Cowboys & Bosses

by Piper Sullivan

  Talia

  “Blake are you ready to meet your adorable little daughter?” Blake stood wearing an unstoppable grin and in that moment, I could see exactly what Poppy saw in him. His goodness shot out of him and not even his expensive suits and haircuts could overshadow it.

  “A daughter?” I nodded. She was beautiful with wispy blond curls like her father and blue-green eyes like her mother. A perfect blend of the two.

  “Yep. Come on back so you can count fingers and toes. And they said something about the umbilical cord.” I gave a fake shudder to shake off his nerves. “She’s fine, they both are, and now they’re waiting for you.”

  Blake fell into step beside me. “Thank you, Talia. For everything.”

  “None necessary, Poppy is like my sister and I would do anything to see her happy.”

  “I know,” he sighed as though he were uncomfortable with his own display of emotions. “And I appreciate it more than I can ever say.”

  “Good, because you don’t need to say it.” I stopped outside Poppy’s door and gave him a shove. He smiled back at me and then stepped inside, smiling bright enough to render the fluorescent lights unnecessary. I went to the decontamination room next door to remove the scrubs over my clothes and wash my hands before heading next door. To Poppy and her daughter.

  It was surreal but I meant what I said to Blake, to see Poppy have everything we ever dreamed off, was almost as satisfying as if it were my own family.

  Everyone had made it to the room by the time I stepped inside, staying near the door now that my role was over. Blake leaned on the bed, holding Poppy close and staring at his little girl with so much love it was hard to watch.

  “Guys I want you to meet Autumn Arden Sayers.” Poppy glowed as she held the little bundle up, handing her to Maple for the first cuddle.

  “You named her after my brother? Should I be offended,” Maple asked in a sweet sing-song voice as she checked out Autumn.

  “Well if he hadn’t left me OAA then I never would have met Blake, so we thought it would be a nice gesture. Another family name to carry on.”

  “That’s sweet,” Maple said, sniffing the baby’s hair and I had to agree. It was incredibly sweet.

  “There’s one more order of business,” Poppy said giddily and I braced myself. “I want you to be Autumn’s godmother.”

  I sucked in a breath because even though I should have, I hadn’t been expecting it. I figured she might choose Lacey since she would be married soon and have a stable home if the unthinkable happened. I had two choices, accept it knowing I was planning to leave town or I could decline in front of everyone and hurt my best friend. “I’d love to!” Because why start saying no when I never could before?

  She beckoned me forward and I gave her a gentle squeeze. “I know something is wrong and we’re going to talk about it. Soon.”

  We wouldn’t but this wasn’t the time or place for that conversation. And based on the loved up look she wore now, Poppy wouldn’t be returning to work anytime soon. Maybe we would be having that conversation sooner rather than later. “We’re going to go and give you guys some family time. Make sure she gets plenty of rest,” I told Blake who gave a grateful nod.

  With my work done, I practically ran out of the hospital and made a beeline for my car. I heard Luke’s footsteps well before I reached my car and I braced myself to deal with him. “That was a real shitty thing you did, Talia. Are you so petty you’d let me miss the birth of my niece?”

  I unlocked the door and tossed my bag inside before I glared at him. “Contrary to what you all seem to think, Lukas, my life does not revolve around your fucking family!” Slamming the door provided me no satisfaction so I peeled out of the parking lot and I didn’t look back, not even when tears began to burn my eyes. Not even when they began to blur my vision.

  I did what I always did. Looked forward, not backwards.

  Lukas

  “How many different damn ways can you remake a tuxedo?” We’d already been in the shop for an hour and we were no closer to making a decision than when Blake, Walker and I walked in. “Can’t I just wear the tux I already have? Either of them?”

  “No. Poppy has something very specific in mind so that’s what we’re doing.” Blake, once again, coming to his bride-to-be’s defense. No shock there.

  “It would be nice if she knew what that was,” Walker offered, laughing as he strutted in front of the mirror in a three-piece suit. “Maybe I’ll get this for my own wedding.”

