A thousand Boy Kisses

party.
None of them knew of this development.
It was Jorie who turned first, her eyes widening when her gaze fell to Poppy’s
and my joined hands. She must have said something under her breath, because in
seconds, all our friends turned to look at us. Confusion was all over their faces.
Turning to Poppy, I urged, “Come on, we’d better speak to them.”
I moved to go forward, when Poppy pulled me back. “They don’t know
about…” she whispered, for only me to hear. “No one does except our families

---

and the teachers. And you.”
I nodded slowly. Then she said, “And Jorie. Jorie knows too.”
That bit of information slammed into my gut. Poppy must have seen the hurt on
my face, because she explained, “I needed someone, Rune. She was my closest
friend except for you. She helped me with schoolwork and things like that.”
“But you told her and not me,” I said, fighting the urge to walk away and get
some air.
Poppy held on tightly to me. “She didn’t love me like you did. And I don’t love
her like I love you.”
As Poppy said those words, my anger faded … And I don’t love her like I love
you…
Stepping closer to Poppy, I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “They’re
going to find out at some point.”
“But not yet,” she said, firmly.
I smirked at the determination in her eyes. “But not yet.”
“Rune? Get the hell over here, you got some explaining to do!” Deacon’s loud
voice rang out over the bustle of the hallway.
“You ready?” I asked Poppy.
She nodded. I steered us to meet our group of friends. Poppy’s arm was
wrapped firmly around my waist. “So you’re back together?” Deacon asked.
I nodded, my lip curling in disgust as Avery’s face beamed with jealousy.
Clearly seeing me notice, she quickly assumed her usual cynical mask. I didn’t
care; she was never anything to me.
“So it’s Poppy and Rune, together again?” Ruby clarified.
“Yes,” Poppy confirmed, smiling up at me. I kissed her forehead, holding her
close.
“Well, it seems the world has righted itself again,” Jorie announced, reaching
out to squeeze Poppy’s arm. “It wasn’t right, y’all not being together. The
universe just kinda felt … off.”
“Thanks, Jor,” Poppy said, and they held each other’s gazes for a second

---

longer, communicating in silence. I noticed Jorie’s eyes begin to water. As they
did, she exclaimed, “Well, I gotta get to class. I’ll catch y’all later!”
Jorie walked away. Poppy moved to her locker. I ignored all the stares. When
Poppy had retrieved her books, I backed her against the closed door, and said,
“See? It wasn’t so bad.”
“Not so bad,” Poppy echoed, but I saw her watching my lips.
Leaning in, I pressed my chest against hers and took her mouth with mine.
Poppy whimpered when my hand dropped to her hair, clasping it tight. When I
pulled back, her eyes were bright and her cheeks were flushed.
“Kiss three hundred and sixty. Against my locker door at school. Showing the
world we’re together again … and my heart almost burst.”
I moved away, leaving Poppy to catch her breath.
“Rune?” she called as I headed to my math class. I turned and flicked my chin.
“I’m gonna need more of these moments to fill my jar.”
Heat speared through me at the thought of kissing her at every opportunity.
Poppy flushed at the intensity on my face. Just as I turned again, she called,
“And Rune?”
I smirked and answered, “Ja?”
“Where’s your favorite place to go here in Georgia?” I couldn’t quite make out
the expression on her face, but something was going on in that head of hers. She
was planning something, I just knew it.
“The blossom grove, when it’s spring,” I replied, feeling my face soften just at
the thought.
“And when it’s not spring?” she probed.
I shrugged. “The beach probably. Why?”
“No reason,” she trilled, then headed in the opposite direction.
“See you at lunch,” I shouted.
“I gotta practice my cello,” she shouted back.
Standing still, I told her, “Then I’ll be watching.”
Poppy’s face brightened and she repeated, gently, “Then you’ll be watching.”

---

We stood, on opposite sides of the hallway, just staring. Poppy mouthed, “For