Page 78 of The Situation Ship
“Melissa is the event planner. She helped me put all this together,” Phoebe explained.
“I was merely your hands and eyes. I can’t take too much credit,” Melissa said. “I hope you don’t mind that I dragged him along. Francis wasn’t meant to make a stop here, but since hewas part of the auction, I wanted him to see all you’ve achieved tonight.”
“You’re more than welcome, Francis,” Phoebe said. “Your donation was the highest bid in the auction, so you’ve made many artists very happy this evening.”
“If there had been some concert tickets, I would have snapped them up instantly. I promised Phoebe that I wouldn’t fangirl. I will try to contain myself,” Melissa said eagerly, “but I must tell you I was at your last concert! I loved the vintage set-up, and cried so much when you said you wouldn’t release any music in the foreseeable future. Your last two albums got me through my last breakup. That’s all I’ll say before Francis drags me away.”
“I’m happy that they helped,” Poppy said, trying not to be won over by her, but struggling. She didn’t want to ruin Phoebe’s perfect image of the couple, especially not when Melissa was innocent and Francis had made the mistake.
“I’m going to get a drink. Anyone want another?” Phoebe asked. Francis shook his head, and Poppy motioned to her full glass.
“I’ll come with you before I say anything more to embarrass myself,” Melissa said, taking Phoebe’s arm as they returned inside, leaving Poppy with Francis.
“Did you bid on anything?” Francis said politely. “I donated a helmet.”
“They’re gone. You don’t have to make small talk. I’m not going to tell Melissa about Mina and risk causing a scene on Phoebe’s big night, but it doesn’t mean that I have to talk to you or be civil.”
“What are you talking about?” Francis backed away from her like she was some raving lunatic.
“If you want to play it like that, then that’s up to you, but we both know that you treated my friend like shit. You used herfor your little holiday, and then last night you dumped her so that when your girlfriend came onboard, you’d be in the clear,” Poppy snapped. “I saw you coming out of Mina’s room. You don’t have to lie.”
“What? There’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t know what Mina told you or who you saw coming out of her room, but I wasn’t in her room last night. She ended things with me at breakfast yesterday when I asked her to go for dinner. She told me she was sick,” Francis told her. “If anything, I’m the one who got dumped.”
“But… you’re here with Melissa? Your girlfriend.”
“Gross! He’s my brother,” Melissa said, joining them with a couple of desserts on a plate.
Poppy stood dumbfounded. Why had Mina lied? It didn’t make sense.
“I want to apologise for the misunderstanding,” she said, humiliated.
Melissa smiled stiffly.I guess she’s not that much of a fan anymore.If only she could frighten off the killer so easily. She felt like a fool for not seeing the resemblance – the fair hair and deep brown eyes. Anger had blinded her. Poppy wanted to sink into the sand and disappear.
Thankfully, Isaiah wrapped an arm around her, distracting everyone.
“Please keep me away from the poker table; I think I owe Axel my soul at this point,” he announced. Poppy could have married him right then and there for sparing her. He held a hand out to Francis. “Isaiah Rivers – big fan, your last race was incredible. The recovery you made when you got delayed in the pits will go down in history.”
“Don’t inflate his ego too much, or his head won’t fit in his helmet,” Melissa said, nudging her brother.
“Ignore her. It was a hard race, but we eventually turned it around.” Francis’s scowl disappeared as Isaiah distracted him with stats and compliments while Poppy put her shoes back on.
“I look forward to seeing what you do next,” Isaiah concluded.
“I’ll try my best not to disappoint,” Francis said, grinning.
“Do you mind if I steal Poppy away? I need her luck.”
“We wouldn’t want to keep your lucky charm from you,” Francis agreed, and Poppy didn’t doubt he would be happy to see her go inside.
“What happened? Looked like you were arguing,” Isaiah said as they passed the craps table.
Poppy filled him in on Mina’s lie.
“Who was the woman with him, then?” Isaiah asked, evidently making the same mistake she had.
“His sister.”
“Oof. Accusing him of dating his sister and being a cheater– I’m glad I interrupted that conversation,” he said, and she swatted his chest. “Why would Mina lie?”
