touched that shiny red mouth, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “But since he’s coming back to New Orleans, I’m supposing we’ll see each other a lot more.”
Poppy’s insides stilled, just as her stomach turned over. It was the weirdest sensation. She felt as if she were falling, moving sideways and then back again.
That wicked grin widened. “Oh. I see.” She literally licked her lips. “I guess Boone didn’t share that piece of information. But since we’re friends and all, I’ll let you in on what’s going down.” She winked, and Poppy wanted nothing more than to slam her fist into the woman’s perfect nose.
“’Cause that’s what friends do.” The woman’s eyes glittered. “It’s not public knowledge yet, but he was just offered a huge contract, and Boone will be playing ball this fall. It’s why I came to Michigan. To celebrate. I mean, this is a good thing. He’ll be back in the city where he belongs and leave this shitty little town in the dust.” She paused dramatically as if playing a part. “And by Christmas, he’ll be back in my bed.”
“And how does Benji figure into all this?” Glad she’d found her vocal cords, Poppy glared at the woman. “He’s just settled himself here and made friends. He wants to play hockey. He wants—”
“Benji will be fine,” she replied dismissively.
Too angry and upset to say another word, Poppy sailed past Amber. She didn’t stop until she left the house and stood at the end of the driveway, chest heaving from the effort it took to rein in her emotions. About to pull out her cell and call a cab, she was spared the wait when Link showed up.
“There you are, I was down by the water when the fireworks went off. Your man is in quite the state, and that woman he was married to—”
“Is married to.”
“Right. Okay, well, I don’t mind saying she’s a twit.” He paused. “Are you all right?”
“No. Can you take me home?”
Link didn’t hesitate. “Of course, luv.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Boone couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this angry. It was nearly a week since the party at Nathan and Molly’s. Since Poppy left like a thief in the night and refused to talk to him about the why of it. All she kept saying was she needed space and time to figure things out.
What the hell? Who did that? Who walked out on a relationship without a reason? Boone might not know much, but this was a relationship. And yes, Amber showing up was bad timing, but hell, she meant nothing to Boone, and as far as he knew, he’d never given Poppy any reason not to trust him. When Amber tried to act as if they were still together, he’d set her straight and told her to leave. He was done playing games, and with Amber, there was always a game plan.
“Fuck,” he muttered, and tossed the hammer to the ground, disgusted with the whole thing. He should have told her to leave as soon as she’d come. Or, at the very least, to book into a hotel. But Poppy had acted as if he was still screwing Amber, when, in fact, he’d had her sign the damn divorce papers before she’d hightailed it back to New Orleans.
He was free and clear, and yet he felt the opposite.
“You’re going to destroy that railing, or your million-dollar hand.” Cam shoved a cold beer at him, and Boone grabbed it, downing half before coming up for air. He was helping his buddy build a new wheelchair ramp for a local kids’ club, trying his best to keep his mind off things.
It wasn’t working out too well.
“Screw my hand,” he growled, finishing the rest of the can before crushing it and tossing it into the garbage bin.
“Your teammates might have a problem with that.”
Boone’s head shot up. “What?”
Cam shrugged. “When were you going to tell us?”
He frowned. “Tell you what?”
Cam looked uncomfortable as he reached for the hammer. “I hate this shit, you know?”
“I don’t know what shit you’re talking about. You might want to elaborate.”
“I know about the contract. I know you’re headed back for another season. We all do.”
Confused, for a moment, all Boone could do was look at his friend in silence. “Who the hell told you that?”
“It hit Sports Net this morning, but I, ah, I knew a few days ago. I was just waiting for you to say something.”
“Son of a bitch.” Who the hell would leak something like