Page 148 of Under the Waves
“So…Sunny’s after shift?” I offered.
Poppy kept on walking. “Isn’t there literally anyone else on the planet who you could drag along with you, Ridge?”
“Nah, you’re all I’ve got, Wellsy.”
“How sorry for you.”
“I know. It’s like a bullet to my heart.”
She lightly punched my side for that comment. Though, there was a little smile tugging at her lips.Mission completed.
“Please, Wellsy,” I pouted like JaksonfuckingCalloway. The guy was infectious.
She bit her bottom lip, contemplating. Her brows scrunchedand the warmth that filled my heart almost sank me to my knees.
“I don’t know.”
“C’mon, Wells. We have to sell this fake dating thing we’ve got going on at some point.”
Nowthatcaught her attention.
“So…the whole school will be there?”
Tread real fucking lightly here, Jasper.
“Nah, not at Sunny’s Hut. There will be Pres there, though. Most people will just meet at Buckley’s Bar later tonight but I didn’t think you’d be into that so I didn’t say.”
She nodded and continued walking.
I knew not to push her. She’d come to a decision on her own.As she fucking should. I’d never be one of those guys who made decisions for their girlfriends, forcing them along to shit. I’d rather she’d be comfortable.Happy.
Poppy stopped walking. She turned around to face me, opened her mouth, then shut it again and continued walking.
“You good, Wellsy?” I asked, brows drawn.
“Mm,” she nodded. “Well…okay, no, but—”
All the equipment I had been holding dropped to my feet. My eyes, all my focus, was on her. Scanning every inch of her body. “What happened? You okay? Did someone say something? Just give me a name, Wellsy, and I swear they’ll never say shit to you again—”
She elbowed me in the chest. “You big buffoon,” she shook her head. “Nothinghappened.”
I stood there unmoving. “So…you’re okay?”
“Yes, Ridge,” she sighed. “I’m okay.”
My whole body seemed to relax at her words.
There was a part of me, deep down, that had this huge urge to protect her. From anything and everything. I wanted to fight for her. To get that bright as fuck spark back into those sad, green eyes. She was so…small. Fail. She reminded me of Lia. The hollowness. The grayness. I could feel her bones every time we hugged. It fucking shattered me. I understood now why Jakson pestered my mom to teach him how to cook. He made all sorts of things for Lia, and then ate every single thing she baked afterwards.
“Do—” she started before clamping her lips shut. “No, forget it.”
“Wellsy.”
“It’s nothing, seriously.”
“Poppy.”
“Fine.Fine. Do I…do I make you happy, Jasper?” She asked shyly, looking up at me through her lashes with the most adorable of expressions across her face.