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“No shit,” Poppy said, reaching for another cookie.
“I’m serious, Poppy. I haven’t been separated from Brad long enough to file for divorce. I can’t be in love with someone else.”
Poppy put down the cookie and glared at me. “You did not just lump Cal together with that dickface you had the misfortune to marry.”
“But we’ve only been together a little over a month. Plus, we broke up, so I don’t think you can count the full time.”
“So what,” Poppy said, picking up the cookie again like the conversation bored her. “When you know, you know.”
I watched her finish the design before I said, “It’s not that simple.”
“He told you he loves you, right?” Poppy said, placing the cookie carefully on the sheet of parchment paper where half a dozen more were drying.
“Yes,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “Every day since we got back together.”
“Then it is that simple,” she said, staring me down. “Tell him today.”
I shook my head. “Today is—”
“The anniversary of the worst day of his life. I know. And he asked you to be with him. If that doesn’t prove how much he loves you, I don’t know what the poor man has to do.” Poppy let out a sigh and reached for another cookie. “What time is he coming to get you?”
“Six,” I said, glancing at the clock on the stove. I wasn’t sure my nerves could handle another half hour of waiting, but I wanted to give Cal whatever space he needed today.
“Any idea what you’re doing?” Poppy asked like she didn’t know exactly where Cal was taking me or why.
I reached across the table and put my hand on her arm. “Want to talk about it?”
She shook her head and grabbed another icing bag to add detail in a different color. I watched her work, fascinated by her talent and speed.
Fifteen minutes later, someone knocked on the door, and I ran to get it. Instead of Cal, Aiden stood on the porch with his hands shoved in the pockets of his cargo shorts.
“Is everything ok?” I asked, my mind jumping from one scenario to another. None that put Aiden on my porch instead of Cal seemed good.
“Everything is fine,” Aiden said. “I’m actually here to see your sister.”
“Oh,” I said, opening the door wider. “Come on in.”
“I’ll wait out here, if you don’t mind.”
“Um, sure,” I said and went to the kitchen.
“Aiden O’Malley is on the porch. He said he wants to speak with you.”
Poppy looked as confused as I felt, but she set her icing bag on the table. I followed her to the porch, curious what was going on.
“Pixie,” he said, looking her up and down and frowning at her Grinch slippers.
“I’m sure most women fall apart at a good O’Malley once over, but I have dozens of cookies to ice,” she said. “What do you want?”
“I think you should be there today,” he said. “For Theo.”
“I think Theo would have asked me if he wanted me there.”
“What Theo wants and what he allows himself are two very different things.”
She took a step closer and poked him in the chest. “Maybe you should respect that what he’s telling you is what he wants.”
“Nope,” Aiden said, pulling his right hand from his pocket. A handcuff with red feathers was clamped around his wrist. He snapped the other end onto Poppy’s left arm.
