My Only Exception (gxg)

Part 15

"Out to a friend's house from work."

My mom stared at me knowingly for a moment and asked, "You're seeing someone, aren't you?"

My cheeks immediately grew flush, "Why do you ask?"

"You've been going out a lot at night. Just an observation, it's fine if you are, sweetie."

"I wouldn't call it 'seeing someone' exactly. Yes, I've been hanging out with someone...a lot."

"Do you like her?"

"Yeah...I guess so."

You are totally downplaying that.

"Maybe I'll meet her sometime," my mom smiled at me slyly.

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

My mom rolled her eyes, "Okay, okay. I won't."

When I got to Poppy's apartment, I could tell she was tired as well. She had a customer yell at her earlier about their drink. I wanted to come to her defense, and tell the customer off, but Poppy was able to handle her own. She handled her with just enough sass, with a dash of professionalism.

She kissed me when I walked in, and we went to her bedroom. Poppy sat down on her bed and patted the spot next to her.

"Are you alright?" I asked her, "You seem tired."

Poppy glanced at me, "So do you."

"I am, you're not wrong."

Poppy sighed, "I don't like being yelled at, like that woman did to me today for making her fucking latte wrong. I know I handled her well, but it makes me feel...small. When someone yells at me."

I nodded, "I understand that."

"Not trying to trauma dump on you. But my mom was married to a man for 10 years after my father and before my stepfather. He was awful and would constantly yell at me and my siblings. He was emotionally abusive, without a doubt. He made me feel small, always."

I found myself putting my arm around Poppy, "I'm sorry. And you can trauma dump on me as much as you want, Poppy. I...well, I want to know about you. As much as I can."

Poppy turned her head and looked at me with her gorgeous honey colored eyes, "I feel the same, Delilah."

Poppy held my gaze for a moment, and I got this feeling inside that I hadn't gotten in forever.

I think I actually really like her.

Well...that poses an issue.

Don't think about it now. Focus on Poppy.

"What are you thinking about?" Poppy asked me, "You look deep in thought."

"This situation between us really poses an issue."

"You mean because of Emily?"

I nodded, "Exactly."

There was a guarded element to Poppy's tone as she asked me, "Do you want to stop seeing me?"

"Fuck no."

Poppy smiled and said, "Good. We'll figure it out."

"I really hope so."

Poppy paused before saying to me, "You know, my brother Chris plays guitar, he has one in his room. Want to play and sing for me?"

"You'd want me to do that?"

Poppy nodded, "I would. You have a beautiful voice...and if you didn't notice at the open mic night, I was pretty hypnotized by your singing."

"Oh, I noticed," I said back in a joking tone.