“That turtle is trying to stick out his tongue!”
“Turtles can’t stick out their tongues,” I say, ready to quell any attempts at licking. I read as much on the plaque nearby.
“Look! That one’s climbing on top of that one. What are they doing?”
I find the object of study for our group of innocent children, and my stomach bottoms out.
Oh no.
No.
No. No.
No. No. No.
The turtles are mating—unabashedly, out in the open, for all the world to see. It’s like the freaking Discovery Channel up in here, and this is way more than I bargained for.
“Um, my friends, let’s move along. Nothing to see here.” I’m trying to wedge myself in front of the kids. I glance over to Mack, who is staring with his jaw slightly unhinged. “Big. A little help.”
The turtles behind me start making very loud, very specific noises. Noises that will haunt me for days, I’m sure of it. On the upside, this snaps Mack out of whatever trance the mating reptiles had put him under. He steps forward. “Hey, guys, the flamingos are over there. Come on!”
“But what are these guys doing?” Bella asks, her eyes so wide and innocent.
“They are…uh…playing. They’re having fun.”
Mack snorts, and I pin him with anot nowlook.
“Not fair. I want to climb on the back of a turtle!” Jameson is trying to peer around me as I shuffle the kids away from the turtle exhibit.
“I think that one is feeling sad.” Bella has the puppy-dog eyes down strong. “He sounds like he’s moaning.”
“He’s definitely not sad,” Mack says under his breath as we corral the kids and walk away.
I let my head fall back.
12
Fun
Mack
Thestarsareouttonight. I lean back in my chair and stare up at the sky. It’s become a slight addiction. After a long day, nothing clears my head like coming outside and gazing into the atmosphere. Today was long, but good.
After getting back from the zoo, I put in several hours at the build site. My crew made good progress, and I’m finally starting to relax, knowing we’ll meet our deadline.
My mind flits to Poppy, and, as if I conjured her, the door on the other side of the wall divider squeaks open and then clicks shut. The deck boards creak, and then I catch a faint whiff of floral—it’s gardenia, I think—which is Poppy’s signature scent.
A tremor of guilt passes through me because I kind of think I might have developed a small crush on my brother’s girlfriend. Spending the entire day with her solidified what I’d been learning about her from a distance. She’s kind, and committed, and a little bit of a control freak but with the best intentions. She makes me laugh, and I’m going to have to be careful around her.
I’m not going to pursue Poppy. But I can’t deny that I’m attracted to her. Big time. And I’m going to keep trying to be her friend. Holland asked me to, after all. And if friendship is my only option where Poppy is concerned, I’ll take whatever I can get.
I stretch back in my chair, and my half of the deck groans beneath my shifting weight.
“Big? Is that you?” Poppy’s voice is like a bubbling brook. It’s always cheerful—always optimistic. She sounds almost excited at the prospect of talking to me. It’s a nice change of pace compared to what I’m used to.
“Hey, Boo.”
“Whatcha doing out here? It’s late.”
