Chapter 9 Jett
JETT
“I’ll call Dan and tell him the happy news,” I say to Poppy as we settle in on her worn, squishy couch.
Her cat comes over almost instantly and starts rubbing on me again. I ignore it until she finally lays down, though she leaves behind a trail of fur on my sweats.
Thankfully, Poppy pulls the cat into her lap and away from me. I don’t need fur all over me, I’ll be sneezing the rest of the night.
I find Dan in my contacts and hesitate before pressing the call button. Dan has strict rules about his bedtime, and it’s already late so I know he’ll be pissed.
The line rings once, twice.
No doubt he’ll have some arguments against this hare-brained scheme, but I can’t afford not to do this. I haven’t heard any updates on the scandal, and now Jason hasn’t been returning any of my calls, either.
The line rings several more times, and for some reason, my gut is roiling.
I rarely get nervous. Seventy-five foot ski jumps? No biggie. Flying through the air upside down? Nothing. But presenting the idea that I’m suddenly going to play a very public role as a loving and devoted husband to Poppy? I’m petrified.
Not just that Dan might very well laugh in my face… but the fact that I also have to do it if he agrees to it. Be a husband.
I’ve never had to even remotely pretend to be committed to someone before this, and now Poppy and I both have everything riding on it. I can’t afford to fuck it up.
If I want a chance at going to World’s… this is it.
Poppy is my only hope, and I’m hers.
And somehow the thought of her relying on me to keep her café adds a different kind of pressure. This isn’t just about me.
Dan finally picks up the phone on what feels like the thousandth ring.
“It’s late, Jett,” his voice is groggy. I pull the phone away from my ear and check the time. Eleven o’clock.
“Maybe for an old fart like you,” I chide.
“What do you want?” Dan already sounds annoyed.
He’s right, I am a little prick, and this isn’t the best way to start a conversation when I need his help.
I clear my throat and try to control my voice so it comes across somewhat serious. “I want to talk about this… situation I’m in.”
My nervous energy has turned jittery, and whenever I’m like this, I have to move. I get up from the couch, and within a few steps I'm in Poppy's kitchen pacing, waiting for Dan to respond. There’s rustling in the background like the sound of covers moving as he gets out of bed.
“I’ll tell you the same thing I told you the last time we talked about this, I don’t have an update for you, I’ll let you know the second I hear anything.”
“What if I have an idea that might help?” I suggest.
“Does it involve hiding in your brother’s basement suite like Brooke told you to do?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t think it will help.”
“I’m getting married,” I say it as if it’s already been decided and I’m trying it on for size.
Dan doesn’t answer right away, and then he bursts out laughing, the sound making me pull the phone away from my ear.
Poppy must hear it from where she’s still seated on the couch, because she looks over at me across the room and gives me a wary look. I flash her a smile to let her know everything is okay. At least, I hope.
He’s still laughing, and he sniffs as if he’s brought himself to tears. “To who, that Beth girl that threw her drink at you?”
“Bella,” I correct him, because there’s no way I’m getting that wrong again. “And no. Poppy. Poppy Thorne.”
“That cute little thing you were talking to at Skijoring?” His tone has shifted now as he realizes that I’m not trying him on, that this isn’t a joke. “I thought you were just friends.”
“We are,” I stammer, trying to find the words to explain this in the least insane way possible.
And failing. “I mean, we’re not in love or anything.
But she’s agreed to pretend so I can convince Nuclear that I’m not the sleazeball they think I am.
We can make some public appearances, I can talk about her at press conferences.
Show how committed I can be to one woman. ”
“This is starting to make a bit more sense,” Dan says slowly, his words measured as he considers the plan I’ve laid out for him. “She isn’t anything like the women you’ve been seen with before.”
I glance back at Poppy, sitting cross-legged with her cat curled up in the triangle of her legs.
“No. She’s not.”
“I don’t know, Jett. There’s about a million ways this could go wrong,” Dan says.
“Name one.” I poke at him, but I know he’s right. Still, I’m confident that Poppy and I have thought this through.
“It could get out, for starters,” he answers.
“So, we’ll be careful. We both know the stakes, Dan. We’ll make some public appearances, enough that no one will question our relationship.”
Dan lets out a hmm on the other end. “I’m sure Brooke will have some ideas to make you out to be a happily married man.”
“Exactly. We’ll sort out the whole scandal issue in the background, but in the meantime, we’ll give the press something else to talk about.
Something Chase will like. If I’m off the market, I can’t get into any more trouble, right?
