His shoulders silently shook as he guided me out of the room with a hand on my back. A shiver ran down my spine, and I did the worst possible job at hiding it if the fact his laughter when from silent to…not so silent…was any indication.
We made our way to the elevator and waited in silence. It was awkward—at least for me. Adam didn’t seem to be bothered about it at all. He was totally relaxed. A little too relaxed if you asked me.
Not that anybody did, but I was in the terrible habit of giving my opinion anyway.
We stepped into the thankfully empty elevator. My phone buzzed inside my clutch, and I dug it out as Adam hit the button for the second floor where the Palm Ballroom was.
Rosie: I’m going to kill her
Me: I’m going back to my room
Rosie: COME AND SAVE ME FFS
I sighed.
“What’s up?” Adam asked, sliding his gaze to me.
“My sister texted me begging me to come save her, which means my mom is all sunshine and fucking rainbows,” I replied. “Can’t wait.”
“I should cheer her up, right? Wasn’t she expecting you alone?”
“She fully expected you not to show up,” I agreed. “So, you’re right. You should cheer her up for a good, oh, fifteen minutes.”
He quirked a brow as the doors pinged open. “You’re not terrifying me at all, Red.”
“I warned you,” I reminded him as he guided me out of the elevator, too.
His hand was so gentle against the small of my back. That didn’t stop the tingles that ran across my skin without him even touching it.
I held my clutch against my stomach as I turned us in the direction of the ballroom. It wasn’t hard to find. Mark’s family had booked out the entire resort for the weekend, but there were still white and baby pink signs that pointed guests in the direction of the ballroom.
Since there was nobody else arriving yet—because we were early as I’d promised—we were completely alone in the outside area.
“Ready?” I asked Adam.
“Yep. Are you?”
“I wasn’t ready five minutes ago. You think that shit changed in the last five minutes?”
He laughed, pulling me closer into his side. “Come on. If we get through the first hour of being fake boyfriend and girlfriend, we’ve got this. Sixty minutes. We can do it.”
“Man, you’re so perky. I might have to break up with you.” I shook my head. “You’re totally gonna ruin my hating people persona.”
“Is that the one you put out with your shirts?”
“Yes. Embrace it or RIP to our totally real relationship.”
He pressed his face into the side of my head as we walked into the ballroom.
I couldn’t lie. It was decorated beautifully. Pearlescent white and baby pink balloons adorned each table, each four-balloon bouquet sprouting from the top of a white and pink flower arrangement.
If it wasn’t already obvious, the color scheme for the wedding was white and baby pink.
Long story short, it was perfect. Everything from the napkins to the lights above the bar had been changed.
It was like a fairytale. Seriously. My sister’s vision was unreal.
If I had to have a pre-wedding reception party, it’d consist of nachos and dips and Friends With Benefits blaring on the big screen. And me, alone, in my bed, with nobody else.
I was not my sister.
Not even close.
“Poppy! Finally!” My mom came rushing over to us.
We were barely in the goddamn room.
“Where have you been? We need you to help set up!”
I did a double-take. “I told Rosie six. She never told me she needed help, or I’d have been here.”
“Well, thank goodness you’re finally here. And you’re not alone.” Surprise briefly crossed her face. “Miranda Dunn. Poppy’s mom. And you are?”
I glanced at Adam. I think he finally “got” why we clashed. And it’d been sixty fucking seconds.
“Adam. It’s a pleasure, ma’am.” He ignored her offered handshake and, instead, took her hand and kissed her fingers.
Mom put her hand to her chest. “Handsome and he has manners,” she said to me, then turned back to Adam. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“I’m pretty sure I’d remember if we had.” He shot her a charming grin.
“Huh,” Mom said. “You are really familiar to me. Maybe I know a family member? What’s your last name?”
That was an excellent question.
Adam opened his mouth to speak, but he was interrupted by my father.
“Adam Winters! As I live and breathe.” Dad grabbed his hand and shook it enthusiastically. “What are you—Poppy? You brought Adam Winters to your sister’s wedding?”
I was missing something.
Something big.
“I, er,” I started.
“Adam Winters!” Mom clapped her hands. “Of course! I told you I knew your face!”
Adam grinned.
I glanced at him. My chest was tight. What was going on? What was I missing?
“My grandson is going to go crazy. Wait there! Mark!” Dad yelled, spinning in circles. “Mark! Get Rory!”
“Dad? Why are you yelling?” Rosie asked. “Rory’s here with me. What’s going on?”
I wanted to know that, too.
She looked up and saw Adam. “Well, shit.”
Adam laughed.
“Rosie! Your language!” Mom scolded her.
I looked down at my six-year-old nephew who was staring at Adam like he’d just met his hero. You know, how I imagine I’d look if I ever met Channing Tatum.
Adam crouched down so he was eye-to-eye with Rory. “Hey, buddy. It’s Rory, right?”
Rory nodded, completely dumbstruck.
“I’m Adam.” He held out his hand, but Rory was frozen in place. “How you doin’?”
Rory opened his mouth, but instead of speaking, he burst into tears.
My mouth opened as I stared at the situation in front of me.
Seriously.
What.
Was.
Happening?
“Uhh,” Adam said, standing up. “Sorry?”
Rosie hugged Rory to her leg and grinned at Adam. “Don’t be. He loves you. Once he’s gotten over the shock, he’ll probably follow you around all weekend.”
Seriously!
“I’ll be waiting when he is.” Adam touched my back again with a smile.
“What’s going on?” Mark said, joining the group and adjusting his tie. “Why is Rory crying? Sam, did you scare him again?”
Dad chuckled. “No. He just met his hero.”
Mark looked around the group until his eyes landed on Adam. “Adam Winters! Well, hell. What a pleasure.” They shook hands. “Poppy? You brought Adam Winters?”
I did the only thing I could.
I nodded.
Mark shook his head in disbelief. “Is this our wedding present? Kidding!” He laughed.
I met Rosie’s eyes. I was going to hyperventilate if somebody didn’t get me out of this situation.
“Honey, can you take Rory? Now we’re all introduced, I really need Poppy to help me with something,” she said, extracting a now-calm Rory from her right leg.
“What do you need her help with?” Mom asked, looking between me and her.
“Something!” She grabbed my arm and dragged me away. Mom’s eyes narrowed as we left the ballroom.
Oh God.
She knew.
She knew I didn’t know.
I was so, so screwed.
CHAPTER FIVE – POPPY
What The Cluck and a Hockey Puck
“What’s wrong?” Rosie said in a low voice.
“What is happening?” I breathed, pressing my hands against my stomach. “Why does everyone know who he is?”
Her lips parted, and she stared at me. “Wait. Are you telling me you don’t know who he is?”
I rubbed my hand across my forehead. “Jesus, no.”
“I’m so confused.”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I whispered. “We met last weekend, I slept with him, and asked him to come with me to your wedding and he agreed.”
“What?” Rosie paused, then laughed. “Okay, we’re gonna come back to that, but again: You don’t know who he is?”
“I have no fucking idea! Oh my God. What’s going on?”
“Okay, first, you need to calm down.” She grabbed my upper arms and looked me in the eye. “Remember when I was in labor and you talked me through the breathing?”
I nodded, my breath hitching.
“Breathe. And breathe. And breathe.” She did that for a few more seconds until my breathing was under control once again. “Okay?”
“I’m good. Sorry. I panicked.”
“That is the general reason for a panic attack,” she said. “Adam Winters is a star forward for the Orlando Storms.”