Chapter 38

“Poppi! My goodness woman! Look at you. You are a vision. How long has it been?” Hohner asked, grabbing her hand and kissing it.

“Two years. It is so good to see you. I feel like we lost touch. Your smile is still as devilish now as it was then,” she said, even a little too flirtatious for her own good.

Hohner laughed. He really was a handsome man. Poppi secretly wished she had stayed in touch with him and maybe she wouldn’t be in this predicament with her stepbrother.

“Well I won’t take up any more of your time, but save me a dance later?” He proposed.

Poppi nodded in agreement and watched him as he walked back to his table.

Talon, Drake and Madden were arriving at the same time. They all headed over to Poppi’s table and made themselves comfortable.

“Hey popcorn!” Talon said, kissing her cheek.

“Hey Tally, about time you guys showed up. Aunt Babs is gonna probably murder you. But I’m glad I can see you before that happens,” she joked.

The DJ quieted everyone and began to run through the speeches. The maid of honor and best man gave their practice speeches, but would save the real ones for tomorrow at the wedding. Hagen smiled at her beau as he rubbed her back.

Poppi adored her cousin and was enjoying seeing her happy. She avoided Madden’s glances in her direction during the sappy parts of the speeches.

Dinner was delayed by thirty minutes so the DJ did the bridal party dances. Eventually the floor opened up for everyone and he continued with the slow pace. Talon and Drake grabbed a girl and went to the dance floor.

Madden made his way to Poppi. She didn’t like the look on his face. He looked as if he were begging her to slowly melt into his arms.

“Do you want to dance Poppi?” He asked.

His hair was neat and his shirt wasn’t unbuttoned for once. He had on a blue tie and black dress pants. He looked so good.

Before Poppi could answer, she was spun around by her hand.

“May I?” Hohner asked.

She looked back at Madden and then back to Hohner.

“Yes, of course,” she responded, walking off hand in hand with Hohner.

Madden stood watching them. His heart breaking as she slipped her hands around his neck and smiled at him as if he was the one that knew her.

“That’s her ex, Hohner,” he heard Valyn say.

Madden snapped out of his Poppi trance. He looked over at Valyn.

“Oh Val, I don’t care. Poppi and I have ended all of that between us. We made a promise to you,” he reassured her.

“Funny because the other morning you weren’t in your bed and it hadn’t been slept in. Should I assume you stayed with Anchor that night?” She said, looking at him as if she already knew the answer.

She patted his arm.

“Just be careful MJ. Those walls aren’t that thick. Your father could hear anything at any moment. Let’s try to stay in the guest house tonight without any shenanigans,” she warned before walking off to say hello to her sister Barbara.

Madden’s chest felt heavy. Had she heard him and Poppi that night? What would happen if his father found out? He took one more glance back at Poppi and Hohner and made the decision that she was not ever going to be his, no matter how much he wanted her to be. This was where he let Poppi go.