Chapter 9 Poppy
CHAPTER NINE
POPPY
After I eat my weight in cinnamon rolls at Maple’s, we head back to my apartment to introduce Pepper to Moonpie.
When we reach my door, I hesitate, suddenly nervous. “Okay. This could get ugly. You’ve never seen Moonpie meet another animal. She does not play well with others.”
He shrugs, like the prospect of an angry, possibly homicidal house cat means nothing to him. “Don’t worry, kitten. It will be fine.”
I unlock the door and brace myself for the impending chaos. Moonpie is already perched on the back of the sofa with her tail flicking back and forth like a metronome. Her pupils blow wide as she zeroes in on Pepper, who immediately struts into the room like she owns it.
For a second, they just stare at each other. A full-on, high-noon showdown. Neither moves. Pepper snorts. Moonpie blinks, slow and ominous. The air is so thick with animal tension, I swear you can see the cartoon lightning crackle.
Jack bends down and offers Moonpie his hand to sniff. The cat ignores him entirely and slinks to the floor, her fur standing up like she just stuck her paw in an electric socket.
Pepper, unfazed, trots straight to the food dish and sniffs it. Moonpie’s head whips around so fast I’m surprised she doesn’t get whiplash. There is a beat of silence—then all hell breaks loose.
Moonpie hisses so loud it echoes in the vent above the sink.
Pepper just snorts and, with complete disrespect for the drama, starts eating the cat’s food.
Jack tries to intervene, but Moonpie launches herself onto the counter, knocking over the cereal box and my favorite coffee mug in one deft leap.
She comes up behind Pepper and takes a swipe at her face.
The paw connects. Pepper freezes. For a split second, I’m terrified this is going to end in blood.
But then Pepper does the unthinkable. She swipes right back, bat ears pinning to her head, and lets out a warbling little howl. Her paw connects with Moonpie’s shoulder, and the cat spins in a circle, shocked as hell.
For a full three seconds, nobody moves. Then, like two prizefighters who suddenly realize they’re evenly matched, they both just stop and look at each other, mutual loathing replaced with something like… respect?
Moonpie wanders over and eats the rest of the food in her bowl while Pepper stands there watching.
Then the two animals hop on separate ends of the sofa.
They stare at each other for several minutes before Moonpie takes one step toward the middle.
Pepper ignores her and settles down next to the armrest. Pretty soon, her snoring fills the room while Moonpie sits there flicking her tail.
Jack grins. “Well, that settles that.”
I can’t believe how fast we just… fall into it. Like we’ve been doing this for years.
The next two weeks are pure, high-speed, “holy shit, I can’t get enough of this man” chaos. Even with my classes and cleaning gigs and his twelve-hour homicide shifts, we somehow end up curled up together nearly every night.
Other times, he stumbles in after midnight, looking exhausted and dangerous, and I climb into his lap wearing nothing but his shirt. The sex is unreal, but so is the way he listens when I tell him about my day. The way he orders my sushi without asking, or grins when Moonpie bosses Pepper around.
Jack even buys a litter box and cat castle for Moonpie and sets it up in Pepper’s freaking velvet princess suite.
I almost faint when I see it. There’s a pink tunnel, a rainbow scratching post, and enough catnip toys to sedate a small herd of tigers.
The litter box itself looks like a spaceship and actually empties itself.
Moonpie acts unimpressed at first, but the second Jack leaves the room, she climbs right in and makes herself at home.
Honestly, I can’t blame her. Between the giant TV, the plush couch, and the endless parade of snacks, I barely remember what my own apartment looks like.
We spend every night at Jack’s now, curled up in his bed or snacking in front of the TV, while Moonpie and Pepper plot world domination from opposite ends of the sofa. It’s freaking heaven.
I’m seriously addicted. And I never, ever want it to end.
Every time Jack says he loves me, I get this wild, swirling rush in my chest that makes me feel like a soda can about to explode.
He’ll just say it, out of nowhere. Like when I’m brushing my teeth, or yelling at Moonpie for scratching the couch, or even when I’m half-asleep with my face smashed into his side. “Love you, kitten.” Like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
And every single time? My heart does a triple backflip, and my brain completely short-circuits.
Every time I say it back, his eyes do this thing.
The sharp, dark intensity melts away, and suddenly he’s all soft heat and slow-burning sweetness just for me.
One simple “love you, too, Jack,” and he turns from scary homicide detective to the world’s biggest marshmallow.
His pupils go wide as his jaw flexes like he’s fighting to keep it together.
My heart melts when he stares at me like I hung the freaking moon.
Late one night, while Moonpie snuggles on my lap and Pepper snores pressed against Jack’s side, Jack goes and detonates my entire world.
“Marry me.” His voice is low, all bossy detective command, but his brown eyes are just a little bit nervous. “I love you more than life itself, and I want to know you’re fucking mine forever.”
Oh, fudge. My brain does the hamster-wheel freak out, spinning in circles so fast I nearly get whiplash.
But then Jack does something that completely shorts out my brain.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stunning diamond ring.
Oh my God. He’s holding it up to me, and his hands are shaking.
The big, terrifying homicide detective is actually nervous.
My heart smashes around my ribcage, and my throat closes up. I can’t even speak for a second.
But then I see the look in his eyes, and every single wall I’ve ever built comes crashing down.
“Yes!” The word bursts out of me before I can even breathe. I launch myself at him, arms winding around his neck and tears streaming down my face. Happy tears. So many freaking happy tears. “I love you, too.”
I know in my heart our life together won’t be easy with our busy schedules, but I also know it’s going to be freaking perfect.