Chapter 41
I SAW YOUR CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.
Dallas
“Draw up the papers for me.”
“You know, I had a feeling this would happen. They’re already done and ready for you. I can meet you at Cozy Cup first thing in the morning to sign everything over,” Nan says through the phone. “And, Dallas?”
“Hm?”
“Take care of my girl.”
I nod, even though she can’t see me, and remain quiet before I hear Nan hang up on the other end.
I’ve spent the entire drive in silence as Tucker slept.
When he finally rolled into the penthouse around four in the morning, he said he hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep from being up with a woman all night long.
Good for him, but he wasn’t enjoying the fact that I was ready to hit the road a half hour after he showed up.
Truthfully? I would have hit the road right after leaving the stadium yesterday if it weren’t for him.
I had to pick up Sage and get back here.
I needed to get back.
“Did she agree to letting you buy this place?” Tucker asks, emerging from the hallway after being adamant that he put Sage to bed for me.
“It will officially be mine tomorrow morning.”
Tucker grins. “Listen, I know this was a hard decision for you, but selfishly, I’m so happy you’re staying. Sage loves it here, and I know you love it here. Bluestone Lakes has a way of changing people in all the best ways possible.”
“That’s very wise coming from you.”
“Sometimes I can be wise when I’m not being stupid.”
I scoff. “You’re far from stupid.”
He puts his hands on each hip, cocking his head to the side. “Yeah? Then tell me why I spent the best night of my life with the hottest woman ever, only to leave before she woke up like a coward.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Riddle me that, Westbrook.”
I walk toward him, resting a hand on his shoulder. “There’s always another time. We can go back to the city for a baseball game, and maybe fate will play its cards right for you to run into her again.”
He shrugs. “Maybe. But I’m going to head out. Is my bicycle still on the side of the house?”
“Should be.”
“Perfect. And hey, thanks again for letting me tag along for your trip.”
“Anytime.”
Tucker leaves, and I make my way down the hall to check on Sage. She’s sound asleep, hugging Mr. Marshmallow to her chest.
I need to see Poppy more than I need oxygen to breathe.
She texted me sometime during the drive, but I didn’t want to risk taking my eyes off the road for a second to respond. I just knew I needed to get back here.
Back to her.
When I enter my living room, I hear a noise behind the front door—a soft murmur in a voice I recognize.
Rushing to the door, I swing it open and see Poppy on the other side.
Her head snaps up when she sees me, and her eyes widen.
She’s wearing jeans, a tank top covered by one of her many cardigans, and clutches a piece of paper in her hand.
We both stand there in silence for a moment as I take her in.
There was an ache in my chest while I was gone, and it had everything to do with the woman in front of me—the pain of leaving her and not letting her know what was happening.
“Hi,” she says softly.
“Hi.”
“I…uh.” She turns her head to face my Tahoe before looking back at me. “I saw your car in the driveway.”
I nod.
“And I don’t know why I’m here.” She sighs, straightening her spine.
“No. I know why I’m here. I’m here because I created a stupid checklist today to keep myself busy.
I’ve been going crazy the last few days, and finally today I made one.
I didn’t know what you were doing or if you were coming back,” she says, rattling off everything in one quick breath.
“I texted you, and you didn’t respond. I thought the worst thing possible.
So I went ahead and tackled my list.” She reaches into her back pocket, pulling a folded piece of paper from her jeans, and then looks down at it.
“I wiped down the furniture on my back deck and ordered paint for a bathroom project I’m planning.
Then, when I saw you come back, I wrote down that I should tell you how I feel.
I hate that it took you leaving for me to realize that I love you—I’m in love with you—but it happened.
” She finally looks back up at me. “Now I have this list that only has two things checked off. So I’m here to tell you how I feel.
I’m here to tell you that I want you to stay.
I should have said that before, but I didn’t. I didn’t want to be the reason—”
I cut her off by gripping the back of her neck and pulling her into me. My lips crash to hers, and it takes her a moment to register what’s happening before her hands rake around my neck and tangle in my hair. Her body melts into mine, and I pull her into me with my other arm.
Poppy just told me she loves me.
It wasn’t some loud declaration—it was mixed in a ramble of thoughts.
And because it’s so her, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pulling away from the kiss, I hover over her lips, smiling, and she smiles back. I let my fingertips brush her hair back the way I always do, tucking it behind her ear before cupping the side of her face. Her emerald eyes glisten as they stare up at me.
“I love you, too, Poppy.”
“What?”
I pull her inside by interlocking my hand in hers, and close the door behind us.
I guide her over to the couch and take a seat next to her.
“When I left the other day, it was because I had a meeting in San Francisco to decide my future as the head coach of the Staghorns. When I last saw you and begged you to tell me to stay, I didn’t know what my plan was yet.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t jumping into anything without thinking.
” I bring her hand to rest on my thigh, tightening my hold on her.
“The thing is, I couldn’t make a decision.
I knew then and there it’s because this is where my heart is. Here in Bluestone Lakes with you.”
“You want to stay?”
I nod. “I want to stay, honey. Not because you told me to, and not because I failed at being a coach in the city, but because this is my home. You’ve had me wrapped around your finger from the moment I first laid eyes on you in the coffee shop, and every moment after that, you only tightened the rope. ”
She smiles at that, looking down at where our hands are connected. “I love you, Dallas. I do. I’m scared of this feeling because I’ve never felt it before. I don’t want to screw this up.”
“You couldn’t screw it up even if you tried.”
Sniffles from around the corner force both of our heads to snap down the hall, only to see Sage standing there, creeping around the corner.
“Sage? I thought you were in bed, bug.”
“I heard Poppy’s voice, and I wanted to come see her,” she says, making her way to where we’re sitting, settling herself on my thigh. “Are we staying here, Daddy?”
“We still have some stuff to figure out with your mom, but yeah,” I say, pausing to look at Poppy and smiling. “We’re staying, if that’s okay with you.”
“And will Poppy be your girlfriend?”
Poppy’s cheeks blush as she averts her gaze.
“Only if she wants to be.”
“I heard her say she loves you, Daddy. I think that’s what married people say to each other.”
I lean in to whisper in Sage’s ear, but keep my voice loud enough that Poppy can hear the next thing I’m going to say. “Someday I will marry her, bug. Mark my words.”
Poppy brings her fingertips to her lips and sucks in a sharp breath before her cheeks turn pink and she relaxes into a smile. My girl.
“I love that,” she whispers back, smiling from ear to ear. “That plan is better than any ice cream date night ever.”
“I think this deserves an ice cream night, huh?” Poppy says.
“Yes! Right now!”
“It’s getting late, bug,” I say to Sage. “And besides, Poppy probably has things to do before getting ready for bed.”
Poppy stands from the couch, extending her hand for Sage to take, and she does. “This is exactly what I want to do tonight. I have cotton candy ice cream and a baseball puzzle that’s almost done at my house if you want to come over.”
“Yes! Can we please, Daddy?”
I shake my head in disbelief, smiling as big as Sage is before standing from the couch. “Only if you’re positive, Poppy.”
She holds Sage’s hand, hooking her other arm in mine. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” And then she lifts on her toes and kisses me.
“Yay!” Sage cheers, forcing us to laugh against each other’s lips.
I lift Sage in my arms, take Poppy’s hand in mine, and close up the house behind me.
Because I too, have never been more sure of anything.