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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

DRAMA QUEENS

BOWIE

It’s nice to have an excuse to look at Poppy. I don’t like the way my heart thunders in my chest around her—I’ve become so accustomed to turning off my feelings that sometimes I forget I have one. This time, said heart is probably in a state because my daughter just once again broke it with the pictures, but there’s a good chance it’s also because Poppy is in our home.

She’s perfect with Becca.

It hurts how perfect she is with her.

Scratch that. If I had a heart, it would hurt. But it’s proving me wrong right now, pounding complicated rhythms in my chest as I try not to be obvious with my staring.

Poppy’s hair is luminous in the solarium. With all the windows and light bouncing off the white gleaming walls and the blue water, she radiates even brighter. There’s a dull roar humming through my body, and I feel like Becca, grasping for reasons to make this woman stay longer.

My body doesn’t forget the way she felt. Every single nerve ending in my body is drawn to connect to hers again. To latch on like a magnet and not let go.

But that’s just because, as uninterested in sex as I like to pretend I am with my friends, my body actually does crave physical contact. Desperately. If not for the fact that I jack off at least once a day, I would’ve blown my load in Poppy a helluva lot quicker than what happened. As it was, it took every possible resource in my brainpower to hang on as long as I did. Now that I’ve had a taste of her, everything in me craves more.

And not just anyone, specifically her .

That’s what’s so troubling.

It in no way scratched the itch.

I take a few pictures and Becca studies each one in delight. Poppy adds her approval too.

“These are great. If you text them to me, I will print them and have them ready the next time we see each other,” she tells Becca.

“I see you tomorrow,” Becca nods. Her excitement is off the charts.

Poppy laughs. “If you come to Briar Hill again, yes!” She wrinkles her nose when she looks at me. “I’m not sure if that’s what you had planned for your Saturday, but I will be working tomorrow.” Her eyes widen like she’s just thought of something, and I brace myself because she looks so fucking cute. “I don’t suppose you’d feel like helping with flag football tomorrow.”

“Oh. Not what I was expecting,” I say. I’m not sure what I was expecting since my head was envisioning her in my bed.

Her cheeks flush and I wonder if she can tell what I was thinking.

“You don’t have to. It was just a thought. We only do this every other week and I’m not always there, but I agreed to work this weekend. We’d love to have you. It’s nonstop entertainment.” Her eyes twinkle.

“Yes,” Becca says. My girl has already decided we’re going.

“Nonstop entertainment, huh? You make it sound like I’m capable of fun.”

Her grin deepens and it’s an even better look on her. “I didn’t say that…”

My lips twitch. “Hmm. Well, in that case, I guess I should come and prove you wrong.”

She lifts her shoulders. “I mean, I don’t want you to hurt yourself by smiling, but your face probably could use the break from your perma-scowl.”

I bite the inside of my cheek while she laughs.

Becca looks at me. “Dad, smile!” she demands.

I bare my teeth at my daughter and she cackles. That makes me smile. I roll my eyes when Poppy nudges Becca, saying, “You got one out of him! I’m impressed.”

Becca looks at her proudly.

“Should I see if I can round any other players up? Make a day of it?” I ask.

Poppy’s eyes go huge. “You think anyone else would be interested? ”

I get a little jealous by how excited that makes her. “Maybe.”

“It’d be amazing, but really, we’ll be happy for even one extra player.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Becca gets distracted cooing at Martha and I walk Poppy to the door.

“Thanks again for your time with Becca today. And here…just now. There’s nothing you could’ve done to excite her any more than taking pictures together.”

“It was fun. She’s so great, Bowie.” She worries her bottom lip and pauses by the door, turning back to look at me. “You don’t have to tell me, but…is her mom involved in her life?”

I shake my head. “No, not at all.”

Her brow furrows and her hand presses against her heart. “That…I’m sorry. That’s really…well, I don’t even know what to say. She doesn’t stay in touch at all?”

“No.”

I’d normally leave it at that, so I don’t know why I keep going now.

“She thought she was up for all of it, a baby, my career, marriage, but everything became more involved than we expected. My career blew up, Becca had to have surgeries right away. She didn’t want it after all. Any of it.”

