Jennifer McKenzie - Not Another Wedding

“Absolutely.” Wynn wouldn’t be able to resist Cami’s pleas for details. Not once she brought out the swollen-feet and aching-back cards.

“What about you?” Cami asked.

“What about me?”

“Any men in your life?”

“Not right now.” Beck flashed through her mind before she shut the thought down. She didn’t know why he’d even approached her. Had he honestly expected open arms and a friendly greeting after what he’d done? “But,” she said before Cami could start lecturing, “I’m going to work on that. Wynn thinks I should sign up for one of those dating services.”

“You should.” Cami was resolute. “It’s way past time you got back out there.”

“It hasn’t been that long.”

“It’s been more than a year since you and Evan split.”

“No.” Poppy paused and then sighed. “Okay, it’s been a while.” Ten months. Which was not a year. “I needed some time. But I’m ready now.”

And she would handle things her way, which according to her mother and sister was wrong. But they didn’t understand. They had lived the fantasy of marrying a first love with a white picket fence and kids. She was more practical. And as soon as this wedding was over, she was going to put her way into action and become a dating machine. Or, at least, a dating widget.

“Auntie Pop-pop.” Holly, Cami’s two-year-old daughter, interrupted with a bright giggle. She ran over and held up her arms for a kiss and hug, which Poppy was happy to oblige.

“Hi, Holly Hobbie.” She juggled her niece and the wine she still carried. “I like your shoes.”

Last time she and Cami had talked, her sister had mentioned Holly’s obsession with a pair of hard-soled Mary Janes. The constant tapping was driving her to the brink of insanity. According to Cami, Holly wouldn’t even take them off for bed. So Poppy had gone on a toddler-size shopping spree and sent up three pairs of sparkly shoes, all soft-soled, as well as two dresses, some striped leggings and a matching hat-and-scarf set for winter.

Holly proudly displayed the silver pair of shoes for Poppy to appreciate. Sparkly shoes might not be practical for an active toddler who spent more time digging in the dirt than playing dress-up, but Poppy hadn’t been able to resist. What was the point of being an aunt if she didn’t spoil her niece?

“Beautiful,” she told Holly. “They match mine.” She showed Holly her own glittery heels. Holly oohed and, when Poppy set her back down, petted them.

“You’re creating a monster,” Cami said as she smiled at her daughter.

“Probably, but she’ll be a nontapping monster. Doesn’t that count for something?” Poppy handed Cami her glass when Holly tugged on her dress and demanded to be lifted up for another hug. “Do you like the shoes?”

“Yes.” She wrapped her tiny arms around Poppy’s neck with surprising strength.

“I like them, too.” Cami inhaled the scent of the wine. “And I like this. I want some.”

“Soon.” Poppy untangled herself from Holly’s little monkey arms before they strangled her. “Only a few more weeks, right?”

“I hope not.” Cami sighed and pouted at the glass. “I feel like I’m about to explode.”

“Well, don’t explode here.” Poppy had a sudden vision of her sister’s water breaking all over her expensive gold shoes and having to hustle her off to the hospital.

“As if I would be so tacky.” Cami rubbed her swollen stomach. “Holly, don’t play with Auntie Poppy’s earrings.”

Poppy captured the toddler’s busy hands before she could get a good grasp and pull. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s talking to the band.” Cami gestured at the foursome. Poppy didn’t spot her mother’s strikingly colored hair nearby, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t around. “She wants to hear ‘Old Time Rock and Roll.’”

Poppy snorted and glanced back at her sister. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Oh, it gets better.” Cami took another sniff of wine. “She’s already made Dad promise to dance with her.”

“Which, of course, he will.”

“Of course.” Cami grinned and rested the glass on her belly. “Don’t worry, I’ve scoped out a corner where we can hide.”

“Will there be room for both of us?”

Cami laughed and pinched her. “That’s for calling me fat.”

“Down, down, Auntie Pop-pop,” Holly demanded and spun in a circle when her feet touched the grass. “I go play,” she announced and darted off into the party.

Poppy watched her run. She was a cute little thing, with her happy laugh and zest for life and shoes. Poppy adored her.

“Who’s the babe?” Cami wanted to know.

“What?” Poppy turned back and found her sister studying her with a knowing eye. “What are you talking about?”

“The babe.” Cami gestured to her left with a cocked eyebrow.

Poppy’s eyes followed the gesture and found Beck staring right at her. Why was he still watching her? Didn’t he have something better to do? Some other unsuspecting woman to stalk?

She made a noncommittal sound and turned away, pretending she had no idea who Cami was referring to even though they’d both gawked at him.

“Don’t play coy.” Cami took a step closer. Her swollen belly bumped Poppy’s hip. “He’s hot.”

“No, he’s not.” She refused to look back at him. Bad enough she still felt his gaze on her.

“Oh?” Cami’s eyes lit up. “I thought you didn’t know who we were talking about.”

“I don’t.” Poppy brushed at her spotless dress. She sensed Cami still ogling Beck as if her life depended on it. She stopped brushing and frowned at her sister. “Quit looking at him. He’s going to think he has an invitation to come over.”

“Good.” Cami upped her bald appraisal.

“Cami.”

“Mmm?”

“Need I remind you you’re happily married with 1.8 children?”

“I’m well aware of that.” A wistful sigh. “Who is he?”

“I have no idea.” Poppy stuck to her lie.

“Right,” Cami scoffed. “I saw you talking earlier and I refuse to believe you didn’t even get his name.”

“Believe it.” If she refused to waver, she hoped Cami might.

No such luck.

“Then I think we should introduce ourselves. He probably doesn’t know anyone. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Cami, no.” Poppy stepped sideways to block her path. She’d rather give up chocolate. And coffee. Forever.

“But look at him standing there all alone. He needs a friend.”

Poppy was immune to Cami’s wheedling tone. “I’m not going anywhere.” Cami’s belly knocked into her, but Poppy held her ground. “And neither are you.”

“Why not?”

“Because.” Poppy studied her sister’s face and realized resistance was futile. Cami would keep hammering and pushing until she got an answer. “His name is Beck.”

She banked on the fact that giving in would satisfy her sister so they could shift to a new topic, preferably one that didn’t send her blood pressure skyrocketing.

Cami had other plans. “Beck. Jamie’s cousin Beck?”

Poppy startled. She hadn’t expected Cami to remember his name. She’d been out of high school for more than a year by then and had spent that summer hanging out with her boyfriend and now husband. “Uh, yes.”

“The one you...you know.” Cami wiggled her eyebrows, implying exactly what “you know” she was referring to.

Poppy felt her entire body blush. “How did you...”

“You told me. Back when you were young and foolish.”

“Right. Of course I did.” She eyeballed her sister.

“Poppy, you tell me everything.” She put her hands on her hips. “Wasn’t there some swooning about the scent of sawdust?”