“Figure out what?” Turner said. “Nothing’s going on.”
“If that was true, you’d have told him about your guest.”
“Poppy is a tenant.”
She opened both hands in front of her. “I’m standing right here, you know.”
Ritchie was the one to come over. “I know, honey, I’m sorry. Pres, you see, is like… Well, you know in movies, in cartoons and shit, they have the little angel that pops up on the main character’s shoulder?” She just blinked when he laid a hand on her shoulder. “There’s a devil and an angel whispering.”
“Yeah?” Poppy said, not really sure where he was going.
“Usually, in our typical roles, your man there is the angel,” he said, dipping his head back toward Turner who took his time about turning around to glare at the back of his friend’s head.
“I’m not an angel.”
“Sure you are,” Ritchie answered, but kept addressing her. “I’m the devil, not that you could tell.” He smirked. “I just say out loud what everyone is thinking.”
“And Pres?”
“Preston Whitlock is like God in our group.”
“Always silently judging?” Turner muttered in the background.
Ritchie heard him enough for the corner of his mouth to curl. “If you want anyone to answer your prayers, it will be Preston,” he said. “We dig ourselves into something… by ‘we’ I mean Naught or me… Pres is the one who saves our asses. Turner is Mr. Reliable… For a guy with as much on his plate as him, he needs to have his head screwed on.”
When Ritchie had started talking, Poppy thought he wanted to give her some insight. As his expression grew serious, she got it. “You’re warning me off.”
She kept her attention on Ritchie who didn’t flinch. In her peripheral vision, she noted how quickly Turner’s head came around.
“He’s what?”
“It’s okay,” she said, smiling at Ritchie. In fact, Poppy couldn’t stop herself from going further and opening her arms to grab him into a hug. “Oh my God.”
There was something so overwhelming about Ritchie’s love for Turner. Maybe as guys they wouldn’t say it in that way, but for him to come and give her a warning… It just showed that there was someone paying attention and that meant a whole lot to her. Her Grammie paid attention, more than she’d ever realized. Her father would warn off potential suitors or her mom would get in their way, but not out of love.
Ritchie was standing up for his friend. That was how much he cared about him. His love was nothing but sincere.
When the warmth of a tear streaked her face, Poppy realized just how much emotion was simmering inside of her.
“You shit,” Turner said, wrenching his friend out of her embrace. “You made her fucking cry.”
When Ritchie registered, his attention snapped onto her. Strength drained out of him to be replaced by panic. “I didn’t… I’m sorry.”
“I should fucking deck you,” Turner said, ready to step up.
Poppy quickly got in front of him. “No, I’m sorry,” she said to Ritchie, swiping away her tears. “These are good tears, happy tears. I love learning that people care about other people, and you have nothing to worry about. I absolutely promise you that I will never be in a position to hurt your friend.”
Still wary, Ritchie only relaxed a little. “I’d never lay hands on a woman, that wasn’t what I was—”
“I know.”
“Charley would kick your ass if it came to that.”
Turner reached over her to sock Ritchie’s shoulder. “Don’t fucking talk to her like that.”
“I’m okay,” she said, reaching back for his hand. “I’m happy. I’m good. You go play with your friends.”
Still glowing with the joy of learning the strength of Turner’s support network, Poppy headed for the bedroom.
Ritchie’s next question stopped her in her tracks. “Why don’t you come with us?”
She paused.
“You want to bring her to Naughtie’s?” Turner’s incredulity only piqued her curiosity.
“Sure, why not?” Ritchie asked. “It’s not like a guy-only place, it’s for everyone… She’ll have fun. And she’s new in town, right? That’s why Charley helped her out. It’s why you have her living here. Maybe she’ll meet some folks.”
And make some friends who weren’t his buddy. Warning her off was just the first step of Ritchie’s plan. Although she’d like to go out and see what the nightlife was like, Poppy also didn’t want to step on Turner’s toes. The guys Ritchie had mentioned were his friends, not hers, and she shouldn’t encroach on his private life.
“Thanks for the offer,” she said. “I appreciate it. But I have things to do.”