The expression on her face is exactly why I don’t talk about it, not seriously anyway. The guys know about Adriane, and when I say anything now, it’s flippant comments and jokes. I don’t like seeing the pity on anyone’s face when it comes to me. I saw that enough as a kid when they realized the kid who was an athletic maniac also had a raging alcoholic for a father. Like maybe they suddenly understood why I was so driven to succeed .

What they didn’t know was that it had nothing to do with any drive I had for excellence. Not then anyway. My dad’s family was wealthy and even as a kid, we always had famous people come to the house. He liked to collect celebrities, as if they were trophies. But then I gained notoriety when I beat an Olympic swimmer at a swim meet. He was there to blow up a charity function and I stole the show. And I kept doing it for several years, even after we moved to the US, swimmers from all over the world coming to swim with me, or we’d travel to various competitions. I beat every single one. I became my dad’s trophy and it was both necessary and torturous. I only wanted to keep my dad on the road with me to keep him away from my mom and brother. He couldn’t afford to let any bruises show on me since I was swimming all the time, but when we were home, my mom and brother weren’t safe from his fists.

Eventually, I was sick of being his show pony and turned my focus on the sport I loved most, football.

“That’s such a heavy responsibility you’re carrying alone, Bowie,” she says.

I swallow hard, still stuck in the past. But what she’s said registers, and for some reason, it doesn’t hit me completely wrong like it would coming from most people I don’t know well. Maybe because it’s said with such understanding and compassion.

“Loving Becca is the easiest thing I have ever done,” I say finally.

And it is. Even on our hardest days, when she’s struggling with her temper and having a meltdown, I have always loved being with her most. It doesn’t mean life is easy. Some of her health struggles have nearly taken me out, and I hate to see her going through any kind of hardship more than anything…bu t the heavy responsibility I carried was as a child. As a man, I’ve earned my stripes.

And doing it alone suits me fine. I have help when I need it.

She smiles. “And you love her so well,” she says. “That little girl worships the ground you walk on.”

“Seems like she worships the ground you walk on right about now,” I say, my lips lifting.

Her laugh bounces around my house and injects it with warmth. “I’m just the new, shiny thing.” She waves me off. “It’ll pass.”

I tilt my head, narrowing my eyes. “Becca doesn’t really work that way. Once she’s in, she’s all in.”

She laughs. “I love that about her.” She frowns suddenly and points at me. “Hey, wait a minute. Is that…are you smiling?”

“Shut up,” I mutter, grinning down at the floor.

I hear a gasp and groan.

“Dad! Say sorry,” Becca says, coming up behind me with Martha.

“Sorry I said shut up,” I tell Poppy. I let out a long-suffering sigh and it just makes Poppy laugh.

“The games will begin at ten in the morning.”

“We’ll be there.”

She nods. “Excellent. See you then.”

“Excellent.” Becca nods just like Poppy and my face actually feels weird from smiling as much as I have.

She leaves and I loathe admitting it, but…I kind of miss having her here.

I pick up my phone and text the guys.

I’m taking Becca to Briar Hill tomorrow at ten and agreed to play flag football with them. Anyone else in?

Henley

I’ll be there in spirit. My leg’s not up for it and we’re taking the girls to Boulder this weekend. Wait a second. Isn’t this where Poppy works???

Weston

Dang. I’d love to get in on the next one. We have plans with Sadie’s family.

Rhodes

Let me see if I can pull it off. I think maybe I can.

Penn

Hell to the yeah. Is it okay if I bring Sam?

Absolutely. Just give him a heads-up first about Briar Hill in case he doesn’t know already. It won’t be the fast-moving pace he might be used to keeping with flag football.

I don’t have any concerns about Sam at Briar Hill. He’s fantastic with Becca, as evidenced by the massive crush she has on him. But it’s helpful to be prepared before being around kids with a large range of different disabilities.

Penn

Will do. But have you seen the kid lately? He’ll be eleven before too long, so maybe it’s puberty? I don’t remember being so slow at his age. I’m not sure he’s capable of hurrying to do anything.

