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Mom’s snort of laughter was as unexpected as it was rage-inducing for her sister. Bonnie put her hands on her hips and looked down her nose at me. “You were always jealous of my Kaitlyn. She’s a beautiful woman with a bright future ahead of her. She and Andrew are going to fix this and she’s going to join the TV show with him.”
I nodded. “That sounds great for them. I hope they both live the life they deserve.”
Banner nudged my shoulder. “I see what you did there and I like it.”
Bonnie looked around the table and her mouth curled in disgust. “Were these people even invited?”
Mom scoffed. “Honestly, Bonnie, have you lost all of your manners?”
Cyrus shifted in his seat, his big frame seemingly growing larger as he focused on Bonnie. “We’re here for Poppy.”
A shiver worked its way all over my body. I loved the sound of that. They were there forme.
Bonnie wasn’t as satisfied with that answer as I was. “What does that mean? You’re here for Poppy? It’s notPoppy’swedding day. Poppy was merely a guest who didn’t get cut in time. Are youdatingone of these men, Poppy?”
The table was silent as they waited for me to answer and I found myself smiling down at my lap, happy to finally get over the hurdle. I wanted my guys back. I looked up at Bonnie and nodded. “Yep. All three of them.”
Charlie’s cheer was embarrassing, but I just kept on smiling at Bonnie, daring her to say anything else. What she didn’t know was that I was playing catch-up on gestures that showed the guys I cared. Any chance I got, I was taking it.
“You’re kidding.” Bonnie looked at my mom. “And you’re okay with this?”
Mom’s smile was almost as wide as mine. She pointed to Sam’s curls and wiggled her finger. “I’m hoping at least one of the kids gets those curls.”
“This is unheard of. Wait until the family hears about this. You’re just encouraging your daughter to live this…this taboo lifestyle?” Bonnie was giddy for the gossip and I just couldn’t have that.
I stood up and stuck my tongue out at her before walking straight to the DJ booth to ask for a microphone. My hands shook as soon as the mic was mine, but one look back at my guys was all I needed to breathe a little easier.
The music cut out and everyone turned to look at me as I accidentally cleared my throat right into the mic. Hearing that sound over the speakers was mortifying, but I pressed on.
“Hi, everyone. Most of you are family, but to the ones I don’t recognize, I’m Poppy Jo Summers. That’s my mom back there at that table, the one waving. Not the scowling one. That’s my Aunt Bonnie. She’s in a bad mood because it was her daughter’s wedding today that ended in that travesty. Oh, if any of you are Andrew’s family, kick rocks. Your family member sucks and I hope he spends the rest of his life with chapped lips and a scratch in the dead middle of his back that he can’t reach.” I curtsied like a lunatic when the back of the room erupted in cheers.
“Back to me, though. There’s going to be some gossip going around soon about me. The rumors are going to be wild. Some people will say that I’m dating three men at the same time. They’ll say I’m sleeping with all three of them and call me a whore.” I winced. “Sorry, Mom. You keep saying to not say bad words in church so the priest thinks you go to church and I keep forgetting.Ah! If only I’d been raised in the church.”
My dad’s laughter, a sound so distinct I would be able to recognize it in a crowded airport while wearing earbuds, filled the room, and I heard Paulie taunting mom too.
“Back to the rumors. They’re going to tell you that I’m in some sexy, reverse harem relationship with my three best friends. They’ll say things that’ll probably make you blush.” I looked directly at Aunt Bonnie. “And I just want to beat them to the punch. Guys? If you could stand up?”
I watched Charlie turn bright red as he laughed at my guys, who definitely looked hesitant to stand up in the middle of a church reception hall.
“Come on, guys. Don’t be shy.” I grinned as they shot me dirty looks, but stood up, one by one. “These are my best friends. I’ve known them since I was still in diapers. The tall drink of water with the thighs of steel? That’s Cyrus. He’s a super-talented mechanic and he’s teaching me to work on my truck. He could fight a bear and win but he’s the cuddliest guy you’ll ever find. And the curly-haired Adonis with what my dad calls James Bond aloofness? That’s Sam. Sammy to me and only me. He’s a programmer and is so smart that sometimes I’m not sure he’s human. He’s also the sweetest man, who has silently taken care of me without any acknowledgement for years.
“Last, but not least, there’s Jude. Jude is the one who looks like he’d be a dick because his abs are just…they’re just wow. He’s not going to show you, ladies, so don’t get any ideas. Jude is a shark at business and could own all of us in here, but he’s the nicest guy you’ll ever meet. He’s funny too. He makes me laugh like no one else can.”
I took a deep breath and held my chin up high. “The rumors are absolutely true.”
I handed the mic back to the DJ and walked back to our table with a smile on my face. It was strained because I was internally freaking out that I’d just said all of that in front of a room full of people, but I wasn’t ashamed of my guys.
To prove to them and myself that I wasn’t scared of my feelings anymore, I sat down in my chair and cleared my throat. Not that I needed to gain their attention. I definitely already had it. “Just to let everyone know, I’ve conquered my fears of love and public speaking.”
Charlie threw his hands in the air and clapped while Mom stared at me with teary eyes.
I turned to look at my guys, who were all still standing, and shrugged like I wasn’t screaming on the inside. “I owe you each an apology for how I treated you and I’ll be sure to give it to you at your chosen time.”
Charlie groaned. “God, Poppy! You were doing so well. Why’d you have to go and ruin it for me?”
Mom smacked him. “Hush, Charlie. She can apologize in private. You don’t need to hear all of their business.”
“She’s talking about blow jobs, Mom. Not real apologies.” Charlie scowled at me. “You’re nasty and I’m mad at you right now.”
