20. Super Happy Today

20

SUPER HAPPY TODAY

“ Y ou got laid this weekend.”

Laurel looked up from her computer on Monday morning to see Poppy standing there all but bouncing in place.

She’d heard this sister had a sixth sense about sex but hadn’t believed it was true.

“Shouldn’t you be home getting ready to hold your son?” she asked.

Poppy moved in and shut the door. “Don’t avoid my question.”

“I won’t avoid yours if you don’t avoid mine,” she said. “You look ready to pop.”

“Any time now,” Poppy said, her hands cradling her belly. “But I’m not due for another week or so. I’m not doing as much work. Don’t worry. I’ve got two sisters, a hubby, and countless other people on my case, but things need to get done. I’d rather do it now than worry while I’m out or listen to Reese giving me a hard time about dealing with work while I’m on leave.”

“I won’t bug you,” she said.

“No. And many others won’t either, but some things I’ll have to deal with. Just like Lily had to when she was out and Rose will when she goes out. Now that I’ve answered your question, it’s time to answer mine.”

Poppy had sat in the chair across from her desk. More like gracefully flopped. “I didn’t know you asked a question.”

Poppy rolled her eyes playfully. “I made a statement.”

“There you go.”

“You’re not denying it?” Poppy asked. “Woohoo. I knew it.”

No reason to deny it at this point, but it’s not as if anyone knew she was dating someone. “How did you know?”

“You were whistling at your desk while you worked.”

“I could just be super happy today.”

“Super happy you had some action in the sheets. Your body probably is too.”

“That and a little sore, but only in a good way.”

She’d had more sex this weekend than she had in weeks when she was with Philip.

Pretty sad now that she thought of it.

And she didn’t want to compare, but it was as if Philip didn’t need it as much.

She found out why. He didn’t need or want it from her.

And for all the insecurities she was feeling about herself, she realized that maybe Easton had some of his own.

She wasn’t even sure where the words came from asking if he still loved his ex. The minute he said she ended things with Philip, but he hadn’t with Rachelle, it made her think and worry.

But she believed him when he said he didn’t love Rachelle anymore and that he most likely didn’t love her enough to begin with.

In her eyes, though she wouldn’t think she’d move as fast as she had with Philip again, dating someone for four years without that next step didn’t seem right either.

Could just be her because she knew not everyone believed in marriage.

She did. She wanted that in her life. At some point.

She wanted kids too.

“If it’s done right, everything hurts the next day. Even your heart.”

“Now you’re pushing it,” Laurel said, smirking.

Poppy tried to twerk her hips in the chair, but all it did was shift the wooden legs on the floor. “It’s not fun to do my moves when you’re big and fat like this.”

“You’re hardly fat,” she argued.

“But I’m big, I know. Reese loves it. He says the hormones are a major turn-on.”

“Are you one of those women who wants it all the time? I’ve heard about that.”

“I was with Holly. The same with this little guy in the beginning. But for the past month, I’ve been feeling like a beached whale and just want him out. Everything hurts. They already said he’s going to be bigger than his sister.”

“Tatum, right?” she asked. She thought she’d heard that name from someone else.

Laurel knew everyone was close and talked in the business, but she was in a different location from the rest of them. She saw the sisters when they stopped in, which was a few times a week, the same with Heather and Ivy, but she wasn’t one to stop her work and gossip either.

“That’s right. Tatum,” Poppy said. “Reese picked the name out and I loved it. Let’s get back to you. Who is the lucky man? Anyone I know? I know a lot of people in this area.”

Which reminded her that Poppy would know Easton. They hadn’t talked about if they were going to tell people or not they were dating, but if she had to keep it a secret, it wasn’t for her. And he did tell Abe.

“I think you do know him. At least from what Lily said.”

“Lily knows you’re dating someone?” Poppy said and put a cute pout on her face.

“She knows I went on two dates. She gave me some good advice over a misunderstanding.”

“Those are the worst, but Lily is good at advice. Who is it? If Lily knows, I should know too. It’s only fair.”

“It’s not a secret. Easton Cooke.”

Poppy frowned. “I know Abe Cooke. He does our landscaping. Oh my God, Easton is his cousin. I remember now. They were both a year older than me.”

“Yes,” she said. “Lily said that too.”

“I don’t think I’ve heard anything about Easton in years. Is he still around here?”

“He lives in Stamford. Abe had to fly to Florida to care for his mother for a few months and Easton is filling in for him. I’m renting the house next to Abe’s, where Easton is staying.”

“That is some kind of fate,” Poppy said.

“It could be thought of that way,” she said. “I’m not one to think of fate often. I had never met Abe and they look a bit alike.”

“So you thought Easton was Abe and it was his business?” Poppy asked.

“I did. I think it was a fair assumption. We’d gone on two dates.” Might as well share this with Poppy since Lily knew too. “Easton witnessed me kicking my ex off my front porch, so he knew I had an ex.”

“I need to hear that story too,” Poppy said, rubbing her hands together. “You’ve been a busy girl.”

“It’s been a crazy couple of weeks,” she said. “While Easton and I were having dinner, I was trashing attorneys and my thoughts of them. Wrong of me to lump someone in a category because of my experiences.”

“Don’t tell me Easton is an attorney?” Poppy asked, giggling. “Though not sure how he could be if he’s here for a few months filling in for Abe. Reese deals with that part of the household so he would know anything in terms of that.”

“He is one,” she said. “A partner. He practices business law and works remotely. He’s able to do both and set his schedule for the most part. He’s not doing much work for Abe other than keeping the guys on track and going out to get set up for quotes.”

“I’ve got the crew coming out at some point soon. We are having some more work done. Am I able to mention anything to him if he’s there?” Poppy asked.

“He’s a good sport,” she said. She’d make sure Easton had a head’s up. And if he couldn’t handle it, then he might not be for her.

She didn’t have a lot of friends around here, and those she had, she had a good time and a wonderful banter with them.

Then she remembered Abe busted Easton’s ass about her fixing the dishwasher and knew he’d be good with anything.

“Glad to know that,” Poppy said. “So you put your foot in your mouth and then Lily gave you some advice. Since you did the dirty with him, things have to be back on track?”

“They are,” she said. “He’s a good guy. We are just feeling our way. He’ll be going back to Stamford at some point in the near future. He’s been here for over a month already. I’m thinking Abe will be back by the end of this month.”

“So you’ve got a few weeks to make the best of it. I’m normally the one giving sex advice. You know, keep him in bed so he won’t forget you, but I’ve grown up some.”

“I think you were grown up more than people realize,” she said.

“Thank you for that,” Poppy said. “But we’ve all had our experiences in life with the opposite sex. My belief is those are what shape us for when we find the right one.”

“I think you’re right. When the time comes, I’ll know.”

Poppy started to grunt when she tried to stand up, so Laurel jumped up to rush over and help. “I should know better than to sit, but my feet hurt too. Thanks. And what I was going to say was that I think you know already but aren’t ready to admit it.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” she said.

She watched Poppy walk out slowly and then picked up her phone to text Easton and let him know that Poppy knew about their dating and that she’d explain more later.

Twenty minutes went by and her phone went off with a text saying it was fine and no reason to explain. It wasn’t a secret to him and she could tell who she wanted.

A smile filled her face.

Maybe she did know already, but it’d be her little secret.