Chapter 18 Old News
OLD NEWS
Poppy
“What’s good here?” Matt asks as he stares down at the menu.
“Everything. Let’s hurry and order. I’m starving.”
He laughs, but quickly stops when his gaze moves behind me in confusion. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
I turn to look and am shocked to see Braden striding toward our table, looking like he stepped off the cover of GQ. Damn, the man is gorgeous. Like, serious eye candy. From the suit to the sideburns, to the body underneath, that I’m now familiar with… it doesn’t get any better.
“Did you know he was coming?” Matt asks, interrupting my thoughts from going the wrong direction in the presence of company.
“No,” I insist, still in disbelief.
When he makes it over and swoops in for a hug, there’s no denying he’s really here, especially as he cups my cheek and kisses me. That’s when it strikes—I’m utterly smitten. Straight up, I’m hooked on this man who came in like a hurricane, turning my world upside down.
I’ve been falling harder every day, and each night becomes more difficult to deny the pull he has on me. I’m sad when our calls end, immediately anticipating the next one. I kept wishing he’d text me during the day, like on Monday, but he didn’t.
When I asked him why, his answer fueled my growing infatuation. He said that once he started, it’s all he wanted to do and couldn’t focus on work—that it was hard enough concentrating while thinking about me all day.
“Surprise, Mouse,” he says as he pulls away and straightens to his full height.
He then turns his attention to my companion. “Matt, I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Braden, Poppy’s boyfriend.”
The choking sound to escape my mouth is unintended and met with a “what the fuck?” look from Matt, along with a smirk from Braden.
Matt quickly recovers and shakes Braden’s outstretched hand. “Funny, Poppy forgot to tell me you were official. Congratulations.”
“Well… we’re testing the waters. It’s not—”
“It’s a work in progress.” Braden cuts me off. “One weekend at a time. Right, Mouse?” He winks at me.
Oh my God. Is this really happening? I’m not sure what to say. Thankfully, he has enough to say for both of us.
“Sorry to barge in on your dinner, but I thought it was a great opportunity to meet one of Poppy’s friends, since we didn’t have a chance to talk at the wedding. Do you mind if I join you guys?”
“Take a seat. We haven’t ordered yet, so you came at the right time. I’ll go tell the waiter we have an addition,” Matt offers, subtly giving us a moment to ourselves.
When he’s out of earshot, I turn to Braden. “What are you doing here? Did you have another meeting?”
“No. I came for you. This week’s been hell without you.”
“Braden,” I warn. I may feel the same, but we shouldn’t say things like that.
“Full transparency, Poppy. I’m all-in. I’ll be here every weekend until you believe me—until you’re the one introducing me as your boyfriend.”
My heart flutters at his declaration, and I lose the ability to breathe. I’m ready to jump into his lap and give him anything he asks for.
Luckily, Matt returns before that happens, taking away the opportunity to say something I’m not ready for.
“All right, we’re all set. I grabbed another menu,” he says, handing it to Braden.
“Thanks. So what’s good here?” Braden asks as if it’s the most normal thing in the world for him to be here, while I’m teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
“I was just asking Poppy the same thing,” Matt states.
They look up to meet my blank stare as I’m still in a stupor.
“Poppy? You okay?” Braden asks gently as he places his hand on mine and squeezes, bringing me back to the present.
With a huff, I reply, “Yeah, sorry. I’m just shocked you’re here. Um, everything is good. My favorite is the meatballs.”
“Poppy loves her balls.”
“Matt!” I screech.
Braden’s eyes narrow while Matt laughs.
“What? You do. You order them wherever we go.”
“He obviously means meatballs, not balls, balls,” I explain to Braden.
“I’d hoped that was the case, considering mine are the only balls you’ll be having from now on,” Braden says, causing Matt to raise his brows at me.
My elbow hits the table, head falling into my hand, and I groan. “Oh my God.”
This is going to be the longest meal in history.
“Have you had enough time to view the menu?” The waiter appears like an angel to save me from a slow and torturous death.
“Yes!” I say enthusiastically, popping my head up. “Thank you, I’ll start.”
When the orders are placed and the waiter leaves to grab our drinks, I’ve mainly calmed down, praying the rest of dinner goes less embarrassingly.
“Poppy tells me you have business here. It must be hard to travel so far for work all the time,” Matt asks Braden.
“I don’t usually. And I’m not here for work this weekend, just Poppy. Although we are having lunch with my client, Jim, tomorrow.” Braden tilts his head sheepishly. “If that’s okay with you?”
