Chapter 25
I WAS HOPING YOU’D SAY YES.
Dallas
Mitch
How are the practices with the kids going?
They are getting better.
One told me I sucked as a coach.
Mitch
That’s a lie.
Is it, though? It’s definitely opened my eyes to how I should be coaching, and since then, we’ve gotten a lot better.
Mitch
That’s great. When is your first game? We want to come.
Soon. I think next month. I’ll let you know.
Mitch
That’s awesome. I’m proud of you, coach.
Tyler
And the woman you met?
I’m also proud of you, stud.
*eye roll* You always seem to have only one thing on your mind.
Tyler
I’m just curious.
She’s good.
“Daddy, can we have a snuggle fest on the couch tonight?”
“Of course, bug. Do you want to watch a movie or a show?”
“I think I’m in the mood for a movie! Let’s watch Air Bud. The basketball one this time since I just watched the baseball one last week.”
I laugh. “You got it. I’ll make us some popcorn, too.”
“Ooooh!” she says, jumping up and down in the kitchen. “Yes. Yes. We can make it like an actual movie date! But with blankets and pillows and pajamas!” Her face sombers almost immediately as if something just crossed her mind. “I wish Mommy was here.”
Her admission is a knife to my chest. She’s been doing so well over the last few months, adjusting to this temporary living situation. So much so that it hasn’t crossed my mind as often that she could be struggling with things. And now, my heart hurts for my little girl.
“I’m sorry, Sage. I know this is hard for you and your mom. She misses you just as much as you miss her on the days you’re not with her.”
The look on her face tells me she wants to cry but won’t. I know my girl now. She’s strong like the roots of a tree—you can’t see it, but she holds everything together.
“I do miss her,” she admits. “I know I just saw her yesterday, but she always loves movie nights with me, too. Have we ever had a movie night?”
I swallow, emotions lodged in my throat.
No, we never have.
Because I wasn’t always there.
“No, bug.” I shake my head, answering her honestly. “And I hate that we haven’t. I hate that I was always so busy playing baseball or coaching.”
She smiles softly. “That’s okay, Daddy. Mommy always used to tell me you were living out your dream. And that hard work gets you to your goals. You and Mommy are the hardest workers.”
Dammit. She got me.
Tears well in my eyes, and I can no longer fight them. I don’t cry. I don’t show emotion like this. The only person in the world who has that power over me is Sage.
“Don’t cry.” She jogs to me, wrapping her tiny arms around my waist. My hand cups the back of her head, and I hold her to me. I never knew how much I needed this, until this moment. Which makes me hate myself that much more. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too, Sage. So much.” I hold her shoulders, separating us just for a moment so I can crouch down to her level.
“Your mom was right, and I was trying to live out my dream, and working hard can help you reach your goals. The tears in my eyes are because I’m so upset with myself for not making time for that movie night. Not making more time for you.”
“But we are now.”
I nod.
No more strikeouts, only home runs.
She skips off to the couch. She pulls the blanket from the back and drapes it over her legs.
“I have one more ask,” she says.
“Anything for you. You should already know the answer will be yes. Unless it’s candy. We don’t have any, and I’m certain the general store is closed.”
She giggles behind her hand.
There’s no evidence of the somewhat deep conversation we just had. I’m glad we had it, and I’m glad it’s ending with a night on the couch with her.
“Do you think you can ask Poppy to come over and watch Air Bud with us?” My body stills, frozen in place. “If that’s okay with you,” she adds with a shrug.
Is it okay with me?
Hell, after showing up at her house the other night and watching her come undone for me, I’d do anything to spend more time with her at this point.
As if I wasn’t already thinking about her all hours of the day, she’s now permanently ingrained in my brain.
A tattoo etched into my skin that I can’t wipe off even if I wanted to.
Her admitting to me that she’s a virgin should have scared me off.
Thinking about it later that night, it would have scared me off if Poppy were someone back in San Francisco.
I told her I wasn’t like other guys, and I’m not.
I didn’t lie about that, but it’s because this place, this town, is changing me.
She is changing me.
Now I want to learn every inch of her skin. I want to know what brings her pleasure. I want to be the fucking first to do it all.
“I can text her and see if she wants to come over,” I tell Sage.
“Okay!”
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I hover over her contact. I’m hesitant, even though Sage and I both want her here, but only because the last thing I want to do tonight is derail whatever plans she has.
Hey, what are you up to tonight?
The bubble indicating that she’s replying lights up our text thread, then disappears. It repeats for another minute or two before my phone buzzes in my hand.
Poppy
Just doing a puzzle.
Yeah? Which one are you doing?
Poppy
This guy dropped one off to me the other day. It’s a baseball one, so I thought I would do that one next.
I’m smiling so hard, staring down at my phone.
I’ve been flirting with Poppy since the moment she turned around at Cozy Cup the day I got here. Even if she’s not doing it intentionally, her reply back to me has my insides swirling with rainbows—as Sage would say.
Oh yeah? Sounds like a nice guy.
Poppy
Eh.
That’s a shame because I heard the guy was curious to know if you want to come over for a movie night with Sage.
Her request…if that helps you make up your mind.
I feel like I’m holding my breath, waiting for her response.
The reply bubble dances on and off again.
My stomach is in knots thinking she doesn’t want to come over.
