Page 49 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

I take a deep breath and pull open my bedroom door. May as well get this evening on its way to being over.

“Poppy.”

“Oh, hey, Aunt Jennifer.” I go over to where Chloe’s mom and dad are standing on the other side of the peninsula in the kitchen. “I think we’re going to have everyone outside.”

“I know. But I wanted to talk to you first.” Aunt Jennifer raises a brow and leans in close. “What do you think about all this?”

“Jen, we’re here to be supportive, remember?” Uncle Steve says .

Aunt Jennifer gives her husband a bland look. “I know. And I am being supportive. But I know this affects my nieces. I want to make sure they’re okay.” She looks behind her. “I haven’t seen Sadie or Brody yet.”

“They’re fashionably late,” I say, hoping it will get us off the subject of my mom and Adam.

I don’t want to talk about it. It’s not like I can say anything bad about Adam.

First of all, he doesn’t deserve it. And second of all, what if (gasp!) they get married?

Anything bad I say will hang between us forever. I’m not going to go there.

“Pops!” Aunt Lisa calls from the front door. Apparently, people are just walking in now. “Where is this young man your mom’s been telling me about?”

Aunt Jennifer looks at me. “Poppy has a boyfriend? How did I not know this?” Aunt Jennifer puts her hands on her hips. “Seriously, why am I always the last to know these things?”

Aunt Lisa lifts a brow. “Sorry, Mom.” Then she lifts her hands in an IDK look.

Aunt Jennifer narrows her eyes at all of us. “Well, Poppy? Where is he?”

I swallow. “He ended up getting caught at work. He’s going to try and get here before everyone leaves.” It sounds lame to my own ears.

“So he’s not here?” Aunt Kathy asks. When did she join in on the conversation?

I shake my head. “Sorry, you’ll have to meet him another time.”

“Meet who, Pops?” Now my Grandma Sue has joined us. It’s like I’m surrounded by well-meaning but incredibly nosy aunts. I lift my hand and rub my amethyst like no tomorrow.

But then Sadie walks in the front door, with Max coming in right behind her. All the aunts’ eyes shift and their faces light. Fresh meat. Thank you, Sadie!

The aunts swarm around Sadie and Max like an attacking murder of crows. I slowly back away, letting Sadie handle them on her own. After all, she has her boyfriend to help field questions. My mom must have sliced the brisket because all of the food is already out on the table on the back patio.

I quietly dish up and take my plate to the swing set in the back corner.

I haven’t been on a swing in years. I pick at the macaroni salad that my Aunt Lisa must have made.

Every family has an aunt who always makes a certain dish.

In our family, my Aunt Lisa makes the macaroni salad (with shrimp), and Aunt Jennifer makes a great potato salad.

Aunt Kathy, she’s on dessert. I mean, all of my aunts are good cooks. But they all have their specialty.

I’m slowly eating the food on my plate when someone settles into the swing next to me.

“Hey, Poppy. Are you doing okay? You seem a little sad. And from what your mom says, that’s not your normal.” Adam looks at me with the kindest eyes, and I nearly cry.

I force a smile. “Yeah, I’m good. My aunts can be a little much. I wanted some peace and quiet.”

He laughs. “Yeah, I can see that.”

I swing a little, letting my feet dangle. “Plus, my friend, Keaton, was supposed to be here tonight. But he had to work and probably isn’t going to make it.”

He nods. “Oh, that’s rough. I don’t know him well, but he seemed like a good guy. And I could tell he cares about you. It must have been unavoidable.”

I lift a shoulder. “So he says.” It comes out a little snottier than I planned.

He pats my knee. “I wanted to make sure it wasn’t me that had you upset. I know this is probably a lot for you kids to handle all at once.”

I shake my head and paste on my best fake smile. “Nope. You’re good.”

His head dips to the side. “Is there anything I can do for you? I’ll distract your aunts if you need me to.”

I smile, partially genuine. “Thanks for being willing. But you’re going to need your own distraction with them, so maybe you shouldn’t fall on your sword just yet.”

He grimaces. “I’ve been worried about that.”

The aunts and uncles move out of the house toward the food table. They look in our direction, and I groan. “I think it might be every man for himself. But if we separate, they’ll be forced to divide up. I think we might be able to take them if their numbers are fewer.”

Adam laughs. “This is the Poppy I’ve heard about.” He sticks out his hand. “Adam West, nice to meet you.”

I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you, too.” I glance over at my mom.

She’s smiling. I won’t say that my mom hasn’t been happy for the last twelve years.

But there’s been an underlying sadness in her.

I have to admit, though, in the last month, I haven’t seen it as much.

And I can only attribute it to the man next to me. “And Mr. West?”

“Adam, please.”

“Adam? Thank you. ”

He frowns. “I haven’t done anything yet.”

I nod. “Yeah, you have. You make my mom happy. And that means a lot.”

He swallows hard. “Well, your mom’s a special lady. She makes me happy, too.”

“I’m glad you have each other.” I’m surprised how much I mean it.

“Someone’s at the door. Shall I get it?” My Grandma Sue calls.

I stand up from my swing. “I’ll get it, Grandma. But thanks!” Then I glance at Adam and lift a shoulder. “I did say it was every man for himself.”

He smiles and waves me away. “I think I’ll be okay.”

I leave Adam on the swings and move into the house.

I reach the front door as the bell rings again.

“I’m coming,” I call. Maybe it’s Keaton, and he got out of his meeting early.

It’s the only person who’s not here and would ring the doorbell.

My stomach does a little flip-flop at the thought of seeing him.

I pull open the door. “You made—” But the words die on my lips. “Grandma Alice? What are you doing here?”