Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
It turned out, when Sweetbriar Cove said bon voyage, they went all out. Poppy was expecting a quiet drink at the pub with June and Mackenzie, but when they stepped through the doors, she was met with a loud, “SURPRISE!”
Poppy blinked. It looked like the whole town was crammed inside the building. “You guys!” she exclaimed. “What is all of this?”
“We wanted to give you a proper send-off.” Franny beamed. “It’s been so much fun having you around.”
“We always love an excuse for a party,” Debra added, with a twinkle in her eye.
And this was definitely a party. There were balloons, and streamers, and—
“Is that a cake?” Poppy moved closer, her mouth already watering as she took in the towering chocolate layers.
“I called Summer and had her whip one up, emergency delivery.” Her aunt gave her a hug. “We’ll be sorry to see you go.”
“I’ll just be a few hours away!” Poppy protested, but Ellie from book group gave her a look.
“You know it doesn’t work like that. You stop writing, you don’t call . . .” She mimed wiping away tears.
Poppy laughed. “I’ll put you guys in the acknowledgements of my new book, how about that?”
“Deal!”
She was ushered to the bar, and soon plied with food and drink—on the house. There was music and laughter, and as Poppy looked around, she was struck by just how quickly this town had come to feel like home.
“What’s wrong?” Mackenzie asked, nudging her gently.
“Nothing. Just thinking . . . I’ve lived in New York for years now, and I don’t think I could tell you the name of anyone living on my block. Aside from the guy at the coffee shop,” she added.
Mackenzie laughed. “It does have its charm,” she agreed, looking around. “We don’t do this for everyone though. You’re family.”
Poppy had to swallow. “You’re going to make me cry!” she protested. “And it’s way too early for that.”
The doors swung open, and her head turned. She couldn’t help it, she’d been checking new arrivals all night, wondering if he would show.
“Still no word?” Mackenzie asked quietly.
Poppy shook her head. “It’s just as well,” she said, trying to convince herself. “I don’t even know what I’d say to him if he turned up now.”
“That he’s been an ass, but you love him, and you’ll give him one last chance to make it right?”
Mackenzie looked optimistic, and Poppy knew she was just hoping for the best, but it still hurt her to think of even laying eyes on Cooper again. She turned to the bar and flagged down Riley. “We’re going to need some shots,” she declared. “Tequila.”
He whistled. “You don’t play around.”
“It’s a party, isn’t it?” Poppy forced a smile. “I may as well go out with a bang.”
Two shots later, and she was beginning to regret her reckless streak.
Riley had brought out the karaoke machine, and any other time, Poppy would have been hiding in the back.
But somehow with that pesky tequila warm in her blood, it seemed like a good idea to take center stage for a song with Mackenzie and Ellie.
“One way, or another,” she sang, happily out of tune.
It was an easy audience, at least: clapping along and politely ignoring just how tone-deaf her warbling was.
Poppy swayed in time with the beat, just about ready to launch into the final chorus, when the pub doors opened again, and this time—God, this time, finally—it was Cooper walking in.
The song died on her lips.
How did he do this to her, every time? Just the sight of those blue eyes sent her spinning, from clear across the room.
She fumbled, barely miming along as Ellie and Mackenzie finished the song, all the while feeling his gaze on her.
Inscrutable. Remote. Or was that a hint of regret she spied in their depths?
No, she was reading too much into it. He probably only stopped by to say an awkward goodbye and pretend like nothing had ever happened between them.
Poppy’s heart clenched at the thought. She needed another shot of tequila.
The moment the music cut, she headed for the bar and collapsed on a stool. “Another round, please,” she told Riley, pointing to her glass, but instead of pouring, he fetched her a slice of cake.
“I’m cutting you off,” he said, and passed her a fork.
“I’m not drunk.” Poppy frowned, but she still took a bite. Summer’s cake was always too delicious to resist.
“I know,” Riley smiled. “But I think you’re going to want to be sober for this.” He nodded behind her, and Poppy swiveled around to look.
Cooper was taking his place at the front of the room, a microphone in his hand.
Cooper. Doing karaoke.
What?
“Just so you know.” Riley leaned in. “That man hates the spotlight. So if he’s doing this now, there’s a damn good reason for it.” He winked and wandered away, leaving Poppy with her heart in her throat as the music started.
Elvis.
He wasn’t . . . He couldn’t be . . .
But he was. As the familiar chords struck up, Cooper cleared his throat, lifted the mic to his lips, and began to sing.
To her. How maybe he didn’t treat her as well as he should have…
Poppy was struck dumb. His voice was deep and rich, and he found her there across the bar, his gaze locked on hers as he sang. The world seemed to fade away around them. Every word, every note—all of them straight from his heart to hers.
Was this really happening?
