Page 3 of Man of the Month Club: May
Poppy
Humiliation surges through my veins as I stand there holding my purse, like a dope, and gaping at the man who just insulted me in front of everyone. There’s no denying we got off to a rocky start in the parking lot, but I never dreamed he would shun me like this after we were matched by the app’s algorithm.
“Cooper!” Phoebe hisses, chastising the man’s open rudeness.
He turns wide eyes to her. Sounding defensive, he asks, “What? She’s awful. She can’t possibly be my best love match out of all of these wonderful candidates.”
Trying to save face, I climb back onto my bar stool and say, “It’s fine if you want to bow out from your commitment. I can be a lot to handle. It sounds like you’re not strong or confident enough to take me on.”
I take a sip from the straw of my drink, hoping that my cheeks and neck aren’t as red as they feel.
“Oh, I could handle you, I just don’t care to,” he informs me, sounding super cocky.
Ignoring him, I turn to Phoebe and say, “Perhaps Cooper should go out with his next-best match.”
Phoebe shakes her head as she says, “You two are meant to be a pair. I’d bet my reputation on it. The runner-up isn’t even a true compatibility match with him.”
Ever the peace-keeper, Daphne turns to look up at Cooper. Although she speaks softly, everyone listens. “Phoebe’s app has made four successful matches in a row. Aren’t you at least curious to see if it’s right about you and Poppy?”
I’m curious, but I would never admit that aloud, since he has just publicly rejected me.
Cooper shakes his head. “It can’t be right. She is the one woman at this table Ididn’twant to be matched with.”
“Oh, that’s what it is, then.” Summer, the woman on my other side, weighs in with authority. “You were focused on your fear of being matched with Poppy, so the Universe delivered. It always brings you what you ask for with your dominant thoughts and feelings, so you should try to pay attention to what youdowant, rather than what you don’t wish to happen.”
This woo-woo mumbo jumbo is hogwash, but several women around the table nod their heads as if the loon beside me is making sense. At least her rambling is keeping everyone’s focus off my shame at being so harshly denied.
Daphne brightens with an idea. Turning to Cooper she asks, “How about if I call Ben and have him meet us somewhere? It will give you and me a chance to get to know each other. Plus, you and Poppy can see if you have a connection, without the pressure of a one-on-one date.”
Cooper’s expression softens. I know from experience that Daphne is impossible to resist when she turns those sweet, innocent eyes toward you. Proving the truth in that, Cooper relents, “I suppose that might work.”
Although I appreciate my friend’s effort, it’s beyond embarrassing that the man is having to be convinced to go out on a date with me, so I snap, “Don’t do me any favors.”
“If I go, it’s because I’ve been trying to find time to get to know my brother’s girlfriend, not because I want to spend time with you.”
“Understood,” I say crisply, trying not to reveal how hurt I am by his angry words and scowl. Feeling the need to stick up for myself, I add, “I don’t particularly want to go out with you, either.”
“Good,” he grouches.
“Great,” I answer back, determined to one-up him.
Ignoring our childish bickering, Daphne claps her hands and says, “Yay! A double date will be so much fun. I’ll call Ben right now.”
While she’s taking care of that, things turn awkward at the table. Cooper is the first man of the month to not be delighted to whisk his lady out of here––except for when Ben thought I was his match. Apparently, the Bridgerton men are simply not into me.
The women are staring at me with wide eyes, so after taking another sip of my drink, I say, “I can be a bit of an acquired taste.”
Cooper scoffs behind me, but refrains from commenting.
Soon, Daphne rejoins us at the table and says, “Ben is going to meet us at Wendy’s just up the road, if that’s okay? I’ve been dying to try a Frosty.”
I grin at my best friend. She’s lived such a sheltered life until now, that she is easily impressed by simple things that most of us take for granted.
Cooper seems taken aback by the suggestion that we get fast food as he croaks, “Wendy’s?”
“That sounds terrific,” I assure Daphne, before turning to look up at Cooper to add, “Unless you’re too much of a prima donna to eat a cheeseburger and fries?”
Obviously unwilling to let me look like the better person, Cooper holds his hand out to assist Daphne down from the tall bar stool she just sat back down on as he says, “Not at all. In fact, that sounds delicious. Shall we?”
