Chapter Thirty-Three
Poppy
T he evening air is cool against my skin, but it does nothing to steady the heat still simmering beneath it.
I step onto the deck, my heartbeat still not quite right, my body still way too aware of what just happened.
I stopped in the bathroom before coming up - splashed cold water on my face, fixed my hair, did my best to wipe away any trace of him.
Not that it matters. Not when I can still feel him.
The way his hands owned me.
The way his voice curled around my name like he had every right to say it like that.
The way my body gave in before my brain could even catch up.
Emma notices me first, her brows furrowing as she sways slightly, looking far too pleased to see me.
“Oh, here she is,” she sing-songs, pointing a very wobbly finger in my direction. “Poppy, where the hell have you been?”
“Yeah, you disappeared for ages ,” Jas says as she cocks her head, eyes narrowing suspiciously. “What were you doing?”
I open my mouth to respond, but Emma is already gasping dramatically.
“Oh my god,” she breathes, eyes widening as she clutches my arm. “Did you fall overboard?”
I blink at her, unimpressed.
“Yes, Emma,” I deadpan. “I fell into the Mediterranean, took a quick swim, dried off, and made my way back just in time for you to interrogate me.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Em. If she’d fallen overboard, she’d still be dripping ,” Jas snorts.
“That’s true,” Emma nods seriously, as if this logic makes perfect sense. “You are very dry.”
I resist the urge to smack my forehead.
“Thanks for the observation.”
Jas tilts her head again, her gaze flicking over me like she’s trying to read between the lines.
“So, if you weren’t falling off the boat, what exactly were you doing?”
“Using the bathroom,” I say smoothly, grabbing the nearest drink off a passing tray and taking a very deliberate sip. “Relax.”
Emma squints at me. “For, like, an hour ?”
Before I can respond, Leah arrives in a huff, draping herself dramatically over one of the plush chairs, her wine glass dangling from her fingers as she groans loud enough to turn heads.
“I am so over this evening.”
Emma, easily distracted, perks up immediately .
“What happened?”
“Yeah, you were - and I quote - living for this party earlier,” Jas says.
“ Jacques happened,” Leah says bitterly, tossing her dark hair over one shoulder before taking a long sip of wine. “He got into some ridiculous argument with another guy about - I don’t even know what. Some business deal, or something. Either way, boring. ”
“Wait, is Jacques okay?” Emma frowns.
Leah shrugs. “Who cares?”
“Trouble in paradise, then?” Jas smirks.
“We don’t talk about it,” Leah scowls.
And just like that, I’m off the hook.
For approximately ten more seconds.
“Anyway, Pops,” Leah says. “Where have you been? I saw you wander off earlier.”
“Wait. You saw her wander off?” Emma gasps.
She swings around to face me, her movements entirely too clumsy from the alarming amount of alcohol she’s consumed throughout the day.
“So she did disappear.”
Jas lifts a brow. “Interesting.”
“Not interesting,” I say quickly, shaking my head. “Not anything .”
“So what did you disappear for, then?” Leah asks, leaning forward on her elbows.
“I told you -” I start, but Emma gasps again .
“Oh my god,” she breathes, clutching my arm like she’s uncovered some great truth. “Did you fall asleep somewhere?”
Jas blinks.
“Em, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Is it?” Emma frowns. “Because I did that once. I had too much to drink in Ibiza and woke up behind the DJ booth at Pacha.”
“That’s… deeply concerning.”
Leah clears her throat, redirecting the focus back to me.
“I don’t think Poppy took a disco nap, did you, babe?” Her smirk sharpens. “I think you ran into someone.”
The words land like a grenade, and Emma gasps again , clutching her chest this time.
Jas whistles, sitting back.
“That does sound more plausible.”
I exhale sharply, knowing there’s no getting out of this.
“ Fine . I was with Frederic.”
Dead. Silence.
And then, Emma screeches.
Jas lets out a victorious whoop, while Leah just grins like the Cheshire Cat.
“Are you telling me,” Emma slurs, voice hushed with scandal, “that while we were here , drinking wine , you were banging an F1 driver?”
“Would you keep your voice down?!” I say as I slap a hand over her mouth .
She does not keep her voice down.
Instead, she squeals against my palm, her entire body vibrating with sheer glee .
“Oh, this is better than I could have ever imagined,” Leah says, taking a triumphant sip of wine.
Jas shakes her head in what I think is admiration.
“And here I thought you’d at least pretend to resist a little longer.”
I glare at all of them. “I did resist.”
“Clearly not hard enough,” Leah smirks.
“Fuck off.”
“Oh, we absolutely will not,” Jas grins. “We need details . ”
Emma finally pulls my hand away from her mouth, blinking rapidly.
“Frederic Moreau?” she whispers - though her version of whispering is still far too loud for my liking. “ The Frederic Moreau?”
“No, Em,” I say flatly. “A different Frederic Moreau. Also a French F1 driver, also on this yacht, also currently ruining my life.”
Jas barks a laugh.
“Oh my god,” Leah sighs, shaking her head in sheer disbelief. “I feel like a proud mother. My little Poppy is finally making questionable decisions.”
“It’s about time,” Emma adds.
I groan, rubbing my temples.
“I hate you all. ”
“Don’t be daft. You love us,” Jas corrects, “and right now, we love this .”
