Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104037 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 520(@200wpm)___ 416(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
As soon as I round the corner, I stop.
A cropped top, short skirt, tan legs leading into white boots. Dressed in white with white flowers in her hair that match the bouquet in her hands. Poppy says, “Took you long enough.”
I walk right up to her, drop my duffel, and dip her into a kiss. Pulling her upright, I take her into my arms. Face-to-face. Lips to lips. Heart to heart. “I took the scenic route. Thirty-three months to be exact.”
With a smile that could light up the Vegas Strip, she caresses my cheeks. “You got here just in time, babe.” This time, she kisses me. Could be Austin, or maybe it’s just being reunited after a long week of shows, but her happiness pervades the world around us.
I kiss her again, our lips parting and our tongues tangoing. I taste her little mewls and deepen our connection. She wasn’t wearing white when I met her, but I can see so much of her returning to who she used to be. The heaviness doesn’t weigh on her, the sense of always failing in her parents’ eyes is gone.
She’s carefree again.
Her hair is a little unruly from the wind, her lips stained in cherry red, and the boots are scuffed, though she’s probably only worn them for an hour. I love discovering the little things that make her Poppy.
The scars from the accident.
The vibrant green in her eyes bask in the sun’s rays.
And a new tattoo I’ll be asking her about later. Although it doesn’t need much explanation. With my eyes on her, I bring her arm to my mouth and lick the length of it.
“What do you think?” she asks, timidity entering her tone. “I wanted something else that you designed.” I love you. L.
Simple. Encapsulating. Our past tangled with our future. “I love it, but I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“It’s not what you did. It’s who you are that made me fall in love with you over and over again.” Holding me again, she asks, “Want to play a game?” I’m already smirking, liking the direction we’re heading. “I’ll go first. Never have I ever gotten married before.” She tugs the door open, but I stop her from entering.
Since the outfit is a dead giveaway, I need to get some things off my chest. “Before we go in there, I need to tell you something.”
Her smile falters, but trust still resides in her eyes. I take her hands in mine, letting the door close on its own, and say, “Never have I ever had one doubt about marrying you after knowing you less than twenty-four hours.” I kiss one hand and then the other before leaning in to kiss that spot just beneath her ear that makes her giggle, or if I catch her in just the right mood, she moans.
“Mm.” Her head tilts toward mine, making me smile from hearing her purr.
I cup her face and drink in her captivating features. “Never have I ever doubted that you are my soulmate, Poppy. I know we give destiny a lot of credit for our relationship, but we put in the work.” I glance toward the restaurant, spying all the familiar faces inside. Not so much a surprise that I’m getting married but that she went to the trouble to pull this together for us while I was touring, I say, “It will be the honor of my eternity to love you with every ounce of my being.”
The restaurant smells of ginger and pancakes, coffee, and my soon-to-be wife, who smells divine with a mix of vanilla and sex appeal. But when I come in from the sunshine, it’s not only the stacks of pancakes lined up on the counter that I see. It’s everyone I care about in one restaurant, filling the booths and clapping for us.
Poppy bumps into me and says, “If you think they’re happy now, just wait.”
She’s mistaken me for someone with patience. I’ve waited my whole life to be with this woman. I’m ready for this. But first, I make the rounds greeting and hugging, shaking hands, and patting backs with everyone from my parents to my sister with Autumn and Tulsa to Johnny, Holliday, and Tommy. The Crow Brothers are representing, and even The Rock Star Heroes came to be a part of the big day. Of course, they still live here, so the travel wasn’t bad.
Even the server from back then came in to celebrate. Emmie says, “I’m glad it worked out.”
“Thanks.”
Nikki brings me a tuxedo jacket to slip on with my jeans. I would have chosen different clothes for my wedding day, but if Poppy’s happy, I am.
I look around, seeing faces that aren’t typically at our family events, but are familiar faces and in reputation. Good things said, so I’m glad I finally get to meet all of them.