Chapter 30
Thirty
Patrick
While we had been quick to gather the supplies we needed for the storm, I was taking my time finding the stuff Poppy had asked for. It wasn’t much, mainly some snacks that made me grin because I could picture her sitting on the couch with her messy bun, wearing my t-shirt, and munching on Oreos.
Gage walked beside me, stopping for a second to pull his phone out of his pocket. He glanced at the screen and then swiped his finger across it to answer it.
“Hey, baby. What’s up?”
We continued walking with me pushing our shopping cart while he talked to my sister.
“Is she okay?” he asked, and I immediately stopped, the blood whooshing in my ears as my heart sank.
He covered the mouthpiece with his hand quickly to speak to me.
“Daisy has a rash and a fever, so Julie is heading to the condo to check on her,” he explained before returning his attention to the phone call. “Do you need me to grab anything while I’m here?”
I hated the thought that Daisy was sick as much as I hated the idea that Poppy was at the inn by herself.
Even if she needed one of us, it would be thirty to forty-five minutes before we could get to her.
I gripped the shopping cart handle tightly, my knuckles turning white before I gave in and pulled out my phone.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t supposed to be talking to Poppy.
It was that I hated that our relationship had been reduced to text messages, and it killed me that I couldn’t go see her.
I wanted to touch her and hold her and make love to her.
But for now, a text would have to suffice so I could make sure she was okay.
Me: Hey, I heard Julie needed to leave to check on Daisy. Are you okay?
I pulled the cart to the side of the aisle so people could get past us easily as I waited for the dots to appear on the screen to show that she was responding. A second later, they appeared.
Poppy: I’m fine. Just sitting on the couch, watching holiday movies.
Me: Bullshit.
A grin pulled across my face as I watched the screen, waiting for her response.
In the short time I’d gotten to know Poppy, I knew that sitting down and watching a cheesy holiday movie was not her cup of tea.
It wouldn’t surprise me if by the time Gage and Julie got back, Poppy had redecorated the entire inn for them.
She got restless easily, and I loved how we used to handle that restless energy.
Poppy: Are you calling me a liar?
Me: Yes.
Poppy: The nerve...
Me: Prove it.
I felt Gage’s eyes on me, but I ignored it as he continued his conversation with Julie and I had a few minutes to chat with Poppy. Then a picture message came through, and I about lost it.
Poppy was sitting on the couch at the inn, wearing nothing but my t-shirt, her legs spread wide as she chewed her nail, looking at the camera. The shirt was pulled up just enough to give me a glimpse of her pussy, which made it even hotter.
Me: I fucking miss you.
Poppy: I miss fucking you.
I grinned and shook my head. She was going to be the death of me.
Me: I’m officially inviting myself over to dinner at the inn tonight. I’ll see you as soon as I can.
Poppy: I’ll be waiting.
I put my phone away and made it my mission to rush through grabbing the rest of the stuff we needed so I could get back to Poppy sooner.