I smile in response. “I’d love to.”
He’s bringing me to meet one of his clients, which seems like something you’d take your girlfriend to, but…
I’m not. Except I’m reconsidering my refusal on the issue.
If this is really happening, maybe I’m wasting my time with Owen.
If only I could combine the two into one person, I’d have the perfect man.
His face lights up. “I’m glad. I’m excited for you to meet him. Hopefully I’m not interfering with any of your plans for the weekend.”
“Nope, just breakfast at my parents on Sunday. You could go with me,” I suggest shyly.
“I’d like that.” His smile makes the butterflies in my belly go wild.
And suddenly, I’m done holding back. I’m not sure how to handle the distance issue or what to do about Owen, but I’m ready to commit. I want more with Braden and I’m willing to risk a broken heart to give us a chance.
After staring at him for a beat too long, I turn my head, my eyes colliding with Matt, who’s looking at me knowingly. No doubt he sees right through me and can already tell what I’ve been denying for days. But if Matt knows, does that mean Braden does too?
Someone’s phone rings, and both Matt and Braden reach for their pockets. Braden’s is lit up as he pulls it out, but after glancing at the screen, he silences it, placing it on the table.
“Sorry. That was my mom. I’ll call her back later.”
“She lives in Florida, huh?” Matt says more as a statement than a question. He nods toward the phone. “I recognized the area code. I grew up there. Is that where you’re from?” he asks with interest.
Braden appears stunned. “Uh…” he starts, then clears his throat and quickly collects himself. “No. She moved there after getting married.”
Wait a minute… Owen’s mom lives in Florida.
That’s weird. Too weird. What are the chances that both the men I’m…
dating… have moms that live in Florida? They also both have dads who are out of the picture.
Oh fuck. Didn’t Owen say he worked in law the second night we talked?
Fuck, fuck, fuck. No. I’m spiraling. These are just coincidences, I’m sure.
I take a sip of my wine while the guys talk about Florida. I’m zeroing in on Braden’s responses, listening for anything that sounds like Owen. But where Owen said he hates the humidity, Braden doesn’t mind it. Shit, Braden’s going to his mom’s for Christmas… just like Owen.
What does this mean? So they have similarities.
Wait… Owen did say he was busy this weekend after we had the most amazing week of conversations.
Is that because… Owen is Braden? Is Braden Owen?
Am I an idiot for not noticing any red flags until now?
This can’t be happening. Okay, deep breath. Stay calm. Act cool.
But the more I listen to Matt and Braden speak, the more convinced I become. Things slowly click into place, and the bits and pieces I’ve learned about each one begin to overlap.
I’m trying to slow my heart rate and focus on breathing when an idea hits me. If Braden is Owen, then he’ll have the app, and if I message him, we’ll see it come through. Okay, I’ve got this.
“Sorry, guys. I forgot to respond to a client this afternoon. I’ll go take care of it and be right back.” I say while grabbing my phone from my purse.
Getting up, I quickly head to the bathroom and text Cici, hoping this works.
Poppy: Hey, how’s life treating you these days? Is Abby still behaving? I’m having dinner with Matt, and he wanted me to tell you hi.
That should prompt a quick response. But I need to be at the table when it comes through.
“I’m back,” I pant out aggressively after rushing through the restaurant, relieved I made it before anything came through.
“Did you get it taken care of?” Braden asks as my phone dings, giving me pause from the slight guilt at my deception. But if I’m right, guilt will be the least of my emotions.
I look at my phone while answering. “Shoot. Yeah, but now they have another question. Keep talking, and I’ll wrap this up.”
I quickly open the dating app, type out a message, and hit send. Taking a deep breath as my heart pounds, I wait for the answer I’m afraid of. Dread fills my chest as soon as Braden’s phone pings with a notification.
I feel like the ground has swallowed me whole, and everything I thought I knew comes crashing down.
I was played.
How often was I warned that all men were the same, yet I fell into the trap? I can’t believe I was so stupid—that I was ready to tell Braden I wanted to give this a try and be exclusive.
Braden looks down. When he sees the message, his confusion is evident until realization dawns, and shock registers. A second later, his gaze meets mine.
“Poppy, wait—” he starts, as a wave of anger hits me.
“Save it. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Please. Give me a chance to explain.”
“Oh, I think you’ve had plenty of chances. I can’t believe you played me like that. What? Were you hoping to learn enough information to stay in my pants?”
“What’s going on?” Matt asks, clearly concerned.