Chapter 20
AM I JEALOUS NOW?
Poppy
Walking into Seven Stools tonight feels different.
There’s a lightness in me after the conversation with Dallas earlier today.
I didn’t want him to leave, but his leaving is exactly what I needed to understand the power behind his words.
I was able to finish laundry, vacuum, and wash my bedding—all with a smile on my face.
He brought calm into my day, and it’s carrying over into tonight.
He didn’t leave because he thought I was crazy; he left because he understood.
Something no one else does. I mean…not that I’ve allowed anyone the chance.
I wonder if I opened up to my sister or even Griffin, if they would be as accepting as he was? Such a stupid question, because my siblings love me no matter what. However, it’s not something I want to find out right now.
Tonight is Nan’s winter party at Seven Stools.
The town successfully cleared the roads enough to get everyone here.
And I’m pretty sure everyone is here. I’m willing to place a heavy bet that Nan had something to do with the urgency of getting the roads cleared for everyone.
Griffin is probably covered in hives over it because he hates crowds like this, even if he knows it’s good for business.
Taking in the bar, it feels like the storm outside was brought in here.
Paper snowflakes that Nan definitely cut herself hang from the ceiling, speckled with glitter.
She’s set up the karaoke bar in the corner, complete with sheer white drapes and twinkle lights, creating a backdrop for anyone brave enough to get up and sing.
In the other corner is a small display of mini water bottles with custom labels across them that say melted snowman on one end of the table, and a mini hot cocoa bar situated on the other.
Party planning is kind of Nan’s thing, and she’s damn good at it.
Everyone here is familiar to me, being it’s a small town, but it’s the set of chocolate brown eyes locked on me that has my pulse beating rapidly in my chest, thrumming like a bass drum.
Dallas doesn’t blink or look away. It pulls at something beneath the surface, screaming that I want him in a way I haven’t allowed myself to want something before, making the world around me narrow to a single face, a single breath that’s not yet mine.
The longer I stare, the deeper it claws at me.
He’s dressed so casually tonight. Where half the town is dressed in jeans and button downs, he’s wearing his signature T-shirt that might as well be painted on his skin—showcasing every hard-earned muscle on his upper body.
Gravity pulls me in his direction, demanding to feel his hands on me in some way, shape, or form.
But I’m snapped out of my bubble when Lily finds me, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m so happy you’re here. Eek! This is truly going to be the best night ever now. I mean, look at this place,” she says, throwing her arms out to showcase the bar. “Nan outdid herself here.”
“She really did. I’ve never seen it look this festive.”
Scanning the room again, my eyes land on Dallas. I look from him to Lily and back to him. Lily notices, nudging me lightly with her elbow. “Oh, yes. I see our hot neighbor is out tonight.”
“He’s my hot neighbor.” I laugh, but then choke on my own words because where did that come from?
She must pick up on it because she raises an eyebrow. “So we’re finally admitting he’s hot?”
“He’s all right.”
“Whatever you say. Anyway, he told us a few minutes ago that he wouldn’t miss it when he found out the whole town would be here.”
“Yeah?”
“I guess that he thought the whole town meant you would be here.”
“I don’t see why he would think that.”
“Tucker told him.” She laughs, and I stay silent. Lily eyes me curiously. “And with the way that man is staring at you, I can see why he wouldn’t want to miss out on seeing you. Even my skin is burning from the intensity of it. I’m surprised you’re not on fire right now.”
Oh, but I am, Lily. I am.
“I guess I’ll go say hi?”
“You better do more than just say hi, Pop.” She laughs. “I’ll go get us a drink from Griffin.”
We part ways, and I don’t make it two more steps before a voice stops me in my tracks.
“Poppy?” Turning around, I find Ben grinning, with a glass of whiskey hovering close to his mouth as his eyes trail my body up and down. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight, but I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Hi, Ben,” I say, returning the smile.
“I must say, you look gorgeous tonight, Poppy.”
Hearing him say my name makes my skin crawl because I know this is his way of flirting with me outside of school when we’re working.
It’s never made me uncomfortable before because I’ve never felt anything toward him.
I still don’t. I’ve been immune to his light attempts at flirting, and now it makes me feel sick over the way his eyes travel my body.
I know I’m just as safe here as I am at school because this is my brother’s bar, but I still hate it.
