Page 90 of Resisting His Charm

“You don’t need to thank me, Imogen. You’re my sister. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

“I know, but still… thank you.”

“How are you feelingreally? Does it hurt?” I ask her.

“No, I don’t really feel anything,” she says. “I have a good feeling about this, though, Sammie J.”

“Yeah, me too.” I smile at her.

The door opens, and my parents and Poppy walk in.

“Hey, you’re awake.” Poppy rushes over to my side.

“Did you think I wouldn’t wake up?” I laugh.

“That’s not funny.” Poppy slaps at my chest, then immediately grimaces. “Sorry.”

“She’s right, Sammie J,” my mom adds.

“You know, I don’t think I like this thing where you two are besties. You’re supposed to be on my side.” I pout at my mom.

“Yeah, from now on, I’m always taking Poppy’s side. She’s smarter than you are.” Mom smirks.

“Well, fuck, I can’t argue with that. Poppy is smarter.”

My dad is standing back. He’s quiet.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him.

“When you have kids, I hope for your sake you never have to see them in a hospital bed,” he tells me as he walks over to Imogen. He sits on the edge of the mattress and picks up her hand.

Poppy lowers into one of the shitty plastic chairs by my side. I lace her fingers with mine. “I want to get married,” I blurt out.

Poppy’s eyes widen, and she looks from me to my parents. “I think he’s still stoned from meds or something.”

“I’m not. I want to get married.To you, if that wasn’t clear,” I say again.

My mom and sister shriek, but it’s Poppy I’m focusing on. She’s quiet, just staring at me. “Are you sure? I mean, you haven’t tasted my cooking yet.”

“I can afford to hire another chef if you want one, remember? I’m not marrying you to cook and clean for me, Poppy. I want to marry you because I love you.”

“This is insane,” Poppy whispers.

“So, that’s ayes?”

She nods her head. “Don’t make me regret this, Sammie J. But, yes, I will marry you.”

Sammie J.Poppy is the only one in the family who doesn’t usually call me that. She always just calls me Sammie. But I like that she’s picking up on family habits.

“Thank fuck. I really didn’t want to have to coerce you into it,” I tell her.

“How would you have coerced me?”

“Lots and lots of orgasms.” I laugh.

“Sammie, you cannot say shit like that to me in front of your mother. Oh, my goodness.” Poppy slaps my chest. This time, she doesn’t look like she feels bad about it.

“Again, she’s right,” my mom mutters under her breath.

“I’m going to do this properly, when it’s just the two of us, and I have a ring,” I tell Poppy.

“No need. This was perfect.” She smiles. “So, should I tell Jaxson to saddle up the horses? Oh, maybe he can get us some white ones. They would look so good.”

“Still not getting married on horses,” I grunt. “Unless you really, really want to… I’ll do anything for you.”

Poppy leans down and presses her lips to mine. “I don’t want horses, just you,” she says.

I wish I hadn’t done this in front of my entire family, but I couldn’tnotdo it. “We’re going to be okay,” I tell Poppy.

“Yeah, we are.” She smiles.