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The rest of the office day was yet another day wasted except this time, because of Poppy. It didn't matter how many times I looked at her and after how long, each time I did, she was fast asleep.

Initially, we were supposed to plan the outline of our shared article today so when we got back from New Orleans, we could speed up the writing process and add it to the magazine.

I glanced at the time on my watch and took a look around the office room. It was lunchtime and the entire room was empty, save sleepy Poppy and me. I still couldn't believe I'd have to do all this with her.

Ever since she joined Travel Addict Weekly, I've spent a fair share of my time trying to avoid her and whenever I couldn't, I turned to competing with her and making things as difficult for her as I could. I didn't want Poppy anywhere near me, I didn't want to be stuck with her with no way out. "Poppy."

She groaned and then lifted her head, her chair sliding over the carpet as she looked past her computer, tilting her head to one side. "What?"

"We have work to do if you're done napping."

"I'm not," she said bluntly, disappearing behind her computer again.

I rolled my eyes, scratching my eyebrow. "Poppy," I said again.

"That's my name," she mumbled, "don't wear it out."

All right, that was it, that was my limit. I stood up, rounding the table and pulling her chair back, making her sit upright, glaring at me. "Get up and get yourself together. We have to book our flight tickets and make our article plans together."

"So?"

"So, we're going to lunch. Up," I ordered.

She only stared at me.

"Now," I said more firmly.

She tilted her chin up, defiance in her eyes.

She... plays very dangerous games.

"Poppy," I exhaled.

She rolled her eyes, grabbing her purse off the table. Clearly, she was so out of it today that her phone and everything else proceeded to fall out of her open purse now that she grabbed it upside down. She just stared at everything on the floor before cursing, "Fucking hell." She glanced at me while I grabbed the armrests of her chair, pushing it back a few inches.

I huffed, kneeling down on the floor, grabbing all her things, shoving them into her purse. Her phone, a tiny mirror, a lip gloss, a hand cream, her keys, and her journal.

Lord, how does everything fit in her little purse?

I zipped up the purse before facing her. She seemed wide awake now. "A pen," she said.

I lifted a brow.

"My pen is under the desk. It fell out. Could you get that too?"

I took in a slow breath, muttering, "Of course." I faced the desk, crawled underneath, and grabbed the gold Harrods pen before crawling back out, shoving it into her purse, and facing her again. "There." I placed the purse in her lap.

"Thanks," she said.

I stared at her for a beat, waiting for her to pull the chair back and stand up but she never did, she only looked down at me from where I knelt between her legs. I demanded, "Now let's go."

"No," she replied quickly.

I grabbed the armrests of the chair as she started wheeling it away. "Yes."

She groaned, planting her feet on the ground firmly. "No."

I stood up, bending down to her level before I pulled the chair in, stopping it a few inches away from me. She blinked once, her eyes traveling across my face. "Yes," I said, bringing her eyes back up to mine. I stood upright, taking her purse in my hands before grabbing her wrist and pulling her with me.

She whined in protest but fell into step beside me, eventually cooperating.

After making it downstairs, I pushed her in front of me once we reached the revolving door. "Scan yourself out," I told her.

"I can't. I left my ID upstairs," she groaned, running a hand through her hair.

You've got to be kidding me.

"Is it really so difficult for you to function on only a few hours of sleep?"

"I don't think two counts as a few," she argued, glancing at me over her shoulder.

I poked her in the back with a finger, pushing her towards the door anyway as I scanned my own ID. I took a step closer to her as she placed a hand on the glass door, pushing it to rotate, taking tiny steps so we could get through it together. "I'm sure you've had more sleepless nights than just last night," I told her, lifting a hand and placing it on the door beside hers.

"Sure," she said, peering at me over her shoulder again. "But they were worth it. I didn't spend them reading the same itinerary over and over again."

"No? What else do you do in your free time?"

She stopped abruptly as we reached the end, causing me to walk right into her. She spun around, her chest grazing mine. "So much, want to know?" she asked, lifting a brow and coming up on her toes.

I shook my head, pushing the door while walking into her, forcing her to retreat. "Not at all." We made it out of the building like that and then I led the way to my car.

Finally making it into the car, she asked me, "Where are we going? The Locket?"

"No."

"Why? We get free food. And we get to see Blake."

