Chapter 21 Final Match
FINAL MATCH
Poppy
Sleep didn’t come easily last night as I replayed Braden’s words.
I’d memorized each inscription after staring at them for hours.
It was overwhelming to say the least. It was so tempting to call and forgive him.
But then I thought about what he had done and ended up right where I started—angry and hurt.
Yes, I’m being stubborn, but I’m allowed to be, dammit. He really messed up. He can’t just say a few sweet words and make everything better. He pulled the wool over my eyes. What if he’s doing it again?
Deep down, I recognize the excuse it is, because let’s be real, he wouldn’t put that much effort in if he wasn’t serious. I’m miles away, and he could probably have any woman he wants within a twenty-mile radius.
After the books came yesterday, I bawled my eyes out for five minutes, then called Cici. She talked me down from the ledge and convinced me to sit on it for a day before searching for the last date, which I insisted on to see the process through. I’m stubborn when I make a decision.
We said three dates, and it’s only been two, so I’ll go on one more and then decide what to do.
So now it’s time to search for my final match.
I open the app and start scrolling. If I can find someone today, I could schedule for tonight and have it over with sooner rather than later.
And as they say, the third time’s a charm, so this could be the one.
Even though I come across a few possibilities, I want to go through everyone since this is my last try. I’m almost done looking at all the new prospects when my eyes bug out at the next profile. I bring it closer to make sure I’m not hallucinating.
Nope. That’s definitely Braden. What the hell? He can’t be serious. This is insane. He has some nerve. Did he not learn his lesson the first time around? I’m skimming through it, about to throw my phone across the room, when the pictures he used stop me in my tracks.
The first one is from Cici’s wedding, but the crazy thing is that I’m in it with him.
The next is from the weekend he visited, with me as well.
Oh my God, I’m in all of them. Wait. I scroll up to actually read his profile this time.
Oh. My. God. I’m laughing out loud and partly crying as I go through his answers.
He did this for me. He wanted me to find it. When did he do it, and what if I hadn’t come across it? Wait a minute. How did he even know I was on here?
I dial Cici, who picks up on the first ring. “Yessss?”
“Did you tell Braden I was on another dating site?”
“Now why would I do that?” she asks sarcastically.
“Cici. He couldn’t have found out unless you told him. You knew about this, didn’t you?”
“Okay, it may have slipped. Aaand I might have helped him with his account.”
“What the heck?”
“Ugh. You wouldn’t read his letters or even give in after you got those books, which, by the way, is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard of. I had to do something, and I figured this would speed up the inevitable.”
“You little brat. Why didn’t you just tell me that?”
“Because this was way more fun. Also, need I remind you how stubborn you are?”
I groan.
“So what are you gonna do?” she asks.
“Open the letters? Or should I call him?”
“Hmmm.” She doesn’t answer, instead giving me a minute to think out loud.
“I’m so frustrated.”
Why did I let this go on so long? We’ve both been miserable. What he did was wrong, but it might have been my pride that kept me from forgiving him.
“I felt so stupid being duped. And yeah, I sort of understand why he did it in the first place, but he should’ve stopped when we actually started talking.”
She remains quiet.
“Maybe I’ll read them. It might help me get past it.”
“I think that’s a good idea. Decide what to do after that.”
“Okay.”
“Hey, follow your heart, whichever direction it takes you.”
“Thanks, Cici.”
I’m a puddle of tears over the next thirty minutes reading through the six letters.
He really did grovel, just like his profile said.
His sincerity is evident, and I can see how things progressed before it got out of hand.
After the first letter explained everything, the rest became more like love letters.
He wrote them as if we were long-distance lovers keeping in touch through the mail. He told me how much he missed me and would fill me in on his daily life. He talked about his past and the relationship that broke him—the woman who cheated on him, which I learned about originally from Owen.
It was Braden the entire time, split into two people. The letters combined both personalities and blended them into one. I’m weeping as I lay the last page down, trying to decide what to do. When I pick up my phone to look at the pictures on his profile again, an idea comes to mind.
Braden
Private jets are the way to go. I arrived by ten this morning and am sitting in a coffee shop near Poppy’s house waiting for… well, I’m not exactly sure what for, but I hope whatever it is, that it happens soon. I’ve been anxious since Cici told me that Poppy found my profile.
