Page 105 of Small Town, Big Storm
“Gumballs!”Holly shouts.
“It’s the creaminess,” I murmur.“And the way it tastes when I take a lick.”
Poppy had been reaching out to push Shep on his swing again, but my words have her whipping toward me, her mouth falling open.
I realize my mistake a heartbeat later, openmymouth…
Too late.
Shep, and his big, dumb ass, uses Poppy’s push to kick forward hard.
Then swings back?—
And slams right into Poppy.
He may be leaner than some of the guys on the team, but the man is still over six feet and more than two hundred pounds.
And all of that crashes intomywoman.
“Oof!”she exclaims as she goes down.
I grab Holly from her swing, plunk her on her feet, and then I’m rushing over to Poppy, reaching her before she pushes upright.
Or tries to.
“Ow,” she whimpers, cradling her arm against her chest, her wrist already swelling, her hand dangling in a way I instantly know is broken.
“Fuck,” I whisper.
“That’s a bad word,” Holly whispers from beside me.
“Sorry,” I say.“I?—”
“Damn, Pop,” Shep says from beside me.“I’m sorry.Are you okay?”
I turn to glare at him, a cacophony of curses rising up in my throat.Not wanting to scare Holly, I manage to bite them back in time and turn to Poppy.“Let’s get you up to your feet, baby, okay?”
She nods.“Yeah.”
I slip a hand beneath one armpit, use my other to support her hand.“One, two,three.”I start to lift her but she whimpers again, her skin going deathly pale, sweat breaking out on her forehead, her body wavering.
Fuck this.
I sweep her into my arms.
Another whimper.
“Mom?”Holly asks, tears streaming down her cheeks.“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, baby,” Poppy manages.“Promise.”
That settles Holly—a little bit, anyway.She dashes her hands across her face, lifts her chin, more than a trace of Poppy’s strength and capableness shining through.“Do we need to go to the hospital?”
I nod.“I think your mom is going to be sporting a shiny new cast on her wrist.”
Poppy groans.“Please no.”
Holly, on the other hand, lights up.“Can I be the first one to sign it?”
