Page 11 of When You Left Me Speechless

“It was Poppy. There was something different about her. I wanted to see where it would go.”

“And?”

“Did you get Lacey’s number?” I ask.

“No. She was fun, but I don’t think either one of us saw this going past last night. Why?”

“I just thought if you did, I could reach out. Maybe get in touch with her friend.”

“You know, it’s okay to enjoy a girl for a night and never see her again. It doesn’t make you a bad guy.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snap.

He laughs. “I know you man. Whatever happened last night, don’t let it make you think you're a bad guy. She was an adult who was looking for some fun. I’m sure she doesn’t think any less of you. You don’t have to call her. You don’t owe her a relationship. Lighten up, dude.”

CHAPTER 5: MOM…

POPPY

“Ican’t believe it’s been a week and that woman still hasn’t gotten back to Olive,” Lacey says.

“I know. I feel like I’m stuck in limbo waiting.”

“Do you have any other leads?”

“Nope. Not one.”

She lies on the other end of the couch, swiping on her phone. “Holy shit, look who just was suggested to be my friend on Instagram?” She flips the phone around, and it’s the guy she hooked up with a week ago, Tanner.

“You gonna add him so you can have more mediocre sex?” I tease.

“Oh god, no,” she gasps dramatically.

“He kind of gives off Thor vibes with his long blonde hair and muscles. Don’t you think?”

“More like Miguel fromThe Road to El Dorado,” she laughs. “I bet he’s friends with Logan. Should we look him up?”

“No, don’t you dare. I haven’t thought about him all week. I don’t need to revisit that mistake. I feel shitty enough as it is.”

My stomach knots as the lie comes out too easily. I have thought about him every day since I met him, and I hatemyself for it. I shouldn’t be letting my mind drift to thoughts of a man I barely know or can barely remember, for that matter. I’m not even sure why I’m thinking about him. I need to focus on school and graduation, not some guy I can’t remember if I slept with. My phone buzzes.

Olive: No word from Beth at Pecan Grove. You going to make it to Mom and Dad’s tomorrow for lunch?

Poppy: Okay, thanks for trying. It doesn’t look like it’s in the cards for me this semester, but I’ll be at lunch. Let’s not tell Mom and Dad, okay? Don’t want to worry them.

Olive: You got it. Don’t give up. We still have a day. She could get back to me >

My face falls, and I look up from my phone. “That was Olive.”

“It’ll be okay, Pop. I know your life feels over now, but it’s not the first time. We got through Beau and Jace. We can get through this.”

I pullinto the driveway of the small white house I grew up in. When I walk through the door, the smell of Sunday pot roast and yeast rolls hits me and immediately puts me a little more at ease.

My parents’ dog, Dan, runs over on his three good legs to greet me at the front door. I bend down and scratch his light brown ears. “Come on, use your words and tell me hi.” Dan howls, and I let out a little laugh. “That’s my good boy.” He wags his tail. “Don’t worry, bud. I’m going to break you out of here soon, and then you can come live with me.”

“Are you talking to the dog again?” my dad shouts from the living room, where he and David are watching basketball.

“Just giving him an update on my progress to smuggle him into my apartment.” I laugh, scratching Dan on the belly.

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