Poppy’s reading the letters as we speak, according to Cici, and I’m a bundle of nerves, wondering if they’ll have the intended effect or backfire.
Bringing up the entire situation after she may have been ready to forgive me might not be the best idea, but how can you go forward without putting the past to rest?
After weeks without her, my patience has run out, and if I don’t hear something soon, I’ll end up at her door, regardless of whether it’s a dumb move or not. I can’t stay away any longer. I need to hold her, tell her how I feel, beg for forgiveness, and a chance to make it right.
I’m staring into space, eyes fixed on the sidewalk outside, when my phone pings.
Hoping it’s Cici with an update, I’m surprised to see a message notification from the dating app.
A woman would have to be psycho if they saw that profile and still reached out, but I guess some people can’t resist a good chase.
Oh, the irony.
When I open it up, though, it’s not some psycho woman, it’s my woman. I’m out of my seat in a flash, practically running as I type my response.
Poppy: It says you like to read. What’s your favorite book?
Braden: Whatever my girlfriend is reading.
Poppy: If you have a girlfriend, why are you on a dating site?
Braden: To get her back.
Poppy: What happens if you do?
Braden: Then I make it up to her in the best way possible.
Poppy: Such as?
Braden: Me, on my knees, willing to do whatever it takes.
Poppy: What if you’re too far away for that?
Braden: We could always FaceTime.
Poppy: What if she won’t? It says that’s a deal-breaker for you.
Braden: What’s your deal-breaker?
I need to keep her talking until I’m at her door.
Poppy: Someone who poses as someone they’re not.
Braden: So are you up for a FaceTime to prove we’re who we say we are?
Poppy: We probably should.
Braden: Give me a few seconds to ring through.
I stand in place and hold my phone up to dial.
She picks up after three rings, and I’m instantly relieved at the sight of her face with a shy smile to go with it.
“Hi,” she says quietly.
“Hey, beautiful. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
Those are the best words I could ever hope to hear, and my heart grows ten sizes.
“Then let me in.”
“Wait. What?” She squints into the screen, bringing it closer to her face. “Is that… Are you?”
I can tell she’s getting up by the movement on the screen, and a few seconds later, her front door is thrown open.
“You’re here!”
Her gorgeous smile tells me all I need to know, and without hesitation, I plow into her, enveloping her in my arms, kicking the door shut behind me.
“God, how I’ve missed you,” I say into her neck.
She laughs. “I can’t believe you’re here. How did you do this? You just… oh my God, you just… came.”
I lean back and cradle her face in my hands. “I’ll visit as often as it takes, just give us a chance. I want you in my life. I want everything with you. I only. Want. You. I’ll do anything to make you believe that because I love you, Poppy.”
I don’t allow her to respond in case she feels obligated to say it back. Instead, my lips crash to hers, taking their fill and luxuriating in what they’ve been denied for too long. The passion is returned wholeheartedly as she matches me with each stroke of our tongues.
Before we’re out of hand, I need to clear the air, so I pull away. Her disappointed whine causes me to chuckle.
“We’ll get back to that, I promise. But first, I’m so sorry, Poppy. I mean it. I don’t ever want to hurt you or lie to you again. Please believe me when I tell you how truly sorry I am for deceiving you. I don’t regret what I did because it brought us together, but I am sorry I kept it going.”
I kiss her chastely before continuing, “I want this to work. I want a relationship with you. I don’t know how that looks, but I’ll do whatever it takes if you give us a chance.”
I finally stop talking to let her respond, still afraid that what she says won’t be what I want to hear, but I can’t prolong the inevitable. Besides, even if she doesn’t want this, that doesn’t mean I’m giving up.
“Anything?” she asks coyly.
“Anything.”
“You’d move to Bozeman, get married, and start making babies right away?”
My eyes widen, and I’m about to say yes, when she puts her finger over my mouth and giggles. “I’m kidding.”
“You had me at making babies.”
She giggles again.
“I love you, too, you horndog. Now pick me up and take me to bed so you can make up properly.”
I pause for a moment, soaking in the three most important words that just made everything right in the world.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say, scooping her into my arms.