And they might be willing to forget about this hiccup with the morality clause. ”
“It’s a long shot,” Dan says.
“I know. It might not be enough for Nuclear to change their decision but—”
“I mean it’s a long shot getting Brooke on board. She likes tried and true strategies, you know that. She’s not a risk taker, and this is a risk,” Dan clarifies. “But I’ll call her now and run it by her. If she’s in, we’ll have to get moving on getting you some airtime as a couple.”
“Okay,” I say. “Work your magic, Dan.”
He grunts as a response.
“Full transparency, I don’t think this is the worst idea you’ve ever had,” Dan admits.
My mouth turns upward at that.
Poppy is watching me, waiting with bated breath. She gives me a look that says well? In return, I give her a thumbs up.
“It’s not every day you’re asking me if you can be in a relationship, so I think this shows some growth.”
“Gee, thanks.” I roll my eyes, and it’s evident in my tone.
“Stay by the phone, I’ll get back to you.”
I hit the end call button and slide my phone into the pocket of my sweatpants before joining Poppy on the couch again.
“So?” Poppy looks at me, her expression half hopeful, half hesitant.
“He’s running the idea by Brooke,” I tell her, realizing in the moment that Poppy doesn’t know who that is. “My PR person.”
“Okay, so we… wait.”
“We wait.”
Poppy turns the TV back on to whatever she was watching before I showed up, and we settle in again while we wait for Dan to get back to us about the plan.
“This? You want to watch this?” I ask, my eyes darting between her and the gory horror movie she’s turned on.
“Yeah.” Poppy turns to face me, her eyes aglow. “Too afraid?”
She quirks an eyebrow at me in challenge, and something ripples in my gut.
“No, not afraid,” I say.
Maybe a little. But I don’t admit it as the opening scene plays.
The music becomes more eerie, and I’m holding myself tense as I wait for the jump scare. But right before it happens, my phone chimes in my pocket, making both Poppy and I startle. She lets out a little shriek and then picks up the remote to pause the movie.
DAN
I really had to plead your case, but Brooke is in. We’ll start showing you two off as a couple after your competition this weekend. She wants you looking all moon-eyed, real lovey-dovey crap. Give your new girlfriend a victory kiss.
I send him back a thumbs up, but my heart stutters for a second at the thought of kissing Poppy.
This has to be done right, Jett. No deviating from the plan. And no après parties. Brooke is worried about the optics.
I look back up at Poppy, and I can’t help but let my gaze land on her plush, pink lips before shaking my head to focus again.
“We’re going to have to kiss, after my run this weekend,” I explain.
Poppy fidgets her hands in her lap, chewing on her bottom lip. Her wide eyes find mine.
“You knew we’d have to kiss at some point, right?”
“Yeah. Right. Of course,” she stammers, a flush creeping up her neck. Her eyes dart around the room, looking anywhere but me. “It’s a quick kiss.”
“Poppy, we’re about to get married, in a very public way,” I remind her. “It may not be a real marriage, but we need to trust each other. You have to tell me if you’re not okay with this.”
Now, she looks at me with a shy smile, and her throat bobs as she swallows.
She glances down into her lap again. “I never thought this would be how I have my first kiss.”
My brain short circuits for a moment, taking in this new information.
“Your first kiss,” I say, repeating the word as if it will somehow help me make sense of it.
Poppy and I are almost the same age, and the number of kisses I’ve had in my lifetime makes it hard for me to understand how she’s had… none.
Her shoulders drop and she throws her head back.
“This is why I don’t tell anyone. It’s not exactly easy to admit that I’m almost thirty years old and I’ve never been kissed. Especially not to—” she gestures her hand towards me “—people like you.”
“People like me?” I’m getting ready to be offended when Poppy elaborates.
“You’re suave and charming, and you’ve never had a problem with relationships.”
“With hookups,” I clarify. “I’ve never had a problem with hookups. Relationships are another issue.”
Once you start venturing into relationship territory is when you set yourself up for hurt, for pain, for hardship. Hookups are fun, and I’ve got one life to live, so I’m going to have fun.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re experienced,” Poppy says. “I’m not.”
“Poppy, we don’t have to…” I start, my mind whirring with what this will mean for Poppy. The whole plan now seems outrageous.
“No, Jett. We do. It’s okay. No turning back.”
I eye her for a moment and we’re in a bit of a stare-off.
“Only if you’re sure this isn’t a problem for you.”
Poppy forces a smile, as if to reassure me, but apprehension settles in my gut.
“Nope, no problem at all,” she squeaks.