“That’s enough out of you.” I hoist myself up and hurry to my room. I’ve got a boyfriend to send off and a new town to charm.
I better find myself some nice underwear.
2
A Disagreeable Agreement
Mack
Leaveittometo stumble upon my brother’s new girlfriend half naked.
In my defense, she’d been making a racket to end all rackets, and I was afraid something might have been seriously wrong.
Turned out nothing was wrong…except for, you know, the half-naked woman walking around in my backyard.
I guess some people might not consider that wrong.
But contrary to what most of this town believes, I’m a gentleman.
Truthfully, I felt sort of bad. Her predicament was my fault. I own the duplex. I’m well aware of all the…quirksof the property. Frankly, Poppy’s side is nowhere near ready to be lived in. That didn’t stop Holland from offering it up for her and her sister to use—which, let’s be clear, istotallylike Holland. Things just work out for him, so he expects things to work out for other people. Newsflash, little bro, it’s going to take more than a positive attitude to make that half of the house livable.
I tried to warn him, but he insisted they would be fine there. Said they were happy to have a place to live. Said Poppy was the type of woman who made the best of things.
Let’s hope her resume includes making the best of leaks in the roof, because I can’t guarantee that our next summer storm won’t end up happeninginher kitchen.
I glance at Holland and Poppy from where I’m leaning against my work truck, waiting for them to say their goodbyes. Holland is dressed in joggers and a white V-neck t-shirt. He’s got his sunglasses perched on top of his head. He looks like the superstar that I’m pretty sure he’s about to become.
Poppy has the total girl-next-door look going on. Her feet are bare. She’s wearing cut-off jean shorts and a flowy floral top that shows about an inch of skin above her waistline. Her dark-brown hair is tied up in a messy knot on the top of her head, and her skin is all dewy in the morning sun.
Either that, or she’s still sweating from her earlier battle with the back door.
I know I am.
The two of them are lingering, and I’ve been trying not to eavesdrop, but we need to get this show on the road. I’ve got to get Holland to the airport and then get myself back to the work site to oversee my apprentice electrician and make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid that’ll set back the entire build.
Here we go. Movement.
I stand up straighter as Holland and Poppy embrace in what appears to be a tight hug. Now he’s leaning away, taking her hands. I can tell she’s giving them a squeeze. She’s nodding. If I had to guess, this is the part where she’s assuring him that she’ll be okay while he’s gone. He’s going in for the kiss.
I look away.
Just like I’m not trying to see Holland’s girl naked, I also don’t need to see them making out.
I refuse to acknowledge the slight twinge in my chest. How would I define it? A prickle? Of what? Jealousy? Maybe. Only because it would be nice to have a partner…someone who was sad to see me go and anxious to welcome me home. I’m not sure that’s in the cards for me. Not since Tricia.
I slide into the driver’s seat and wait, drumming my thumb against the steering wheel. I don’t put the key in the ignition because I don’t want to rush the happy couple. I’m considerate like that.
Holland is only another minute. As far as goodbye kisses go, that one must have been pretty tame. I side-eye Holland and wonder if he realizes how good he’s got it. Not that I approve of this whole situation. I mean, he asked a woman to move all the way across the country to his hometown just before he heads off on a grueling pro-golf tour circuit. There’s no way this set-up is going to work, right? It has disaster written all over it.
And yet, this is Holland, and everything he touches turns to gold, so maybe I’ll be eating my words when the two of them wind up married with a baby on the way in a year or two.
“All set.” Holland reaches across his muscled upper body to buckle his seatbelt and then shoves his sunglasses down over his eyes.
I grunt and start the truck.
“Thanks again for giving me a ride. I wanted to leave my car so Poppy and her sister have a spare.”
We’ve been over this, so I know his motives. I nod.
