“Guys,” I nod to the team, and Jake, when we come to a stop before them all. “You know my girl, right?”
“What’s up, Poppy?” Shane says, a shit-eating grin spreading across his face.
Poppy stiffens in my hold, but she soon relaxes when she realizes that he’s just asking the same question he would any other day.
“Shane’s known the whole time,” I whisper in her ears.
“Oh.”
“While we’re making announcements,” Jake says, standing up on the picnic bench he was previously sitting on.
All eyes turn on him as Poppy attempts to curl in my side, obviously guessing what’s about to happen.
“I know you all know what’s happened recently, but I just want to clear something up.” His voice booms across the quad.
“Stop him, please.”
“Baby, you know better than anyone that Jake will do as he pleases no matter what.”
“Great.”
“Well, hear this bit of gossip straight from me. That girl right there.” He points directly at Poppy as she curls in even tighter to my side. “She’s one of the strongest girls you’ll ever meet. She also just so happens to be my sister. So anything you have to say to her, you had better be prepared to say it to me as well, because there is no longer just one Thorn in this school, there are two, and you will treat her with the respect she deserves.”
“Jake,” she barks. “Get the fuck down.”
“Oh and...” he continues. “She’s taken, so don’t even think about it.” He pins each member of the team with a look. “Unless you want both Hunter and me to beat your asses into next week.”
Eyes turn on the two of us. I pull Poppy in front of me and drop my lips to the top of her head and wink at Jake.
When Poppy left with Harley to get breakfast last Sunday morning, I headed straight to Jake and Amalie’s new place to tell him the truth, well after Mom collared me to talk about how she wasn’t ready to be a grandmother yet.
I was fully prepared to leave with a black eye and split lip to rival my girl’s, but I was pleasantly surprised when all I got from him was a harsh warning to treat her properly and to never hurt her. I’m not sure if I need to thank Amalie for him not going full throttle on me or if he had already accepted that I’d fallen head over heels for his sister.
Jake jumps down from the bench, walks over and holds his fist out to me.
I bump it before pulling Poppy from her hiding place.
“Was that really necessary?” she spits.
“Yep. Anyone says anything to you, you tell me, yeah?”
“I don’t think anyone’s that stupid.” He raises a brow. He doesn’t need to say the words, we all know that if that were actually true then we wouldn’t have just lived the nightmare we have.
Poppy lets out a sad sigh. “Thank you,” she whispers to Jake. “I appreciate you having my back.”
“Always, Sis. It’s me and you now.” He drops a kiss to her forehead before going back to join the guys.
“Walk me to class?” she asks, looking up at me with her huge gray eyes.
“I’d love to. Want me to carry your books too?”
“You’re such a goof. Come on,” she says with a laugh, lacing her fingers through mine and pulling me toward her locker.
As expected, eyes follow us through the hallways as quiet whispers fill the space.
“Just ignore them,” I say to Poppy.
“I am,” she says with her head held high.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” I tell her, stepping into her body and pressing her up against the wall outside her first class of the day.
“Miss Thorn, Mr. Hunter, I’m not sure that’s the way to start the day, is it?” Hartmann barks down the hall when spots us.
“S-sorry, sir,” Poppy stutters, pressing her palms against my chest and trying to push me away. Her cheeks flame red and she refuses to look at him.
“You’re going to get me in so much trouble,” she whispers to me, still trying to put some space between us.
“Speak for yourself. I’m so hard for you right now.”
“Zayn,” she half warns, half moans. “You need to go to class.”
“Well, it’s your fault if Miss Peterson thinks it’s for her.”
“You’re gross. She’s like... five years past retirement.”
“What can I say?” I shrug. “The older generation loves me.”
“You’re a nightmare.” She shakes her head at me, a smile playing on her lips.
“Love you, Pops.”
“I love you too,” she says quietly as I start backing away from her.
I blow her a kiss before rounding the corner and bumping straight into Rich and Justin who immediately set about ripping into me for my declaration. Assholes.
Thanks to Jake’s warning, almost all the gossip had died out by the end of the week. Although it’s been impossible to ignore the weird atmosphere around school knowing that we’d lost one of our own. He might have turned out to be even crazier than any of us had imagined, but he was still someone most of us had grown up with. It was weird, and I hate that a person who threatened the life of someone I love is able to leave that much of a hole behind. But I guess it is what it is, the best thing we can do now is look to the future.
“Are you sure you want to come? I would understand if you wanted to stay here,” I say to Poppy who’s sitting in my passenger seat while Harley’s been relegated to the back.
“Of course. If you want me there,” she adds hesitantly.
Reaching over, I lace my fingers with hers. “Of course. It’s just not exactly the kind of place you belong.”
“I want to see where you all grew up. I’m sure it’s not as bad as you make out to be.”
“Have you two about finished?” My sister sulks from the back.
“We should go before the toddler has a tantrum.”
“Fuck you, Zayn. I don’t think I like you all loved up and shit.”
“We need to find you a boyfriend,” Poppy suggests.
“It’s okay. I already told Zayn that I was going to fuck Justin or Rich. I might even get them to double team me at the party tonight.”
I can’t help the growl that rumbles up my throat at her words. “Shut the fuck up, Harley.”
“What? Tit for tat. You fuck my friend, I fuck yours.”
“I’m not just fucking your friend though, am I?”
“As amusing as this little argument is, I’m right here, you know?” Poppy points out beside me with a smug grin on her face. “Harley,” she says, turning to look at my sister. “Don’t give it up to those assholes. Pick someone decent who’s not been around half the school.”
“Like you did?” she asks sarcastically.
“Fair point. Forget I said anything, screw who you like.”
“Poppy,” I gasp. “You’re meant to be on my side.”
“Sorry, babe. Chicks before dicks.”
My chin drops as Harley barks a laugh behind me.
“Charming.”
“Seriously though, Har. Don’t just give it up to get back at us. Make it special.”