ELEVEN
“Excuse me,” Poppy said, not in question, but in statement.
Turning around, she began to walk in the direction of home. Maybe the alcohol was heightening her emotion. Even telling herself to be more rational didn’t diminish her hurt. He’d hurt her. Really struck her deep.
“Pop.” She kept on walking. “Babe, I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said when he appeared at her side. “Really, it’s fine.”
“You always do that,” he said. “Something upsets you and rather than talking to me about it, you bottle up whatever’s going on inside and dismiss me like it’s nothing.”
“It is nothing,” she said, l*****g her lips before forcing them to smile. “It’s really fine.”
“I hurt you,” he said. “It’s about the one thing I’m good at with you.”
“I appreciate your honesty.”
“Stop being so goddamn poli