I don’t blame her, honestly. She has a routine, and I’m attempting to derail it.
I put my phone face down on the kitchen counter and put the popcorn in the microwave.
The entire two minutes that the bag is popping, I pick up my phone and put it back down.
As soon as I put the popcorn in a bowl, there’s a soft knock on my back sliding door.
I spin around and see Poppy on the other side of the glass.
She’s lifting her hand in a shy wave, but she’s smiling.
It’s a breathtaking one, too—like they all are.
They stop me dead in my tracks, frozen in place, but also wanting to run to her, wrap her in my arms, and tell her all the things that run through my mind when I see her.
She laughs through the glass and points to the handle of the door.
Oh, it’s locked.
When I open it, she doesn’t move. She looks up at me, her emerald eyes glistening in the soft glow of the back porch light.
“You came.”
“You asked.”
I look over my shoulder, and Sage is nowhere to be found, so I face Poppy again.
I lean down, with one hand on the sliding door and the other on the frame, and press my lips to hers.
She lifts both hands, resting them on my chest as she melts into my kiss.
When I finally pull away so we get caught, I’m smiling down at her.
“Way to leave me on the edge of my seat, though,” I say, before stepping to the side and allowing her in.
She crosses the threshold, and she engulfs every inch of the kitchen—her presence known by my mind and body.
One stop through, and she makes a house feel like a home.
She brings warmth and sunshine even if it’s dark outside.
“You thought I’d say no?”
“I was hoping you’d say yes.”
Placing my hand on the small of her back, I guide her to the living room. I remove my hand as soon as we enter, so Sage doesn’t get any ideas. Poppy is still her teacher, and I don’t want to cause problems for her because I can’t control myself.
Sage sits up on the couch, eyes wide. “Poppy! You came for movie night!”
“I did.” Poppy giggles, making her way to the couch to sit next to Sage. “I couldn’t pass up the invite.” Her eyes move from Sage to mine as if there’s a double meaning to it. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it. “Besides, I can’t remember the last time I sat down to watch a full movie.”
“Yay!” Sage dances in her seat. “I asked Daddy if we could watch Air Bud, but we can watch something else if you want. You can pick the movie.”
“I’ll watch whatever you want to watch.”
“I’m in the mood for a sports playing dog. I was gonna do the basketball one, but we can watch the baseball one if you like that sport better.”
“Which one is a ten out of ten in your opinion?”
Sage grips her chin, deep in thought. “That’s tough. The basketball one is superior. But I cried the first time I watched it, and I don’t know if I want to be the reason you cry tonight.”
“But is it a happy ending?” Poppy asks, and Sage nods. “Then let’s do the basketball one since it’s superior.”
My heart swells in my chest as I watch these two interact. Sage looks at Poppy like she’s the moon and the stars, while Poppy looks at Sage like she’s the best thing to ever happen to her.
But little does Poppy know, she’s the best thing that has happened to us.
I’ve spent so long harping on all the things I’ve done wrong in life. All the reckless and impulsive decisions that ultimately led to everything falling apart around me. Witnessing these two together was the reminder I needed to look around and appreciate all the things going right as well.
The one clear thing…Poppy fits with us.
It’s not because she’s a teacher and good with kids.
She genuinely fits into our lives.
I grab the popcorn from the kitchen and load the movie on the TV. Sage is cuddled under Poppy’s arms. Both of them look like they’re about to fall asleep.
“Are you both going to fall asleep after I turn this on?”
Poppy shakes her head, giggling.
“I can stay up all night,” Sage says confidently.
I shake my head and put a bowl of popcorn in front of them. Sage pulls it to her lap, keeping it close so Poppy can have some too. I take a seat on the other couch adjacent to where they sit.
The two of them watch the movie, while I watch them.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Sage falls asleep.
Her head is across Poppy’s lap, and she’s raking her fingers through my daughter’s hair delicately, not to wake her up.
It’s in this moment, staring at the two of them, Poppy oblivious to my eyes on hers, that I fall deeper for this woman than before.
Deeper than I’ve fallen for anyone, I think.
I loved April. I wouldn’t have married her all those years ago if I hadn’t. She was all I’d known of falling head over heels for someone. We both had that sparkle in our eyes when we looked at one another.
This is different.
This is wildly different.
When Poppy is in the room or anywhere near me, everything else around me fades.
I continuously find myself bending the hands of time, stretching the minutes as far as they can go to hear her laugh once more.
The weight of the world is lifted off my shoulders at the sound of her voice, and the world instantly has more color when she smiles.
It’s not just physical attraction anymore.
There’s a chemistry between us that no one can deny.
Witnessing this moment confirms it all.
She belongs.
But do I belong here?
That’s what I think about as Poppy and I watch the rest of the movie. When it ends, I walk Poppy to the door and give her a kiss before taking Sage to bed.
I’ve never been the type to be scared of the future because I’ve always kept my eye on the ball, no matter the pitch, staying focused when life throws me challenges.
I’ve spent my life rounding the bases like it was second nature, moving through life with momentum and confidence.
I’ve always played the bounce off the wall, adapting to the unpredictable.
But Poppy…she scares me.
She makes me fear the future because my time in Bluestone Lakes has an expiration date.
And it’s coming quicker than I want it to.