Weston

LOL. He hightailed it out of the house when Rhodes stuck an ice cube down his shirt the last time we were all together.

Rhodes

He swapped out my water for Sprite and filled my bowl of chili with El Yucateco habanero sauce. That shit only takes a little bit to spice things up and I think he just dumped it in the bowl.

Henley

I wondered why you were chasing him.

Rhodes

Yeah, don’t feel sorry for him. He was just fine.

Penn

I thought he was gonna pee his pants waiting for you to try the chili. I’m glad I was around to witness that.

Rhodes

Where is the loyalty? Bowie? You gonna let them talk this shit with me?

I think I might have it all on video.

I chuckle to myself and then wait for the onslaught of texts.

They don’t disappoint.

Rhodes

No fucking way. Where’s the fuckin’ respect?

Penn

I just choked on my burrito. I’m glad I didn’t have El Yucateco on it because some came up my nose.

Weston

You guys should take this bit on the road. So fucking funny.

Rhodes

I’m not even trying to be funny!

Penn

I wasn’t either, and hot damn, my nose burns like the bowels of Lucifer.

Henley

It’s like a front-row seat to SNL when someone really good is on and even the cast can’t stop laughing…but free!

These guys. I swear. My chest and head feel lighter just from this crazy thread.

Rhodes

Okay, I checked and I can be there for a little while. It’ll feel good to do something active outside of the gym.

Okay, thanks. Becca will love seeing you guys there.

Henley

Hey, wait! You never answered my question. POPPY?

She works there, yes.

Henley

And?

And she’ll love seeing you there too.

Weston

And you know this…how?

God, you’re a bunch of nosy birds.

Weston

And this surprises you…why?

Rhodes

Sounds like we’re needing a little update.

When I don’t say anything, Penn jumps in.

Penn

Waiting…

There’s not really a story to tell. I took Becca to Briar Hill today. She hung out there with Poppy and Poppy brought her home. She mentioned flag football tomorrow because, you know Becca, she wanted to go back. Poppy distracted her by inviting her to play flag football, and before I knew it, I was invited too.

Rhodes

I think that’s the most words I’ve ever heard you say at one time. What are you not saying is what I want to know right now!

Penn

She invited you because she wants IN YOUR PANTS .

She’s already been in my pants and tolerated me acting like a bastard afterward.

I keep that little nugget to myself or I’ll never get any sleep tonight.

Weston

Don’t scare Bowie off, pretty boy.

Penn

Ugh. I thought you guys had stopped calling me that and I was happy about that fact. I’d say I’m more rugged than pretty, wouldn’t you?

Henley

The fact that you’re discussing it makes the nickname still work for you, pretty boy. That and your pretty black hair.

Penn

FUCK ME SIDEWAYS! I’ve had something to talk about this whole time. I can’t believe I almost let you guys sidetrack me!!! This is news. I only wish we were together right now to see your faces. Our man of mystery, Bowie Fox, has entire blogs, Instagram/Tiktok accounts, you name it…based on his HAIR. It’s called BHOTD. Can you fucking believe it? I hereby bequeath the pretty boy title to you, Bow.

What?

I open my browser. I can’t even remember the last time I checked social media. BHOTD. Is that the same thing Poppy said earlier? I didn’t know what the hell she was saying. I watch in shock as Bowie’s Hair of the Day pops up in small letters under BHOTD. The fuck? Article after article pops up, but I click on a video before reading anything. It’s nothing but music and photo after photo of me and my hair. People really pay attention to this shit? I click another and it’s dozens of shots of me with a man bun. Another has me running my hands through my hair countless times.

Henley

Oh, this is rich. LOL

Rhodes

Elle is saying she’s known for a while! We’re having our first married fight that she kept this news from me.

Weston

I can’t breathe. This is too good.

Where do people come up with this shit?

Penn

From your pretty head, that’s where.

I groan and toss my phone on the island, shaking my head. My phone buzzes for the next ten minutes, but I ignore it, and that makes me laugh harder than anything because I know those drama queens will go crazy if I ignore them.