  Blake and I both froze but it was Blake who spoke. “Strange since I don’t recall you asking for my permission.”

  “Or mine.”

  He looked at us in the mirror and smirked. “Stranger still you think I should considering Lacey is an adult woman capable of making her own decisions. Besides, who said I did the asking?”

  He was fucking with us, I knew it. “After everything I would think you’d at least pretend to give a damn about our feelings.” I’d been pissed at first when he hooked up with Lacey but they were the real deal, just like Blake and Poppy.

  “Fuck you, Luke. Did you ask Poppy before you started fucking her best friend? And you Blake, did you ask Maple or Talia for permission? Better yet, did either of you talk to Lacey before you went dropping your cocks all over town? I didn’t think so.” He disappeared into the dressing room and once again, I felt like an ass.

  “What the hell is your problem?” Blake looked at me like I was in the wrong.

  “My problem is that I’ve done every damn thing you’ve asked and now we’ve been in this place for an hour with no end in fucking sight!”

  “You have someplace else you’d rather be?”

  “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You and Poppy deserve each other. You’ve both been unbearable these past few months, making every fucking demand on the planet and thinking a sheepish ‘thanks’ was all that was required. And do you even have the decency to respect my time or Walker’s today? No, because you do whatever Poppy wants and fuck the rest of us.”

  “Maybe if you-,”

  “No! Fuck that. You don’t get to do that right now, not right now. You both have been absolute assholes, selfish assholes about all of this so when your chick gets her shit together, let me know and maybe I’ll be back.” I brushed past Walker and left the boutique, taking a left and just walking. My head was too full of everything and until I cleared it, I wouldn’t be able to make one damn decision.

  I walked and walked, stopping for a bottle of water or a sandwich when I needed it, but otherwise I just walked. The changing scenery and people helped, but not much. All I could think about was Talia and how angry I was at her and for her.

  She’d thought the absolute worst of me and that sucked but the fact that Blake and Poppy saw nothing wrong with their behavior pissed me off on her behalf. It was an unfamiliar feeling to me, but it needed to be said and I wouldn’t apologize for it.

  Just like I wouldn’t be apologizing to Talia for something I didn’t do. Each time the thought popped into my mind, I could hear Maple saying she was going to run, and I felt sick to my stomach.

  I wasn’t surprised when the phone rang and it was Lacey. As twins we often had weird, unexplainable moments of connection. She knew when I needed her and vice versa. “What’s up, Lace?”

  “Walker said you blew up at Blake and left the tuxedo shop, why?” She gasped and swore as I told her everything from the first day Blake gave us the wedding plans until today inside the shop. “That’s…fucked up. It also doesn’t sound like either of them.”

  “Which is probably why Talia hasn’t told them to shove it up their asses yet.” I hoped that was why and not something worse.

  Lacey was quiet for a moment and I thought maybe the call dropped, but she was doing her quiet thinking thing. “She has seemed off lately but I believed her when she said she was just tired.”

  Yeah me too. But maybe it was just easier to believe that than to look inside a person and see the truth that th
ey wouldn’t or couldn’t share. Talia only had Poppy to open up to and now Poppy’s life had changed drastically, effectively leaving her behind.

  “Shit.” I was as bad as everyone else, taking from her with no regard for what Talia wanted or needed. “Shit!” I needed to find Talia. Now.

  We had a lot to talk about and I wouldn’t let her go until we did.

  Talia

  Few things in life brought the innocent pleasure of holding a baby close to your heart. They were tiny and frail, with such soft hair and nice smelling skin. It was like crack for women of a certain age. Or women who grew up with no family to speak of, because Autumn was feeding my buzz right now.

  “Is she sleeping okay?”

  “Yep. I mean she wakes up for feedings and dirty diapers, but she’s more of a whiner than a crier, and mommy appreciates it,” she said in a sing-song voice that drew the little girl’s attention. “I should have just chosen a muumuu.”

