“Hey, guys!”
“’Morning, Poppy!” Patrick sounds happy to see me.
Lou waves, and I’m relieved I didn’t offend them.
I duck into the restroom that’s off the hall, hook my purse on the back of the door, and peel off my tennis skirt, which feels like it’s cemented to my legs thanks to the blasted Wisconsin humidity.
When I sit down on the toilet set, I kid you not, it sounds like the entire bathroom explodes.
“SHI-OOT.” I manage to curb my curse—a trick I learned trying to set a good example for Noli and Rose—as I bolt up and off the toilet, scooching my skirt up my legs as fast as I can and flinging open the door. “Whatwasthat?!”
Patrick and Lou are standing across the hall from the bathroom entrance. Lou has his cell phone out, and Patrick has his hand clamped over his mouth. His shoulders are shaking, like he’s trying to hold back his cackle.
I’m panting, and I can feel my eyes flying in every direction.
Patrick lets loose a howl, and Lou pockets his phone to wipe the tears from his eyes. “Gotcha,” he says.
“You…got me?”
“Pop-Its. The oldest trick in the book.” Patrick turns to Lou, and they slap hands like they’re freaking partners in potty crime.
“Your reaction was priceless,” Lou says on a chuckle.
“You almost said”—Patrick leans forward, cupping his mouth with his hand—“shit, didn’t you? That would have been perfect.” He rocks back on his heels.
“I…my…how—” I cut off my own spluttering, forgoing words in favor of focusing instead on willing my blood pressure back to a normal range.
Abner comes out of his office—because of course he does. I do a quick feel of my skirt to ensure that it’s not tucked into itself. What I don’t need is to flash my new co-worker.
“So, it was a success, then?” Abner folds his arms across his chest, his eyes dancing. He’s an older gentleman, probably pushing sixty-five. He’s got a soft mid-section that lolls over the front of his belt. He’s wearing a pale-yellow Cashmere Cove polo shirt tucked into black shorts.
“I’d say we hit pay dirt, all right.” Lou is nodding as he gets out his phone. He taps it and shows it to Abner.
The video replay of my bathroom adventure plays back, and the three men chuckle.
“Are-are you guys hazing me?” My face is impossibly hot now. I don’t know whether I’m on the cusp of laughter or tears. All I wanted to do was relieve my bladder, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to pee again without some serious self-talk for the foreseeable future.
The guys snap their attention back in my direction.
Lou steps forward. “Didn’t Holland warn you?”
“Warn me?” I feel a nervous prickle of sweat pop up on the back of my neck.
“Yeah. About the town tradition!” This from Patrick.
I shake my head. “‘Fraid not. Whatwasthat?”
“That was your welcome to Cashmere Cove,” Abner supplies.
“In the form of Pop-Its!” Lou looks all too pleased with himself.
“Taped up right onto the bottom of the toilet seat.” Patrick sort of juts out his chest like he’s proud of their efforts.
I glance between the three of them, floored. “You tape Pop-Its to the toilet whenever someone new comes to the Cove?”
They all look offended.
“Give us a little more credit than that! We change up the prank,” Lou says.
