Calum's PoV

It had been a few days and I'd been checking Poppy's brothers social media accounts without her knowledge, breaking one of the many rules that were laid out between a married couple. I knew I shouldn't be doing it but every day it intrigued me more. How had I never heard about this guy? He was pretty famous and currently performing in Hamilton one of the biggest shows out at the moment. Okay so he wasn't the main character but he was a steady character throughout the whole story. It was weird to think that this guy, with this confidence and charisma, had never once reached out to Poppy or mentioned her in an interview. It was literally as if she did not exist. As I scrolled yet another article that he had posted on his story, linked to the lengthy interrogation from one magazine, I read his mentions of his family and how his mum and dad had always been there to support him. How he could never say a bad word about what they had done for him and wished more people had parents like him. I gripped my phone tightly as I thought. People like Poppy? Or were you never going to acknowledge her existence?
Before I had time to register what had happened, a direct message came through from him.

SingatWill: I guess by the fact you're stalking my profiles now that she has finally mentioned me.

I stared blankly at it. This was her brother, Will, already putting across his attitude and resistance to speaking about his sister before I'd even opened my mouth. I suppose he must have been someone who checked the views his stories got and happened to notice my profile coming up over and over again. I'm an idiot.

CalumHood: well yes and no. It was your parents. They popped in.

SingatWill: and I suppose you didn't want to ask her too much so you just checked my profiles.

CalumHood: yes? It felt too fresh. She wasn't happy after they left.

SingatWill: she never was. She never let them in and always caused arguments.

I bit back from saying what I wanted to about them and how wrong he was. I'd witnessed it first hand and so had my mum. They were not nice people to Poppy, maybe they were to other people but she seemed to get the brunt of the crap they'd stored up over the months.

CalumHood: she tried her best. So what's the history with you two? I see you never mention her in interviews and stuff.

His response was almost immediate and I could sense the anger burning through my phone.

SingatWill: why would I? She fucked off and left us all while she lived with that druggie. She didn't ask how I was, she didn't follow my life or my career. I don't need to pretend we are a happy family with her. It's been the three of us for a long time.

My blood boiled at the response. Why are they making it seem like she ruined everything and left them? Was his memory too short to remember what they were like to her? Or was he just oblivious? He was six years younger than her, maybe he just hadn't realised quite what was going on and believed what they had said about Poppy all the time? Whatever it was, they'd done a good job of turning him against her too. I sighed as I typed the politer of the responses I could muster, my fingers gliding over the keyboard.

CalumHood: it's like I'm hearing about a completely different story and person. We both know Poppy isn't like that. Maybe you should try to speak to her again. You're both adults, your parents don't need to be involved. She doesn't hate you.

The read receipt came instantly. The response didn't. Had I just ruined it? Had I stuck my foot in it and got involved in something that wasn't mine to try and fix? I needed to tell Poppy, just so this didn't come about from someone else and she felt like she couldn't trust me anymore. I'd ruined her trust enough as it was. Before I had time to think, the door to the bathroom shut and I shoved my phone back in my pocket just as Poppy came into the front room, a smile on her face as she rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Morning beautiful." I greeted her the way I always did. She let out a smile as she walked over and enveloped me in a hug, kissing me on the top of the head as she headed to the cafetière and poured the two cups of coffee I'd started making but got sidetracked from.

"I need to head out to a training session this morning. Something management signed me up for. It's until midday but then I'm free if you wanted to do something?" She said as she sipped her coffee. It was only then that I noticed she was completely dressed and ready to go. She'd be leaving any second now. I couldn't tell her now and ruin her training session. I'd wait until she came back.

"Of course. I'm free as a bird today." I smiled as I tugged her back towards me and kissed her cheek. "Have a great time." She nodded as she poured the rest of the cup of coffee into her takeaway cup and headed out of the door, leaving me in silence for a moment. Suddenly the panic of what I'd actually done had set in and before I knew it, I was consumed with guilt. I grabbed my phone and dialled the only person I thought would be able to help me at this moment.

"Cal? Everything okay?" His tired voice made me realise I'd woken him up. I cursed myself as I glanced over to the clock and realised it was only 7:30am.

"Ah Ash I'm so sorry. I didn't realise the time." I said, sounding off. "I'll call back later." I heard the rustling of the covers as he moved to sit up in bed.

"It's fine Cal. What's up?"

"I've screwed it all up. Again." I said, mentally facepalming my ability to keep ruining the one good thing I had in this life.

"With Poppy?" He questioned.

"Yeah." I breathed. "I got in contact with her brother."

"Come round. Now."