Found (Lost & Found #2) - Scarlett Finn Page 0,103
his father’s shadow, he idolized him…”
Her words drifted off to be consumed by the noise of the room.
Drawing Val into a hug, Poppy wished she could do something to help the wonderful woman. Except no one could; nothing would bring Ed back.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Charley’s voice interrupted the embrace. Both Poppy and Val looked up to the younger woman. “Do we need drinks? More alcohol?”
“Sit,” Val called and snagged her daughter’s hand to pull her down to the table. Poppy huddled in so the three could talk more easily. “What is going on with you and that man?”
“Man?” Charley asked, though her innocent act was terrible. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her friend threw Poppy a glare, but she held up a hand. “I didn’t say a word.”
“No one has to tell me,” Val said. “You’ve gone crazy for that man. I thought I raised you better than that. If you have to chase them, they’re not worth it.”
An argument could be made that Turner had chased her. Poppy chose to see that in a more positive light. When he came to the estate, Turner knew that she loved him. Also, unlike David Leicester, Poppy didn’t run away because she was interested in keeping her options open.
“Actually, Ma, he’s the one chasing me,” Charley said.
Poppy really hoped that wasn’t pride in her friend’s tone. Until Charley exhaled and ran a hand through her hair, Poppy believed that it could be. The act gave the younger woman a more harried air.
“Chasing you?”
“He got back into town tonight,” Charley said.
“And he wants you to go over there?” Val asked, pulling Charley and Poppy’s hands together on her lap. “This is a night for your new sister. Celebrating her love for your brother. I definitely taught you better than to give your body to an unworthy man. Just because he snaps his fingers, doesn’t mean you should run to him.”
“I know,” Charley said. “He doesn’t want me to go to his apartment. He wants to come here and join us. I told him no. I keep telling him no.”
“Why would he want to come here? It’s a ladies-only night,” Val said. “Naught won’t stand for anyone causing trouble in his bar.”
“I don’t think David wants to cause trouble,” Charley said, meeting Poppy’s eye. “He says he wants to apologize. It was zeal, he got carried away.”
“I don’t need him to apologize to me,” Poppy said. “Not without your brother present anyway.”
Turner might not be the best companion to have at her side if the creep, David Leicester, tried to wheedle his way into her good graces. From Poppy’s point of view, there was no clearer way to tell the creep she didn’t care about him or his lies than to have her love in her arms.
“It’s okay,” Charley said, tossing her phone onto the table. “I think I’m over it.”
“Over it?” Poppy asked, surprised when Charley shrugged.
“He’s just too… desperate.”
Containing her smile wasn’t easy. Poppy was pleased that her friend wasn’t infatuated with Leicester anymore, but given the way Charley had once felt about him, her reasoning was funny.
Poppy’s phone began to buzz, not that they heard it. The device moved across the table, light brightened the dark screen and the word “First” was there for all to see. Neither of her companions needed to ask who that was.
Picking up the phone, she cringed at the ladies, though they didn’t appear offended by the intrusion.
“Take it,” Val said, waving her away. “He’ll be suspicious if you don’t answer.”
“Oh, Poppy gets to talk to guys, but I can’t?” Charley said to her mom.
“Your brother, her fiancé.”
Leaving the women to their good-humored debate, Poppy hurried toward the door. There was no point trying to have a conversation in the bar; it was just too noisy.
“Hello,” Poppy answered just as she opened the door.
“Babe?”
The door swung shut behind her, damming the sounds of the patrons having a good time. “Sorry, baby,” she said. “Is that better?”
“You’re out?”
“At Naughtie’s,” she said, going to lean against the corner of the building. It had become her spot for talking to him on the phone. “We won’t be out late.” A smile curved her lips. “If you’re alone and want to play, I could just walk home right now.”
“Ritchie will take you home later. He’ll have to do two runs. You got my mom out there too.”
She wasn’t surprised that he already knew the details of their evening. “I thought you didn’t know I was out.”