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Theo chuckled as he applied a fresh bandage to his chest and slipped his shirt back on.
“His ass would probably be easier for a tattooing debut, but I don’t want to mess with perfection,” I said, which made Theo laugh and Max look a little uncomfortable.
I couldn’t stop myself from looking at Theo’s left hand while he prepared the colored ink for the rest of our session.
“Ring finger it is then,” Max whispered when the front door burst open. As everyone sipped their coffees and chatted, I found my eyes drawn again to Theo’s left hand. I could see the design so clearly in my mind. Theo might have to handle the actualneedle to skin part, but I knew exactly what I wanted. Thinking about wedding rings this early in a relationship should scare the crap out of me. But with Theo, it was easy to imagine. Something simple and uncomplicated because, despite how complicated we both are, the love I felt for Theo was effortless. I only hoped he felt the same.
I caught Max’s eye, and he smiled at me as the needle buzzed to life.
“Ready, Poppy?” Theo asked.
“Absolutely.”
Epilogue
Theo
Two Months Later
Skye and Holly chased each other around the empty living room in a never-ending loop. I could already tell we were in for a long week watching Skye while Cal and Rowan were on their honeymoon.
“Can’t you lock them up until we get the furniture in?” Aiden whined.
“Maybe we should lock you up,” Lauren snapped and then looked at me and blushed. “Please ignore me, Theo. I haven’t been myself lately.” She set down the floor lamp in her hands and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thanks, Lauren,” I said, giving her a tight squeeze. She had seemed off since the bachelor/bachelorette trip last month. It couldn’t be easy watching Rowan and Poppy both move on to the next phase of life without her. We did our best to include everyone, but inevitably Cal, Rowan, Poppy, and I ended up spending extra time together. I made a note to suggest Poppyplan a girl’s night out with Lauren while Rowan and Cal were on their honeymoon.
“Come on, Stud Man,” Poppy said, slapping Aiden’s back. “The dogs are fine where they are. Besides, we both know I’m the scariest bitch here.”
The first time Poppy used Aiden’s nickname in front of me, I spit out the water I was drinking. Apparently, it had something to do with an argument they had while hanging floating shelves at Red Blossoms Bakery. I’d gotten used to it. Scratch that. I secretly loved it. Poppy and I had blended our lives so easily, it felt like we’d been together years, not months. Which was why I’d already bought a black diamond and set it in a band I designed and made myself. Poppy and I left for Greece right after Cal and Rowan returned, and I planned to propose our first night there.
“Want me to pick up the couch from the furniture store?” Aiden asked, pressing himself against the wall as the dogs zoomed past.
“Take me with you,” Chris said, sticking his head out of the kitchen where he was setting up a table and chair set with Rose.
“Mom hugging you too much?” Poppy asked with a laugh.
He pointed at her. “It’s your fault, you know. Mom had just gotten comfortable with the idea of Ann moving down the street when you announced you were moving out.”
“At least I waited until after the wedding to actually do it.”
“One day, Pop. One stinking day.”
“I can hear y’all,” Rose said, storming out of the kitchen. “And for the record, I’m thrilled Poppy is moving in with Theo.”
“I’d find that easier to believe if you hadn’t been crying into a dish towel for the past ten minutes,” Chris said.
My stomach sank. It was understandable Rose would have reservations about me. I was five years older than Poppy with a truckload of baggage and a panic disorder. Rose must have seenthe worry on my face because she hurried over and grabbed my hands. “I couldn’t be happier for Poppy,” she said, giving my hands a squeeze. “And you.”
My relationship with Rose was an unexpected bonus. I hadn’t realized how much I missed Mana until Poppy’s mom started treating me like one of her kids. It was Rose who convinced me not to let my father’s rejection keep me from visiting the country I loved or from reaching out to Mana. Turns out, Rose had started texting my mother with updates of my life soon after Cal got with Rowan. Which went a long way to explain the change in frequency and tone of Mana’s texts around the time I was evicted.
I wasn’t sure what I expected when I told Mana about my trip to Greece, but her excited response healed something that, despite hours of therapy, I hadn’t been able to work through. We agreed to meet up in a little village about an hour from where she and Patera live. Poppy and I applied for expedited passports that same day.
Since Poppy had never been abroad, I wanted her first trip to Greece to be one she’d never forget. I only hoped I could keep the ring a secret until then. As far as Poppy knew, the trip was to celebrate Everly having the charges against me dropped.
We still had a long road ahead to try to get my prior conviction reduced and expunged, but whether the law still considered me a felon, I’d started to let go of the shame that came with the label.
Working on Logan’s memorial had helped. It’d been difficult at first, and more than one work session had already ended in a panic attack, but Poppy had been with me every time. She’d even joined me for a few therapy sessions to learn ways to help me ground myself. Little by little, I found my mental health improving. We were on track to install the sculpture this summer once Aiden and his crew completed work on the tree house.