Page 46 of Can't Always Get What You Want

10

nova

“He said what!?”

I groan. “God—he said so much. Like, where do I even start.”

Poppy’s eyes are practically bugging out of her skull as she stares back at me from the phone screen, clutching her mug for our virtual coffee date.

I have her propped up on a table, leaning against a small container of sugar and artificial sweetener.

“Uh, how about the part where he said not to fall in love with him? Or the part where he told you to break the rules slowly? Or maybe the part where he said he wouldn’t say anything to your brother until you were ready, ergo: date you insecret.Who does that?”

I lift my head just enough to glare at her. “Thank you for the helpful recap.”

She ignores me completely. “Nova. You’re not casually seeing this man. You’re already emotionally involved. And I say this with love—but you’reso screwed.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I mutter, stabbing at the whipped cream on top of my mocha with my straw.

Poppy folds her arms. “Okay, so go on. Spill. Walk methrough the whole thing. Slowly. In glorious,excruciating detail.”

I waste no time.

“So we’re joking around, right?” I begin. “Flirting like usual. Then Luca starts laying down these fake relationship clauses.”

“Clauses?”

“You know: no falling in love before date five, no posting on social media,no kissing until the fourth date—things like that.”

“Hold up.” Poppy lifts a hand. “Youmade a no-kissing rule? Are you out of your mind?”

“I panicked!” I cry. “I needed something to slow things down and my brain defaulted.” Jeez, sue me for freaking out! “People need boundaries.”

She waves a hand. “No, you gave him a challenge. Now he’s going to beferalby date four.”

“Uh. Probably.” I murmur, vaguely alarmed by how excited I am about the anticipation.

Poppy smirks. “So what’s next?”

I try to keep a straight face and fail. “Grocery shopping.”

She chokes on her chai. “What?”

“Yep. So domestic and innocent. We’ll meet in the produce section. He said I could teach him how to pick out a ripe avocado and then flirt with him over bananas.”

Poppy looks like she’s about to combust. “That is the most sexually suggestive farmer’s market content I’ve ever heard.”

“I know.” Isn’t it?

She frowns. “Why do you get all the good ones? I’m so jealous. My only date in the last two weeks was with a guy who thought it was okay to video chat me from thetoilet.”

Oh God.

I remember that guy.

She sighs. “I’m back on the apps, by the way.”

I did know, but grimace anyway and hold up my latte. “Godspeed my friend.”

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