“Tate tells me you’re still seeing that OnlyFans girl?”
“Yes.” I side-eyed Tate, wondering what the hell was wrong with the guy that he chatted about me with all these dudes.
“I want in.” Reed leaned forward, so casual you would have thought he was saying he wanted in on an investment.
“You what?” I asked, stepping forward into his space.
“Hey, I’m already a subscriber. She’s hot. She’s one reason I came down here. How much does she charge?”
“She’s not a prostitute.” Reed overlooked my balled fist.
“Yeah, right. That’s what they do. You gonna tell me you haven’t yet used her services?”
I flinched. His innuendo knocked me back because he’d been with me to Singapore and London. Tate might think I didn’t hook up with randoms, but Reed had been with me at some wild parties. Admittedly, those prostitutes were paid for by our host, and it was more or less a part of the scene, and nothing I’d ever admit to someone like Tate’s big brother, Gregg. I glared at Reed, silently telling him to shut the fuck up. What happened overseas stayed overseas. And while I might have fantasies about Poppy, none of those fantasies involved sharing her.
Tate piped up and quelled the rising tension with a simple, “So, Reed, do you like the Yankees or the Mets?”
Chapter 16
Poppy
“Don’t you dare go in that house without me,” I warned as I sped along the path, a grocery bag tucked between my legs for secure storage.
“I won’t. I promise. I’m parked right out front. How far away are you?”
“I’m here. One second.” The house came into view, and Luna stood on the porch step. A kid on a bike pulled out from one of the drives, and I slammed on the brakes. The kid waved a hand and smiled, taking off down the street, seemingly unaware I almost wiped him out. I continued at a slower pace into Gabe’s short drive up to the unbelievable oceanfront property which might be my new temporary home. Mind-blowing. I still hadn’t decided if I’d take him up on his offer, but the proposition couldn’t have been more tempting.
“What all have you got in that bag?” Luna asked as I set the parking brake.
She peered into the loaded reusable grocery bag on the seat. “Well, I’m a tagalong, so I wanted to be sure I wasn’t a freeloader.”
“Poppy, you’re not a tagalong. Gabe asked Tate to have me bring you. I told you that.”
“Well, yeah, but…anyway, I brought some flowers I thought might be nice for the table because boys don’t usually think of things like that, and some cupcakes I picked up from the grocery, and some crackers and a few cheeses I thought we could pull out, and some wine. I would have brought some sides, but I didn’t know what we were eating.”
“Jeez, girl. I don’t think you needed to do all that, but I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”
We climbed the steps to the front door side by side. Luna’s flip flops slapped the wooden steps with a loud plop. She pushed open the front door without knocking and kicked off her shoes at the door. I followed her in, down the wide foyer, and to the open living area. An old colleague I recognized strode in front of us, carrying a wide platter onto the screened porch.
When she reentered the kitchen, I smiled hello. “Tamara. I didn’t know you'd be here tonight.”
She wiped her brow and pulled at a white apron wrapped around her waist. “I’m here delivering the catering order. Shelley said she’d tip me fifty dollars extra if I get it all set up. Do you think that looks nice?” She waved her arm at the outdoor dining table. She’d lit candles all along the center table and set up a buffet table with enough food for easily twenty-five people. “He decided against having a bartender for tonight, but I did set up a few of our cocktail mixes at the bar station. Am I forgetting anything? Does this look okay to you? I’ve got to get back.” She glanced at her watch. “Jean can’t hold down both of our sections.”
“I think it looks fantastic. You go. I can do whatever else needs to be done.”
“Let me go make sure Mr. Chesterton’s okay with everything. I need him to sign, too.”
She stepped through the sliding doors onto the deck. Luna and I gaped at each other.
“Luna! How many people are coming? Am I dressed okay?” I wore a long sundress but paired it with flip flops. I’d done my hair and make-up, obviously, but this was insane. Based on the matching navy tablecloths and napkins, it looked like he’d rented items from party planners. Upon closer examination, he’d definitely rented. I recognized the silverware. I’d worked a ton of wedding functions and set up a similar bar station myself countless times.
Luna spun around in a circle, as stunned as I was, speechless.
Gabe, Tate, and another guy strode in through the sliding glass doors. I searched for a place to stash my bag, which now felt wildly inappropriate. Gabe swiftly bypassed Luna to greet me.
“Hey. I’m glad you could make it.” He brushed his lips across my cheek. Luna didn’t seem to notice since she was absorbed by Tate.
“I brought some stuff. For dinner.” I held the grocery bag up to him. “But it doesn’t look like you need it.”
“You’re sweet.” He lifted the bag and handed it over to Tamara. “Would you mind setting this stuff out before you go? Thanks.”
“Oh, I can get it. She’s got to run. You probably don’t even need what I brought, anyway.” Tamara glanced between us. “Seriously, go, girl.” Jean could handle her own weight, but even the most skilled waitress wasn’t a magician. There was a limit to how many tables an individual person could cover.
Gabe’s arm circled my waist as I fussed with