I turned in the seat, backing out of the parking spot, keeping an arm around her chair. "And Jenny," I mumbled.

"Exactly."

My eyes met hers. "That's not a good thing for me," I reminded her before facing forward and resting one hand on the gear while steering with the other.

"She's your sister, why are you so hostile towards each other?" she mumbled, mostly to herself.

"Just because she's my sister doesn't mean we have to be on good terms. Are you on good terms with everyone you call family?"

She paused and then cleared her throat, "I don't have a lot of people to call family in the first place. It's just my dad and my brother. Uncles, aunts, cousins don't talk a lot and my grandparents don't visit a lot either."

"See. Not on good terms with everyone then," I muttered.

"Yeah, but not on bad terms either. At least I'm not. What about you? Other than Jenny. Your parents? Uncles, aunts? Nobody?"

I tightened my hold on the wheel, keeping my eyes ahead. "Nobody."

"All right," she answered, dropping the subject, surprisingly enough.

I glanced at her, stopping at a red light. "You don't have anyone in New York then? I take it your dad and brother are back in San Diego."

She hummed, nodded, and then her eyes narrowed. "I don't remember telling you that I'm from San Diego."

"I've heard you say it," I replied, "and I've read your file."

"How? You're not supposed to read employee files."

"Well, in your words," I looked at her, "Lydia actually likes me," I smirked.

She scoffed, "She's probably the only one who does. Let's go to The Locket. I know you secretly like seeing Jenny, if not then at least you get to see Blake again."

I sighed in defeat and drove us there. The place was a bit busier today, still not crowded or overpacked though.

"Hey," Jenny greeted us both. "Lunch for two?"

Poppy nodded, "Yes. We'll eat here. You want to join?"

Jenny shook her head, glancing at me. "I already ate. Plus, Colton's in the kitchen working."

"Where's Blake?" I asked, taking a quick look around.

Jenny pointed to a table where an old couple sat in the corner. "There. He managed to get there while walking around."

"You just let strangers take care of him?" I asked.

Poppy glanced between us and then nudged me in the ribs gently.

Jenny paused. "No. They're regulars, they drop by almost every other day. And they live in our neighborhood. In fact, they're Bella's grandparents. Bella is Blake's babysitter. In case you didn't know, which I bet you didn't," she exhaled, holding my gaze. She scribbled something down in the register. "I know how to parent, Josh. I'm sure you'll know it too if you have kids. Table seven. I'll send a waiter to take your order. Please, have a seat."

I didn't move for a moment, I almost couldn't.

"Josh," Poppy whispered, pushing me forward and towards the table. She hung her purse on her seat as I sat down, glancing over at Blake. Poppy sighed, still standing there. "You both really can't stop without picking a fight," she muttered.

I glared at her while she took a look around and then faced me again.

"Wait here." She rushed across the restaurant, sneaking past the kitchen door where Jenny stood, and reached the table Blake was at. She quickly kneeled by the table, greeting Blake, and then spoke to the older lady that was holding him. She pointed over at our table and explained without letting her wide grin slip.

That stupid grin.

She stood up, taking Blake as the lady handed him over, and then walked back while fixing his hair and planting a kiss on his cheek. She stood beside me.

"What?" I asked.

"I figured you'd want to hold him while you're here." I reached up to take him but she pulled away, mischief playing on her lips. "But maybe you don't since you have such a hard time admitting it." She held my gaze then said, "Still. As you said, you only have one nephew." She handed Blake over and then sat in her seat across from me. "You can kiss him, I won't look," she teased.

I rolled my eyes. "First, you take out your phone and book our flight tickets. We're here for work, I didn't forget that."

She huffed, "I wish you did." Taking out her phone, she began scrolling through it.

I seated Blake on the table, stealing a kiss on his forehead when I knew Poppy wasn't looking.

"I'll drop by your apartment tonight," she announced.

"For what?" I asked, not looking away from Blake.

"I'm going home after this. Tell Lydia I felt sick if she asks."

I watched her for a moment.

"I really can't function today with how exhausted I feel. We'll plan the articles tonight."

"And if I'm not home when you drop by?"

She looked at me. "Then run a bit faster tonight. Three days later, that's the best ticket for us. Flight's at ten in the morning. Sounds good?"

I hummed. "Sounds good."

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