Chapter One
Poppy
(Three Years Later)
My sister throws herself onto my bed, sighing dramatically as if the whole world has come crashing down on her. It’s a normal reaction for her, especially after seeing Eddie for the fifth time this week.
“Let me guess, you had another “cool” hangout day with Eddie?”
She smirks, ignoring my air quotes like they mean nothing.
“You don’t get it, Poppy. You’ve never been in love before.”
“In love? You just met the guy.”
Rolling her eyes, she pops up into a sitting position, grinning. “But he’s everything I’ve ever wanted, Poppy. I can’t wait for you and Amber to meet him. I know he’s the one. I feel it in my bones. Speaking of which, you’re going on a double date with me tonight.”
“Me? Why the hell would I go on a double date with you?”
She laughs. “Because you’re eighteen, have never been on a date before, and prom is right around the corner.
Eddie’s got two friends who are adorable.
Honestly, I feel like his friend Wesley would be perfect for you.
He’s kinda short, but damn is he handsome.
There are a lot of girls who would kill to date him. ”
Picking up the book I was reading, I ignore her. “I have too much going on to date anyone right now. We’re getting close to finals, and I want to make sure I secure my spot as valedictorian so I can get into the schools I want.”
“I thought you were holding off on going Ivy League until you get core classes done?” she questions, pouting a little.
We’ve discussed going to college together, but I’ve always given up everything for my twin sister. This is one time I want to branch out on my own.
“I’m just keeping my options open, Pippa.”
She sighs loudly. “Well, tonight is gonna be different. Tonight, you’re going out with Eddie and me, and meeting his friend Wesley.”
“Do I really have to?”
She nods. “Amber’s busy, and I need my twin beside me. I’m hoping tonight will be the night he finally asks me out.” There’s a long pause before she starts whining again. “Pleeeeease, Poppy. I already told Eddie we’d be there.”
Throwing my book onto the bed, I sigh dramatically. “Fine, but if this guy’s a troll, I’m out.”
“Trust me, he’s not. He’s hot as fuck and a bit of a grease monkey, just like Eddie.”
“Sounds revolting.”
She laughs. “Sometimes you’re so funny. Now go change. They’re gonna meet us at a diner in a few hours, and I need you to look not so homely and nerdy.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She turns my head so that it faces the mirror. “Look at us, Poppy. There’s a reason that I have guys calling me daily and no one chases after you.”
Our reflections blink back at us. The homely twin with a haphazard ponytail and wisps of hair peeking out, no makeup on whatsoever, and big brown eyes concealed by too large of glasses, standing next to her identical twin wearing a too short mini skirt, fishnet stockings, and a crop top that barely covers her boobs.
We couldn’t be anymore opposite, and yet, underneath my baggy clothes and glasses, is a girl who looks just like her.
“Tonight, we leave the homely twin at home and go out into the world as two sex goddesses on the prowl.”
Shrugging off her arm, I glare at her. “No way, Pippa. That’s not me.”
“Come on, Poppy. You need to do this. We need this!” she encourages.
“You mean you need this. You’ve been trying to get this Eddie guy to sleep with you since you met him.”
She backs away, smirking. “Unlike you, dear sister, I refuse to enter college a virgin.”
It’s not that I want to be a virgin. I’ve often romanticized and thought about what it would be like to meet a guy, have him sweep me off my feet, and then ravage me in the bedroom. I read enough romance novels to know what to expect; I just haven’t met the right guy to take my virginity yet.
“Please, Poppy. Do this for me, just this once. I need you.” Her bottom lip quivers, making me cave.
“Fine. I’ll go. But I refuse to dress like a slut. I’ll dress up and put on makeup, but my outfit will be tasteful and suitable for public.”
“Absolutely, there will be no hoochie mama outfits for you. I swear it on Hamilton Esquire Stevenson the Third.” She points to her favorite stuffed pig on the bed and grins too widely, knowing that a swear like that is binding. “Tonight’s going to be awesome!” she exclaims.
How wrong she was.
The second I see the two boys waiting for us outside the diner, I lose my shit.
“Absolutely not,” I screech, already turning toward our car.
The two boys twist to look our way. The taller one with messy brown hair, smashed beneath a backwards ball cap, wearing the baggiest jeans I’ve ever seen, is cute, I’ll give him that, but it’s the other one that has me seeing red.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Pippa whispers. “Stop acting weird. You’re embarrassing me.”
