revoke our best friend status,” Poppy threatens teasingly.
It’s Daisy’s eyes I latch onto. “I don’t plan on letting her go.”
She blushes all the way to her ears and ducks into another aisle. We all follow, and the scratch of hangers grinding against the metal rods makes the hair on my arms rise.
I tuck my arms into my sides and step back into a puffy dress when a group of teenage girls rush by me with high-pitched squeals and arms full of fabric.
Daisy notices my discomfort a beat before Poppy does, and then the both of them are taking my arms and leading us out of the aisle.
“What do you say we find somewhere else to look?” Daisy asks.
Delaney answers. “I saw a few other shops on our way here.”
Daisy takes my hand and links our fingers. I give them a thankful squeeze, and then, side by side, the four of us leave the store as a unified front. My chest fills with appreciation.
“Actually, I saw another shop I wanted to check out. It’s only a little bit further,” Poppy says.
I think I’m the only one that picks up the slight wiggle in her voice.
“What kind of shop?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
She grins and points to a place on my right. “That one. I’ve been needing something new.”
“A sex shop?” Delaney barks before laughing .
Daisy walks a little quicker, pulling me with her. “Oh, fun! I’ve never actually gone into a sex shop before.”
“What?” I ask, surprised.
She shrugs. “I just order toys online.”
“It’s easier that way,” Delaney agrees.
The shop is dark on the outside, and when we step through the door, it’s just as dark inside. Majority of the light comes from the toy displays, making them the focal point of the store. It’s smart.
We’re approached by a tiny Black woman who asks if we need anything, but Poppy’s too excited to show Daisy around to accept any help. With a grin and a reminder that she’s there if we need anything, the sales associate leaves us to wander around on our own.
Another few people enter the store, and they take the associate up on her offer for help.
“Who needs a dildo this big?”
Delaney pokes the shaft of a hot pink suctioned dildo standing tall on a shelf and stares wide-eyed when it bounces around. The balls at the base are massive, and Poppy laughs like a hyena when they shake alongside the shaft.
“Garrison’s bigger.”
Daisy chokes. “Your poor vagina.”
“It’s not just my?—”
I cut her off and shove her down the line of toys. “We’re close, but I don’t need to know about all the places Garrison puts his cock.”
Poppy shoots me a wink and then focuses on Delaney. “So, you don’t have a lot of dildos, then?”
“Not like that one.”
“Do you need one, or do you have a real dick in your life?” Poppy asks, blunt as hell.
“Are you single, Della? I think that’s what Poppy was trying to ask,” Daisy says.
I snort a laugh while Poppy rolls her eyes .
Delaney taps the edge of the dildo display. “I’m single.”
Poppy hums, the corners of her mouth twitching in a way that reeks of potential meddling. It’s not a good sign for Delaney.
She tries to keep her expression nonchalant but fails. “Were you invited to Anna’s wedding?”
“No. I don’t really know her at all.”
A sneaky hum is Poppy’s reply.
“What?” Delaney asks her suspiciously.
I mutter, “Just ignore her.”
Delaney nods. “Are you all in the bridal party?”
“I’m the maid of honour, and Bryce is a bridesmaid. Daisy’s going to be Bryce’s gorgeous date, right? And not a fake one anymore.”
I tense at the use of the word “fake.” Daisy freezes in front of the butt plug displays.
Delaney looks at each of us, confusion sparking in her eyes. “A fake one?”
“Bryce and Daisy were only fake dating at the beginning to get Bryce’s mom to stop setting her up on dates. That’s done now, though. They’re the real deal, and I’m so damn happy for them,” Poppy explains, her voice not loud but carrying across the store regardless.
How did I not notice how quiet it is in here until now?
“How about we don’t talk about this in public, Poppy?” I ask, my heartbeat a bit too fast.
She blanches. “Shit. I’m sorry.”
The group of people pretend not to look in our direction as I usher us all away from them, but there’s no doubt in my mind that they heard every word Poppy spoke. I couldn’t care less about Delaney knowing the truth. I’m not on edge about it or worrying that she’ll tell anyone. It’s those I don’t know that make me anxious. If Poppy had noticed them lingering so close, she wouldn’t have said anything.
I remind myself we’re not in Cherry Peak and try to settle my nerves .
Daisy doesn’t seem as worried as I am about anyone overhearing. She just looks at Delaney and smiles.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We’d only told a couple of people.”
“We didn’t know each other. You shouldn’t have felt like you needed to tell me something like that,” Delaney replies, staring between me and my girl. “I could never tell that it wasn’t real.”
Poppy’s attention falls on me, and I know what she’s thinking. It wasn’t fake for both of you.
“It didn’t stay that way for very long,” Daisy muses.
She moves to my side, and I curl an arm around her hip, tugging her close. With her bright blue eyes caressing my face, I’m too weak to deny my need to kiss her and do exactly that.
It’s quicker than I’d like, but better than nothing.
My desire for her is the only thing I have no fucking control over. I want her near me all the time, and even when she is, I’m not sated unless her lips are on mine and I can feel her skin beneath my fingers.
It’s been torture keeping my thoughts of straying to the memory of her in the pole studio, but I can’t risk losing my head in the middle of the mall.
I’m addicted to her and proud as fuck of it.
A sniffle snags my attention. It’s Poppy who’s crying while trying to hide her face behind her shirt sleeve. I frown at the sound of her sobs, and Delaney turns to me, alarmed.
Daisy gives me a light push in Poppy’s direction. I swallow and wrap my best friend in my arms for the second time today.
“I thought we said no more tears earlier,” I murmur.
The arm she’s using to hide her face presses painfully against my chest, but I don’t have the heart to tell her to move it.
“We did. But that was before I got to watch the two of you together like this. I’ve missed so much being away! You’re the cutest couple I’ve ever seen, and I’m not there to see you fall in love. You’re so—you’re so happy,” she blubbers.
A hand sweeps up my spine, and I know it’s Daisy’s from the way my body melts at the touch. Poppy shakes in my arms, and I bite my cheek hard enough for it to bleed so I don’t cry alongside her.
“You’re not missing anything. When you’re home next weekend, we’ll still be there. Just like this.”
“Promise?”
Daisy hugs me from behind, her lips finding the back of my ear. It’s confirmation enough.
“I promise, Pops,” I declare.