  “It’s not too late,” I told her and she stuck her tongue out.

  “Out with it,” she said with her arms in the air as the seamstress pinned and tucked her all over. “Say whatever it is you’ve been building up to say.”

  I didn’t want to do this today and I’d planned to do it after the wedding but Poppy was stubborn and it was time. “I’m leaving. The company and Portland.”

  “Why? Is this because of Luke?”

  “No, Poppy. Give Luke a break. He’s single, not a monster.” God how pathetic was I, defending a man like that. “I’m leaving because of me. I don’t want to be your assistant for the rest of my life and I don’t want to work in sports apparel.”

  “But you can do burlesque right here.”

  I smiled and reigned in my temper. “I’m expanding my horizons.”

  “When?”

  The sooner the better. “I’ll take two months to train someone new after you get back from your honeymoon or maternity leave.” If I didn’t get out now, I never would and I couldn’t live with that. If I wasn’t ever going to get the family I always wanted, then I had to go out and make my mark on the world. It sounded cliché, but it was true.

  “I don’t like it.”

  I smiled. “I didn’t think you would but this is the perfect time. You’re settled at work and at home, you don’t need me anymore.”

  “I’ll always need you,” she said, her voice shaky with unshed tears. “What do you think?”

  I smiled. “I think you look beautiful.”

  “Thanks. Are you sure none of this has to do with Luke?”

  I shook my head. “I told you that was purely sexual. And now it’s nothing.”

  “You sure about that?”

  “Absolutely. Neither one of us was ever going to do a relationship and definitely not with each other. This was always how it was going to end and I’m fine with that. Completely.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said, arms crossed despite the scowl the seamstress aimed at her.

  “Neither do I,” a deep voice that could only belong to Luke, said.

  “It’s a good thing I didn’t ask either of you for your opinion. Blake isn’t here and we really need to get this fitting done.”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” Poppy insisted.

  “No, it’s not. This is it and the more time the seamstress has the better this dress will look, so shut up and do what she says and you,” I pointed to Luke. “Leave.”

  “Not until we talk. You owe me that.”

  “I don’t owe you a damn thing.” Done with this conversation, I turned my back to him. “I received delivery confirmation yesterday for your bridal lingerie, both sizes. Have you been breaking in your shoes?”

  She rolled her eyes at me. “With a baby in my belly? I don’t think so.” Then a mischievous smile spread. “I’ll just run and get them, give you guys a chance to chat.”

  “So that’s it, you’re just never going to speak to me again?” I could feel him behind me and moving closer. “That’s shitty.”

  “That’s exactly what you wanted,” I told him and shook off his touch. “Don’t pretend otherwise now.”

  “I’m not pretending a damn thing.”

  “It doesn’t matter, Lukas. We were temporary and I’m leaving soon.”

  “Maple said you would do a runner. I didn’t believe her.” He sounded almost amused by that fact.

  “Well you probably should have, she’s known me forever.” Though I couldn’t deny feeling annoyed that she’d sold me out to a pretty face. “I’m not holding anything against you, Lukas. We’re fine.”

  “So fine that I’m back to being Lukas?” He quirked his eyebrows in that knowing, smug way of his. “Convicted with no evidence?”

  “There was no crime, therefore no conviction and no evidence. You don’t owe me anything Lukas and I don’t know how else to tell you that.”

  “You think I fucked my assistant while we’ve been fucking and I did nothing wrong?”

  I shrugged at his phrasing but it was good to hear he thought it was just fucking. “You never made me any promises and I had no expectations.” That was a lie, actually. I expected he would do something to end things between us, and he did.

  “Goddammit Talia, is that all you want in life? No promises and no expectations?”

  “Yes, it is. I’m done with being hurt and disappointed and I don’t need the hassle in my life. You reminded me of that so I guess I owe you a thanks. Thanks.” I turned away from him so he couldn’t see the tears threatening to fall.