“Embarrassing you! Do you not realize who that is!” I yell, pointing at the handsome faced playboy with a wicked smile and too much damn charisma for someone barely eighteen.
His smile spreads as recognition flashes in his eyes.
“He’s Eddie’s friend. Now stop acting weird and come on,” she orders, dragging me by my arms.
We stop just in front of them, both of them looking like they threw on their nicest pair of clothes, which still lacks any type of fashion sense.
The familiar boy is wearing baggy jeans with holes in the pockets and knees, and a button-up shirt that’s unbuttoned too many times, showing off a set of pecs I hate that I admire.
Immediately, my sister latches onto the arm of backward cap boy. “Eddie! So great to see you again.” She glances over at me and grins. “This is my twin, Poppy. Poppy, this is Eddie, and this is his friend Wesley.”
Wesley is all smiles, which is exactly why he’s about to feel my wrath. I march over and jab a finger into his chest, my fingertip bouncing uselessly off solid muscle.
“You!” I screech.
“Me?” he asks, pointing at himself like he’s genuinely surprised.
“You’re the kid who tried to steal my dad’s car.”
He laughs. “Tried being the keyword there.”
“You’re a felon.”
“A bad one,” he fires back, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “I’m a better guy now.”
Eddie howls with laughter. “Better being the keyword in that sentence.”
“Hey now!” he protests. “I’ve gotten better. It’s been a while since we were last caught.” He chuckles, like this is charming.
It’s not.
“You’re a criminal!” I snap, spinning to face my sister. “Pippa, do you really expect me to go on a date with a criminal?”
“A charming, charismatically handsome one with good hair, good teeth, and the ability to make you laugh.” He moves his fingers through his dark hair as the diner’s neon lights bathe it in blue.
“You wish, creep.”
Eddie chuckles. “Looks like you got the mean twin, Wes.”
“Good, I like my women mean,” Wesley says without missing a beat, those dreamy blue eyes never leaving mine. “Means she’s paying attention.”
“If I’m paying attention at all, it’s because I don’t trust you. What if you run off with my purse?”
He chuckles. “Trust is overrated on the first date. And if I was gonna steal your purse, baby girl, it’s only because I like being chased.”
“Keep running, Casanova. Because the only thing chasing you will be the police department if you dare to look at my purse the wrong way. Also, before your ego gets any bigger, this is by no means a date,” I snap, shooting a glare at my sister so vicious it would make babies cry. “This is extortion.”
Pippa paints on her fakest smile, looping her arm through Eddie’s like it’s the most natural thing in the world. “You’re standing outside a diner, arguing with a boy you clearly remember, and you haven’t walked away yet. That’s basically a date.”
“I’m only here because you kidnapped me.”
“You could’ve escaped,” Wesley points out. “You’re scrappy as hell, I can tell.”
I glare at him, placing two angry fists on my hips. “You don’t get the privilege of assessing my scrappiness.”
“Already did,” he says, that grin turning dangerous. “I give it a solid eight out of ten.”
Eddie snorts. “Bold rating system for a guy who keeps getting threatened to have the cops called on him.”
“And yet she’s still standing here, looking too damn beautiful, her phone never touched,” Wesley announces, adding a stupid, flirtatious wink afterwards like it’s punctuation.
Pippa squeezes Eddie’s arm, smiling sweetly up at him. “I’m cold, Eddie. Do you think we can go inside? Or should we stand out here letting my sister verbally assault your friend all night?”
Eddie straightens, clearly flustered. “Yeah, of course.” He glances at Wesley. “Try not to get arrested before the appetizers.”
“No promises,” Wesley replies, his gaze darting my way.
I hate how intoxicating his smile is. It should be illegal. It’s as criminal as he is.
I huff, crossing my arms as Wesley steps closer, lowering his voice just enough that my goosies start goosing. “You always this hostile on first dates?” he asks.
“This is not a date.”
“Yet,” he says charmingly, opening the diner door for me like he’s in charge. “By the end of the night, you’ll be team Wesley.”
“Not gonna happen,” I snap, silently cursing myself for being attracted to his bad boy persona, and a confidence I wish I had. “Felons don’t do it for me.”
“Good thing I’m still in my probationary charm phase,” he jokes, still holding the door open for me.
I hate him.
I hate his smile, and the way his ego is both alluring and infuriating at the same time. It kills me that he doesn’t flinch when I snap at him, and it only attracts him more.
But most of all, I hate that against my better judgment, I walk inside, following him like a lost sheep, and he’s the shepherd leading me to safety.