“Wait. We’re so going out after this,” Emma beams. “And you have to invite him.”
I blink. “What?”
Leah tilts her head, considering it.
“Not a bad idea.”
Jas shrugs. “Yeah. I wouldn’t hate it.”
“No,” I say quickly. “Absolutely not .”
Emma pouts. “Oh, come on.”
“I’m not inviting him out with us,” I say firmly. “It was a one-time thing.”
Leah smirks into her wine glass, looking unconvinced, while Jas just shakes her head.
“Oh, babe. You can’t really think it’s over.”
I swallow hard, my stomach twisting.
Because I really want to say yes.
But deep down, I already know the answer.
* * *
The yacht glides into the harbor, the hum of the engines quieting as it pulls alongside the dock.
The towering cityscape of Monaco sparkles under the night sky, the deep blue sea reflecting the golden glow of the streetlights, but I barely take it in.
All I feel is relief.
Relief that we’re back, that I can finally get off this damn boat .
Relief that I can put some literal and metaphorical distance between me and the walking temptation currently ruining my life.
I fall into step with the girls, my body still wound far too tight as I move towards the exit. Around us, people are still caught up in the dizzying, champagne-fueled haze of the evening -
And then I see him.
Frederic is standing near the exit of the yacht, locked in conversation with a small group of men who he clearly can’t get away from. I don’t recognise them, but I don’t have to.
It’s the same type of crowd that has been around him all evening, the kind that naturally gravitates towards people like him.
But even as they talk, even as one of the men gestures animatedly in conversation, his eyes are on me.
Dark. Intense. Unwavering.
The second our gazes collide, my breath catches.
Heat prickles at the base of my spine, my heart thudding violently against my ribs as a familiar, unwelcome rush of want sears through me.
No.
No, no, no.
I refuse to feel like this.
I square my shoulders and keep walking, determined not to let him see any reaction.
He’s the one still staring at me , after all.
He’s the one who can’t look away .
I hold his gaze for just a beat longer than necessary - long enough to let him know that I see him, that I know he’s watching me - and then, just like that, I rip my eyes away.
This time, he doesn’t follow.
But I swear I can still feel him watching me as I step off the yacht and onto solid ground.
The second my feet hit the pavement, I exhale sharply, shaking off the sensation and forcing myself to focus. The girls are already moving ahead, and I quicken my pace to catch up.
“Well, that was a day,” Jas hums, stretching her arms over her head as we weave through the glitzy, bustling streets.
“And it’s not over yet!” Emma - who is now in full party mode - sings, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
I glance at her warily.
“You’re not seriously -”
“Oh, but I am ,” she interrupts as she links her arm through mine, eyes bright with drunken excitement. “We’re going out.”
“Emma, we just got off a yacht party. That we have been on all afternoon.”
“ Exactly ,” she grins. “We pre-gamed on a literal fucking yacht . You know we have to keep going.”
Jas snickers.
“She’s got a point.”
Leah groans, massaging her temples. “You cannot be serious.”
“Oh, I absolutely am,” Emma says .
“Emma, I swear to -”
“Leah,” Emma cuts in, just as dramatically, “We are in Monaco . If you think I’m going to bed early, then you don’t know me at all.”
Leah sighs, tipping her head back towards the sky.
“ Fine. ”
Emma cheers, swinging her gaze back to me. “Poppy, you in?”
Going out might just be the perfect way to shake this whole thing off, to drown out the lingering sensation of Frederic’s hands on me, of his mouth against my skin.
But I can’t .
The only thing I want to do right now is scrub the night off me. To stand under a scalding hot shower, wash away every trace of him, and then collapse into bed.
“I’m going to sit this one out.”
“Oh, come on ,” Emma pouts.
“I really just need sleep,” I say, forcing a yawn. “I’m exhausted .”
“I bet,” Leah says. “Sounds like you’ve had a very draining night.”
Jas howls with laughter and Emma gasps again.
“ Ugh. I’m so sick of you all.”
“Love you too, babe,” Jas grins.
Emma finally relents, linking arms with Leah and Jas instead as we move towards the road, where taxis are lined up and waiting.
“Fine, but you’re missing out, Poppy. ”
“Tragic,” I deadpan. “I’m sure I’ll recover.”
Leah winks as she slides into the back of one of the waiting taxis.
“Well, make sure you text us if you change your mind.”
I huff out a sigh as I follow them into the car, settling into my seat as the driver pulls away from the curb.
Emma is already humming along to the music playing through the speakers, Jas is scrolling through her phone, and Leah is fixing her hair in the reflection of her phone screen like she’s about to step onto a runway instead of into a nightclub.
I lean my head back against the seat, eyes fluttering shut for a moment as the cool air from the window brushes against my skin.
The drive is short, and before I know it, we’re pulling up in front of the hotel.
The girls cheer as I step out, Emma blowing me a dramatic kiss. “Love you, Pops! If you change your mind -”
“I won’t!” I call over my shoulder as I push the door shut.
Leah grins. “Your loss.”
“Try not to dream about him,” Jas calls.
I flip them off as the taxi pulls away, their laughter fading into the night.
With a final exhale, I turn towards the hotel entrance, my silk dress catching in the breeze as I walk inside.
The whole way up to the suite, I try not to think about him.
Not about the way he touched me. Not about the way he looked at me .
And certainly not about the fact that, deep down, I already know that this isn’t over.