  “You’re a coward. You act like you’re so tough but you’re terrified.”

  “I never claimed otherwise! You have no idea what my life has been like so don’t lecture me. I might be a coward but I’m not a liar.”

  “Bullshit. You lie to yourself every fucking time when you tell yourself that I mean nothing to you. That you feel nothing for me. Every night you fall asleep alone, is a lie because you’d rather be in my arms. I know because it’s how I feel even though I tried to deny it for months.” Again, his words were believable but I very clearly recalled another time I’d let pretty, heartfelt words override good sense.

  “What I feel for you is irrelevant, Lukas. Being in love with a man destined to hurt you is the same as not being in love at all as far as I’m concerned.”

  “I didn’t touch her! Not that my word is good enough but there’s video if you want to see the evidence. If it’ll even fucking matter, because it won’t, will it?”

  “No because eventually you will cheat and by then it’ll be too late for me to get out of it unscathed.” I was too emotionally raw, too exhausted and I needed to go home. “Since you’re here, you can help Poppy. I’m out of here.”

  “Run away, Talia.”

  “Don’t worry, I will.” It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, walk away from Lukas when he appeared to be offering me everything, but I had to because it only appeared that way. I couldn’t tie myself to another man like that, no matter how much my heart longed to fall completely.

  He was right, I was a damn coward.

  Lukas

  “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

  I stood at my big brother’s side with an unstoppable grin on the day he finally married the love of his life. Poppy shoved her bouquet at Talia who wore a brittle smile, and threw herself into Blake’s arms for a kiss hot enough to burn the little building to the ground.

  The crowd cheered and whistled, celebrating new love. Young love. But my eyes were drawn to Talia, who couldn’t seem to buy a genuine smile today. No matter how hard she tried it just wouldn’t reach her eyes. It was heartbreaking.

  “All right kids, save something for the honeymoon.” The audience laughed and when they broke apart, Blake and Poppy looked like kids caught making out by their parents. He wore her lipstick and she flushed like a virginal school girl. “Come on, we have ten thousand photos to document this momentous occasion.”

  Poppy beamed a smile my way, mouthing,
“Thank you,” as she took my brother’s hand and dragged him back up the aisle.

  I took Talia’s stiff arm and escorted her up the aisle in total silence. “You look gorgeous today.”

  “You look nice too,” she replied but she never even looked at me and my shoulders fell, wondering if this really was a lost cause.

  Once we were out of the church I grabbed her arm and pulled her aside. “You hate me now, don’t you?”

  “No Lukas, I don’t. I can’t.” But she wished she could.

  Shit. “I love you, Talia.”

  “Lukas.”

  “Stop, just stop it with this Lukas bullshit. To you, I’m Luke. Always.” She sucked in a shuddery breath and looked up at me with love and wariness shining in her eyes. The first buoyed me and the other, left me gutted.

  “Today is Blake and Poppy’s day.” She made her escape, helping fluff Poppy’s dress and smooth her hair while the photographer set up near the gazebo.

  “No luck?” Blake couldn’t take his eyes off his bride, who laughed excitedly while Talia fluttered around her, mother-henning.

  “None. She doesn’t want to talk to me, won’t hear my declarations of love.”

  “Does she love you back?”

  I nodded. “But it seems to be a strike against me because loving me doesn’t matter because eventually I’ll betray her and leave her devastated.” Saying it aloud left a bitter taste in my mouth but those were her words.

  “Damn, that’s rough. Time to go big.” Poppy waved him over with a wide grin and like a besotted husband, he went running. When she dragged him towards the photographer, leaving Talia behind, I made my move.

  “You can’t avoid me, forever.”

  “Not forever, just a few weeks.”

  “Dammit, Talia. I’m in love with you and you’re in love with me, but fuck all that because one day in the future I might hurt you? That’s bullshit babe, and you’re not that girl.”

  “Don’t tell me who I am, you don’t know me Lukas!” She pushed at my chest angrily, only settling when she drew a few stares.