Chapter 9
Poppy
Anna’s eyes look like they’re about to pop out of her head, and her mouth is hanging open.
I just told her about my fake dating agreement with Nick while we eat lunch together at a sandwich place just off campus.
She’s quiet for ten seconds, then she blinks.
“You and my brother are dating?” she finally says.
“Fake dating,” I say, careful to keep my voice down so no one overhears us. This is a popular spot for Hollis U students, and this place is currently crawling with them during today’s lunch rush.
She looks at me like I’m speaking an alien language.
“But…you don’t like him. He annoys you. You think he’s arrogant and obnoxious. In high school, when he jokingly asked you to the prom, you were so angry. You said you’d never waste your time on him.”
A faint sting moves through my chest remembering that.
“I meant all of those things. It’s just…
” I let out a breath. “Brody was just so smug about getting that internship. When he made that slacking off comment about me, it was infuriating. The only way I could think to get back at him in that moment was to lie about hooking up with your brother. I knew it would get under his skin. You know how much Brody doesn’t like Nick. ”
“Okay, yeah, I get it.” She reaches across the small table we’re sharing in the back of the sandwich shop and grabs my hand. “You sure you didn’t fall and hit your head or lose your mind, and that’s why you’re fake dating my brother?” she jokes.
I chuckle.
“Your secret is safe with me,” she says.
“Thanks.” I dig into the tuna club I ordered. Anna takes a bite of her Italian beef sandwich.
“So you’re really going to tutor him?” she asks.
“Yup. Twice a week.”
“You’re a saint.”
I think about all the times she tried to help Nick with his homework in high school. They always ended up bickering. Typical sibling behavior.
“Can I confess something?” Anna says after a moment.
“Sure.”
“I kind of wish you and my brother were dating for real.”
I cough on a bite of sandwich.
“I know, I know. That’s beyond ridiculous,” she says.
“He drives you crazy. And the way he jokingly asked you out in front of half the school in high school was unforgivable. But in a perfect world, where my brother wasn’t such a dumbass and could take back all the stuff he’s done, it would be really cool for my best friend and my brother to get together. ”
I shake my head and chuckle. “Don’t hold your breath. Sorry. As soon as this semester is over, our whole arrangement will be over too. Then everything will go back to normal.”
She just shrugs and goes back to her sandwich. “Or maybe my brother will surprise us all and win you over,” she says, her tone joking.
I laugh again. “Maybe when hell freezes.”
“Alright, class. That wraps things up for the day,” Professor Muller says. “For Tuesday, I’d like you to read chapters four and five in the textbook. Be ready to discuss the Scottish Referendum of 2014.”
My European Politics course ends. I put my laptop in my backpack and stand up from my desk. When I look up, I see Brody walking up to me.
Before he can say anything, I hand him his empty leather laptop bag. I turn to leave, not at all in the mood to talk to him.
“Poppy, wait.”
I sigh and turn around.
“Thanks for returning my bag,” he says.
“You’re welcome.”
“Pretty light reading assignment from Professor Muller, don’t you think? I thought he’d assign us the whole textbook to read,” he says.
I look at him, caught off guard by his comment. Is he trying to make small talk with me?
“Yeah, I guess it is,” I say.
For a second, we both just stand there. I check the time on my phone to make it obvious I’d rather be doing anything else than talking to him right now.
“So what are you up to this weekend?” he asks.
I frown at him. “Why do you ask?”
He shrugs and he frowns slightly, almost like he’s defensive. “Just curious. Thought maybe you’d want to do the reading together for class.”
“Why would I want to study with my ex-boyfriend?” I can’t hide the bite in my tone. What is his deal? He cheats on me, and now he suddenly wants to be study buddies?
He rolls his shoulders and sighs. “I’m just trying to be nice, Poppy. I hate how things ended between us.”
I let out a laugh of pure disbelief. “You’re unbelievable.”
I walk off and out of the classroom, irritated as hell. I hear his footsteps behind me.
“I think we should at least try to be friends,” he says when he catches up to me.
I walk out of the building, not bothering to hold the door for him. There’s a muffled “oof” behind me from the door hitting him. A tiny burst of satisfaction swoops through me.
“Well, I don’t want to be friends with my ex-boyfriend, who cheated on me,” I say as I gaze ahead while walking across campus. “And even if we were on good terms, you know I don’t like doing homework together. I always prefer to do it alone.”
“Really? Then how come you’re studying with Nick St. George?”
I stop walking and turn to Brody. “What are you talking about?”
The side of his jaw bulges as he bites down, clearly pissed at the thought of Nick and I doing anything together.
“I heard you’re tutoring him,” Brody mutters.
I straighten up and hold his gaze. “I am.”
“So I guess you have no problem studying with him.”
“He’s my boyfriend. Of course I’d make an exception for him.” Brody is an entitled jerk for being upset about this.
His mouth curves down like he’s disgusted at the thought of Nick and me together. The irritation inside of me turns into anger. He has no right to be mad about what I do or who I spend my time with.
“So I guess you’ll be studying with your new boyfriend all weekend, huh?” Brody says.
“And going to a party together,” I say, wanting to get a rise out of him for acting like such a jerk.
He makes a face like he’s disgusted. “A party? Are you serious?”
That satisfied feeling bubbles up inside of me. “Yup. I’m excited to go out and let loose for a bit.”
He scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Wow. Never thought you were the partying type. You hate parties.”
“Not anymore,” I say. “I love going to parties with Nick. He’s so fun to hang out with.”
Brody’s blue eyes turn hard as he glares at me. “You’re really lowering yourself to be with this guy, aren’t you?”
My smile fades. “Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. Have fun at the party,” he mutters as he walks off.
I head to my next class, annoyed and angry at Brody. I’m so sick of dealing with him.
When I head to the Writing Center later that afternoon for my shift, Anna is there.
She smiles up at me. “How’s it going?”
“Good, other than when Brody tried to talk to me after our European Politics class.”
Anna makes a face. “What happened?”
I tell her about how I returned his laptop bag, and he tried to ask me to study with him, which led to us arguing.
“God, he’s the worst.”
I set my backpack on the floor and get settled next to Anna. “It’s whatever. I’m just sick of dealing with him.”
She gently nudges me with her elbow. “So my brother told me that you’re going to that big house party with him on Saturday.”
“Yup.”
“What are you going to wear?”
I shrug as I check the tutoring schedule for today, then gesture at my outfit. “Probably something like this.”
Anna chuckles as she looks at the pair of jeans and gray Hollis University T-shirt I’m wearing. “No way you’re wearing that.”
I look at her. “What’s wrong with my clothes?”
“They’re fine for going to class, but you can’t wear that to a party.”
“I’ve never been to a college party. I don’t know what to wear.” I cross my arms over my chest, feeling self-conscious all of a sudden. “Oh god, I’m going to look like a total loser.”
Anna pulls me into a side hug. “You’re not a loser, Poppy. You’re beautiful.”
I turn to her. “Will you come over and help me figure out what to wear?”
Anna’s not a big partier either, but she loves dressing up. She always has the cutest outfits and knows what looks stylish. I’m so basic and boring compared to her. I’m almost always wearing jeans and T-shirts or yoga pants and hoodies.
Anna grins. “Don’t worry. I’m going to make sure you look cute as hell.”