Page 48 of Can't Always Get What You Want

Closes.

“Know what’s really gonna piss him off? Him finding out you were sneaking around. That’s really gonna endear Luca to him.”

My chest tightens, and for a second, I think I might cry right here in this over-air-conditioned café surrounded by pumpkin spice and judgmental glances.

I blink hard.

Look down at my cup.

Try to gather the frayed strings of my composure and tie them into a knot tight enough to hold.

Poppy notices immediately—of course she does. Even with the distance, she’s in tuned to my moods.

“Hey,” she says gently, her voice dropping to that rare, serious tone she reserves for breakups and bad news. “Breathe. It’s okay. You don’t have to figure it all out today.”

I nod once, fast. Then again, slower.

“I’m just…” I press my fingers to my temple. “I’m so tired of always choosing between what I want and what won’t cause waves.”

If Poppy could reach across the table and grab my hand, she would. “Then stop doing that. You deserve to want things. You’re allowed tobethings. Not just Gio’s sister.

I laugh, shaky and uneven. “Tell that to my anxiety.”

“Your anxiety can shove it,” she says brightly. “Your anxiety doesn’t get to veto kissing hot hockey players who say emotionally vulnerable things at dinner.”

I give a weak little laugh. “Hedidsay a lot of emotionally vulnerable things.”

Wiping my eyes with the sleeve of my sweater, I exhale for the first time all day. I got this.

I do.

“Babes,” Poppy says. “Gio has a family now. Gio has Austin and Vivi. Why shouldn’tyoube happy? Nothing stopped him from taking what he wants—now it’s time to take whatyouwant.”

No truer words.

“You think Gio is gonna to be mad? Let him! Let him be mad! He doesn’t get to gatekeep your joy because he got his first.”

Right.

I know this.

Poppy softens her tone. “You’re not letting anyone down by falling for someone whowantsyou. Who respects your self-imposed weirdness and doesn’t run for the hills when you start spiraling.”

“I’m not going to panic.”

“You’re going to panic alittle,” she amends. “And I’ll help you figure it out.”

“So—what do I do?”

My bestie hums. “First thing I would do if this was my brother being a dick, would be to text him and tell him you have a date. At least lay the groundwork.”

Yikes.That sounds scary.

“Or,” Poppy amends again, seeing the look on my face. “You can text Austin, since she’ll be on your side no matter what.”

I scrunch my nose. “I don’t think I’m ready for that level of honesty with those two yet. I have no idea if Austin will actually keep it a secret from my brother—they are so caught up in their own love story.”

Poppy sighs dramatically and slumps in the booth. “Alright. Then my advice is this: don’t say anything yet. Just go. See Luca. Let it happen. No pressure. No labels. No secret sibling betrayal yet.”

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