Poppy’s heart was in her throat before the end of the very first verse. She was barely aware of the crowd watching the two of them, all that mattered was right there in front of her: the emotion in Cooper’s eyes as he sang to her, his voice almost catching on the words.
“Tell me that your sweet love hasn’t died . . .”
And then the song he’d chosen began to sink in. The regret in those lyrics.
It was an apology.
She would have taken a few words from him, any time, anywhere, but he was doing it here, in front of everyone.
Admitting he’d been wrong, and promising to make it right.
He meant every line, pouring his heart into the song.
So did this mean what she’d only let herself imagine: that he was sorry for pushing her away?
Did he want another chance for them?
“You were always on my mind.”
The final words faded away, and then for a long moment, the room was completely silent. Poppy felt the emotion shimmering in the air between them, and then suddenly, there was applause. Whistles and hooting broke through the spell, and Cooper finally looked away, bashful.
Someone pushed her to her feet. “Go on,” Aunt June hissed, nudging her forward, but Poppy held back. Her pulse was racing, heart pounding in her chest, but still, she couldn’t believe it. He’d walked away, and said there was no hope for them.
So what had changed?
Cooper cut through the crowd to her. “Hey,” he said softly, and Poppy had to curl her hands at her sides to keep from reaching for him. He was clean-shaven and smart in a sky-blue button-down, and god, looking way too good to resist.
“Hi,” Poppy echoed. She didn’t want to hope, but it was too late for that. Hope was a thousand wing-beats fluttering in her chest, as if all it would take was a word from him, and she’d take flight. “I, um, didn’t know you could sing.”
“Sorry,” Cooper looked bashful. “I’m kind of rusty.”
“No,” Poppy said quickly. “That was . . .” She trailed off, not able to put it in words just yet. And not even sure she should. She gulped and forced herself to ask straight out. “What was that?”
Cooper took a breath. “That was an apology. At least, the start of one.” He took her hands in his, meeting her eyes with a look that was so full of regret and determination, it took her breath away.
“I’m sorry. For pushing you away, for screwing this whole damn thing up.
I’m not like you,” he added with a rueful smile.
“I never believed in true love, or soulmates. At least, not before you.”
Oh god.
It was really happening. Poppy felt the tears stinging in her eyes, but she was too overwhelmed to keep them back. She’d written her share of happy endings, but nothing compared to the way she felt right now.
The future she’d dreamed of was standing right there in front of her.
“I love you,” he said, searching her face. His voice was choked with emotion, but he didn’t stop. “I promise, I’m never running from it again. You can count on me, for good this time. Will you give me another chance?” he asked. “I won’t let you down.”
Poppy managed a nod. “I love you, too,” she said. She was in tears in front of everyone, but she couldn’t care less. Not when Cooper was pulling her into his arms, and finding her lips with his own, and kissing her with enough passion to wipe away the past week without him.
A kiss to make her forget the lonely nights it had taken to get them there. A kiss to heal every bitter wound.
A kiss to build a tomorrow.
She fell into the promise of forever, his lips strong and true against her mouth. And when she finally surfaced for air, the whole room was cheering.
Poppy blushed, realizing everyone was watching, but Cooper was still looking at her like she was the only person in the world.
“Will you stay?” he asked, pressing her hands to his chest. “For the summer, at least. And then, after that, we can do whatever you want. I’ll move to the city, or you can be here—”
“I’m staying.” She answered without thinking, but the moment the words left her lips, she felt just how right they were. Sweetbriar Cove already felt like home, and the thought of building a future here—with him—filled her with happiness.
Cooper’s face spread in an enormous grin. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” Poppy beamed back. It turned out that taking that leap was easy in the end.
Some things were just meant to be.
“You guys!” They were suddenly smothered in a hug from Mackenzie. “I knew it! I knew you couldn’t be so pig-headed in the end.”
“Hey!” Cooper objected, laughing.
“You know what I mean.”
“Congratulations.” Aunt June joined in the celebration. She squeezed Poppy’s hand. “Not to take the credit, but I told you a trip away was exactly what you needed.”
Poppy laughed. “You didn’t know this was going to happen. Did you?” She paused, wondering. June winked, as they were surrounded by well-wishers.
“I’ll have to make you blueberry pie for the next book group.”
“Does this mean you’ll be needing a new construction project?”
“Maybe you could set your next novel here!”
Poppy happily soaked it up. She shot a glance at Cooper, and found him smiling right back. Like it or not, the town had played a part in their relationship from the very beginning, and it was sweet to have them all rooting for success.
“What do you think?” He drew her closer and murmured in her ear. “Regretting your decision yet?”
She laughed. “As long as they learn to knock, we’ll be just fine.”
“Knock?” Cooper quirked his eyebrow and gave her a wolfish grin. “Baby, they’ll be lucky if we answer the door for a week.”
He slid his arms around her, and Poppy didn’t think she’d ever been happier.
Their story was just getting started.