“Thank you,” I finally reply, averting my gaze in hopes he picks up on my disinterest.
“Let me buy you a drink?” he says in a questioning tone as he places one hand on my shoulder.
Absolutely not.
“Thank you, but my sister is grabbing me one.” I point somewhere in the direction of the bar, scanning the area and looking for Lily to be my saving grace right now.
“Then maybe you can save me a dance tonight?”
I don’t answer him while I still look for my sister, but my eyes latch onto Dallas over Ben’s shoulders. There’s venom in his stare as he leans one elbow on the bar, his jaw set in a sharp line. But he’s not looking at me, he’s looking at the back of Ben’s head.
Is Dallas jealous?
“I’m actually here with my sister and friends tonight,” I reply, still staring at Dallas.
“Well, I’ll be here all night if you change your mind.” He winks and turns to walk away.
I watch him retreat, only to look back at Dallas and see that he’s no longer watching me.
He’s now engaged in a conversation with Mindy, who’s laughing next to him, likely over something he’s said.
She’s standing so close, and I trail their movements.
He stands there with a drink in one hand and his elbow resting on the bar top.
She has her hand on his forearm, and he doesn’t seem to be making a move to back away.
Is he into her?
Are they flirting with each other?
Am I jealous now?
Yes. I’m irrationally jealous. I’ve told him we had to keep things professional, but so much has changed. I felt the shift earlier today when I opened up to him. He’s holding back because he respects my boundaries. He seemed to understand.
Lily returns with a drink for me, and I welcome it, sipping it through the straw as if the liquid is the air that I need to breathe.
“Jesus, Pop.” She laughs. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you finish a Moscow mule that fast before.
She’s right. I feel dizzy from drinking it so fast.
“You said it’s a winter party, no?” I smirk at her. “Anddd you told me I need to have some fun tonight. So this is me having fun tonight.
“There’s my sister. I’ve been waiting for this side of you to come out for a long time. You’ve kept it hidden for too long, babe.”
Again, she’s right.
Now’s not the time to tell her why, though.
After everything today, I feel the urge to open up to her, too.
I’m mildly addicted to the free feeling I’ve felt all day of not hiding from the world.
While I still am in a sense, putting it out there to Dallas seemed to flip a switch inside of me.
I want people to see me for who I am, the way he did.
I want my sister to understand why I’ve been this way for so long.
“Let’s get you another.” She drags me to the bar, and of course, it’s almost directly next to where Dallas and Mindy stand. The hairs on my arm stand tall being this close. I can’t help but watch him out of the corner of my eye.
Tucker wipes the bar top in front of us. “There’s my favorite cousin.”
“Tucker,” Lily warns.
“Oh, hey. I didn’t see you there.” He chuckles.
“Liar.”
I laugh at the two of them before holding up my drink, signaling I’ll take another.
“So it’s that kind of night, huh?” Tucker nods his head repeatedly in approval. “Anything for you, Poppy.”
While we wait for our drinks, I can hear Mindy’s laughter echo around me. It feels like all the sound has drowned out to nothing but their conversation.
“We should get together outside of school sometime,” Mindy says.
“Maybe.”
“Is your wife around?”
It’s odd that she’s asking that particular question. It makes me feel even more disgusted by the whole thing. If you’re going to flirt with someone and have your hands all over them, you should at least determine if they’re married.
I see movement from the corner of my eye as he holds up his hand. “No wife.”
“Oh, that must be so hard,” Mindy says in a sympathetic tone. “You have my number. You know, just in case you need anything or help with Sage. I mean, you can always use it if you need some company, too.”
He shifts next to me, and I feel it before I see it.
His eyes are on me, but I refuse to look and acknowledge it.
Dallas leans on the bar with both elbows now, facing me, knowing I’m standing inches from him.
I don’t want to see the look in his eyes.
I don’t want to get myself trapped in his orbit while Mindy stands right there.
But I feel him turn away again.
‘I’m good,” he says to Mindy. “But thank you.”
And then he walks away.
Not even waiting for a response from her.
No passing glance in my direction.
Tucker slides out drinks across the bar, and I take another long sip, turning my body to Lily. She has a smug grin on her face.
“What?”
“That man fucking wants you.”
“Oh, Christ. Nan is on top of the bar,” Lily says, laughing so hard you can barely understand her.