Page 12 of Man of the Month Club: May
Poppy deflates beside me before plastering on a fake smile and saying, “That’s great! You two will be terrific together.”
Before I can object, she begins pushing on my shoulder to try to make her way out of the booth. I don’t budge.
“I’m going to head out. My belly isn’t feeling quite right, so I don’t want any pizza,” she says, even though she hadn’t mentioned anything about an upset stomach earlier.
When I see the tears welling in her eyes, I’m torn about what to do. I don’t want to let her leave like this, but I know she’ll be mortified if she cries in front of us.
“Let me out!” she demands with vigor in her voice, despite its shakiness.
I startle us all by saying just as firmly, “No.”
11
Poppy
Idon’t see what this annoying, stubborn man isn’t understanding. Speaking as if he’s a five-year-old, I say, “I’m not a match with you. Summer is your match. The two of you need to go on a date to see if you’re as compatible as the app says you will be.”
When I try again to move him aside, so I can escape to my car and cry, he remains planted in his seat. At my angry huff, he says firmly, “You’re not going anywhere, until you hear what I have to say.”
The waitress arrives with our red plastic drink cups and a basket filled with piping hot garlic knots. They would probably smell delectable, if I wasn’t so upset. Cooper places our pizza order and the woman hurries away as Phoebe and Summer both reach for rolls.
Both women lean in and munch on the knots as if they are as anxious to see what Cooper has to say as I am. He turns his attention to them to say in a no-nonsense tone, “Phoebe, your app is wrong.”
When she starts to agree, he holds his palm up to add, “It’s wrong now. Summer, no offense, but I don’t want to go out with you. You are beautiful, and I’m sure you’ll make someone very happy, but it won’t be me. I’ve already found my love match, and she’s sitting right beside me.”
He turns to look deeply into my eyes and steals my breath away. My eyelashes flutter rapidly as I struggle to take in this wonderful, surprising turn of events.
Taking my chilly hands within his warm ones, he says, “Poppy, you are the one for me. Perhaps it was destiny for us to be mismatched. I don’t know the reason, and I don’t care. All that matters is I choose you, and I hope you’ll choose me.”
He seems to be expecting an answer, but I don’t trust my voice, so I merely nod.
“I don’t want to date anyone else because you’re not just a woman. You’rethewoman for me.” After that wonderful proclamation, Cooper leans in to press his lips to mine.
Some portion of my brain registers that our pizza is being delivered, but I can’t bring myself to care. All that matters is Cooper’s captivating kiss.
When we finally, reluctantly break apart, Summer claps her hands and squeals, “Oh, this is so romantic! I knew from your auras that the two of you were a wondrous match.”
I grin at the excited woman in the gauzy, flower-patterned dress. She truly seems happy for us. I can’t even imagine because if I had been Cooper’s true match, and he chose someone else, I’d be seething with jealousy.
Just as I’m deciding I might actually like this hippy-dippy person, she turns wide eyes to Phoebe to ask, “What should we make their ship name––Coppy or Pooper?”
Leaning across the table, I say in a firm tone, “How about no?”
All three of the others chuckle at my bristly reaction.
Since my stomach issue has completely dissipated, I grab a slice of pizza and take a huge bite.
Phoebe seizes the opportunity to say sheepishly, “Our Man of the Month Club group is really starting to take off, so perhaps we could all keep quiet about this slight mishap––err, happy mistake––with the application?”
Summer and I nod our agreement as Cooper stares directly at me to answer Phoebe’s question. “As long as I get to live happily ever after with the woman of my dreams, your secret is safe with me.”
Epilogue: Poppy
As we climb into Cooper’s car, I say, “I know running late stresses you out. I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my hands off you this morning.”
He angles a knowing look at me before saying, “It wasn’t like I was fighting you off.”
It’s tempting to point out that it’s his own fault for being so damn irresistible, but I opt to take the high road instead. “You told me we had a couple of stops to make before our appointment, but I joined you in the shower anyway.”
