Page 13 of The Disasters of Dating
I straighten my shoulders and run my hands down my thighs. Mostly to keep myself from reaching out to her. What would I do once I held her? I’m not sure. Now that I’ve kissed her, I very much would like to do it again. Only this time, I would enjoy it. Take my time and savor it. There was none of that happening the last time.
I look down at her and brace myself to be slapped. But she is smiling at me instead. Does that mean she liked the kiss as much as I did? It gives me some confidence. I open my mouth to ask her for a redo before I go back to New Hampshire.
“So,” she says, stopping my words. “It’s pretty clear the universe is telling us this wasn’t a good idea.” Upon closer inspection, it doesn’t seem that it was a genuine smile. Her lips look very tight.
I snap my mouth shut, my words scurrying down my throat. When did the universe say that? I completely missed it. Was it during the very brief but still enjoyable kiss? The universe wouldn’t do that to me, right?
I bite the side of my cheek. Universe or not, Poppy thinks this was a bad idea. Which probably means she thinks us going on a real date is a bad idea too. I wonder if I can schedule a meeting with the universe and try to get her on my side. Because I just don’t think she’s right.
Poppy gives me another quick, tight smile as she pushes her giant bag on her shoulder and turns toward the exit.
Only then do I notice everyone is still watching us.
I settle into the chair, placing my back to them. I should go around and demand they each give me five bucks. After all, this isn’t a dinner and a show kind of restaurant. And I don’t work for free.
It takes Bethany forever to bring me the boxes for our food. By the time she does get here with them, I’ve pretty much eaten all of my dinner. I carefully put Poppy’s burger and all of her condiments into the recycled cardboard container. I hand Bethany my credit card to pay the bill, and she hurries away.
I’m left trying to figure out exactly how everything turned for the worse. I hardly had a chance to talk to her. The only things I know about her are that she reads and follows her horoscope.
I smack myself on the forehead. Why didn’t I think to ask what her sign was?
I know she wants to own a chain of airport stores. An odd choice but respectable. And she is getting her bachelor’s degree in business. Or at least I think it’s a bachelor’s. She looks too young to already be in a master’s program. But I really don’t know that for certain.
Bethany lays the credit card slip in front of me with a pen. I add a tip—more generous than she deserves—and sign my name. I put my card back in my money clip and shove it into my front pocket as I stand up. Then I take the container and head for the exit.
The more I think about it, the more I disagree with Poppy. This wasn’t a sign from the universe. It was a series of mishaps. Maybe if I plead with her or appeal to her logical side, she will agree to a real date.
I step into The Wandering Reader and pause. Poppy isn’t there. Should I wait for her? Maybe if I loiter about the shop for a little bit, she’ll come back. Although loitering about the shop is what nearly got me arrested the last time. Maybe I shouldn’t try for a repeat.
But then I think about not seeing Poppy again before I leave the airport and decide to risk it. I go in and look at the books. There are some beside the checkout in a decorative stack. I’d bet a steak dinner that Poppy arranged them. I don’t know why I think that, other than it looks like something she would do.
I pick up the book and thumb through it. It looks to be a fantasy. Although from the blurb on the back, it seems like it may be a romance, too. Is that possible? Would that make it a fantance? Or maybe a romantasy?
Whatever it is, this is a signed copy. I look at the author’s name. Danielle Baldwin. Hmm. Never heard of her.
“Can I help you? Have you read the book? It’s been a breakout hit.”The girl smiles at me. “I think the other girl that works here knows the author.”
My brows go up, but I shake my head. “No, I haven’t read it.” I put it back on the stack because I don’t intend to buy it. “I was waiting for Poppy. I have her dinner.” I hold up the box to prove my claim.
The girl’s eyes widen. “You’re the guy she broke her rule for?” She smiles and gives me a not-so-subtle head-to-toe once-over. “I can see why she did.”
“She broke her rule? What does that mean?” Do I really want the answer to that question?
“Poppy has a rule not to date travelers.”
I nod. So if I had asked her out before the whole arrest thing happened, she would have turned me down flat? I tip my head to the side. Maybe the universe wasn’t against us but actually trying to help us out? That is something to consider.
Just then, Poppy rushes into the shop. “Sorry, I’m late, Kendra. Dinner was a dis—” She pulls up short when she sees me standing there with the container in my hands. She’s dressed in a pair of khaki green, baggy, genie-type joggers and another boho shirt. Only this one is navy blue. It would have fared way better at dinner. She had taken out the smaller braids she had before and now has one French braid (Is that what they are called?) that wraps around her head and rests across her shoulder. Still, she looks cute. Better than cute, actually. My skin warms looking at her.
She is also wearing more than her normal makeup. Odds are good it’s to cover up the damage. It’s not working.
Kendra lets out a gasp. “Girl, what happened to you?”
Poppy shrugs. “I’ll tell you later.” She turns to me and grabs the container. “Thanks for bringing this.” Setting it on the counter, she hurries around and shimmies behind Kendra. When she comes back out, she has my backpack and suitcase. “Here’s your stuff.” She bites her lip. “And thanks for dinner. You didn’t have to pay.”
I nod. “It was my plan all along.”
She doesn’t look like she believes me.
