Moderately wealthy? All my life I would have said exorbitantly. But that was before I’d met Tanner. “If you didn’t like him originally, why didn’t you fire him?”
“Oh it wasn’t my choice, believe me. I’m stuck with him. But we’ve set our boundaries now and my house runs seamlessly.”
And Tanner thinks I’m the weird one?
“Enough about Nigel. Tell me more about your contract with Poppy. Is it ironclad?”
It wasn’t. “Actually, I have some other non-Poppy related news that I want to discuss with you. But I want to make it clear that you shouldn’t mouth kiss me again.” I was suddenly nervous and I had no idea why. Brooklyn had been my one and only girlfriend. I’d been adamant about not dating anyone else after her death. This was a big deal for me. And as one of my best friends, I wanted Tanner to be happy for me. But I had this weird feeling he’d make me feel like shit. For breaking my vow to love Brooklyn and only Brooklyn.
Tanner laughed. “I promise to not celebrate whatever it is you’re about to say.”
I pressed my lips together for a second. “I’m not dating Poppy. But I am dating Kennedy, Brooklyn’s best friend. I asked her to make it official.”
Tanner’s smile grew with each word. “I’d celebratorily peck you so hard right now if you hadn’t made me promise I wouldn’t. I’m really happy for you, man.”
“Yeah?”
“Of course. I’ve been wanting to set you up for ages. And look at you. You’re practically glowing.”
I laughed. “Well, I doubt I’m glowing. But…you really think it’s okay? That I’m dating her?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Tanner held up his hand. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, cut it out. You’re allowed to be happy, Matt. You’re allowed to live your life. You only get one. It’s over in the blink of an eye. You’ve already wasted enough years being miserable. This is a good thing.”
I nodded. “I am happy.”
“Champagne!” Tanner yelled. “Champagne for everyone!”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“Actually, you’re doing it, because you’re paying.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but then closed it. Fuck it. “Champagne for everyone!” I yelled.
The restaurant started cheering.
“Oooh, they cheer when they’re surprised,” Tanner said. “I like that.” He jotted it down in his notebook and then looked back up at me. “So Kennedy is fine with your ruse with Poppy?”
“Kennedy doesn’t exactly know about that. Yet. I need to tell her. I’m just trying to figure out how.”
Tanner sighed. “Sabotaging it from the very beginning, are we? Not on my watch. We won’t leave until we have a plan, you have my word.”
“Good. Because I really don’t want to screw this up.”
“I have one condition for my help though. You have to give me your word that I can meet Kennedy before you sleep with her.”
“No problem. We’re taking things slow.” Kennedy wanted to be swept off her feet like she was in a Disney movie. I wasn’t a prince. But I knew how to make her laugh. And I had a few ideas to keep a smile on her beautiful face.
Chapter 35
Thursday
“You really don’t need to come with me,” I said as Tanner and I exited the elevator on James’ floor. “It’s kind of a private conversation.”
Tanner slapped me on the back. “There is no privacy between best friends. Besides, it’s on the way home. And I hate sitting in the car.”
Fair enough. I knocked on James’ door.
A second later, Scarlett opened it.
What the actual fuck? “Scarlett we talked about this. You’re not supposed to answer the door alone.”
She blinked up at me. “It was another accident.”
“Scarlett, you’re in big trouble…”
“Nuh uh, Uncle Matt. You’re in big trouble. Mommy said so.”
“Your mom said that?”
Scarlett nodded and then looked over at Tanner. “She talked about you too, Mr. Tanner.”
Tanner smiled. “Am I in trouble too?”
“No. She said you and Uncle Matt were…” Scarlett scrunched her face up as she thought. “I didn’t know the word. And I forgot it.”
“Like you forgot you’re not supposed to answer doors?” I asked.
Scarlett smiled. “Yes?”
Luckily for her, I had her back. She’d be safe now. At least from the Pruitts and Cannavaros. But from random strangers at the door? “Scar,” I said and crouched down to look at her. “How many times are we going to need to have this conversation?”
“Maybe…once more.”
“Stop opening up the door, kiddo.”
“I don’t think you’re allowed to tell me what to do, Uncle Matt. You’re not my daddy.”
“So you want me to tell your dad what you did?”
She stuck her hand out. “Deal.”
I’d taught her about the art of negotiation a few months ago. She didn’t quite get it. But I’m pretty sure she thought the deal was that I wouldn’t tell her dad. Not the deal she’d actually just accidentally made where I would tell him. “And you won’t do it again?”
“Deal.”
I shook her hand.
“Is that present for me?” She gestured to the gift bag I was holding.
“Not today.” I patted her head.
“Who’s it for?”
“Your dad.”
“Oh.” She sighed. “He’s working. I’ll get my mommy.” She ran off. “Mommy! Mommy! Uncle Matt is here!”
“Such a cute kid,” Tanner said. “Pretty terrible at the negotiation table though.”
I laughed. “Yeah, she could use some work in that area. And in the area involving telling the truth. Why does she keep saying she accidentally opened the door? You can’t accidentally do that.”
“Did you accidentally shove your tongue down this horrid woman’s throat?” Penny said as she stormed into the foyer. She lifted up a tabloid with a picture of Poppy and me kissing before hitting me with it. “She’s a Pruitt!”
I grabbed the tabloid out of her hand. “Technically she’s a Cannavaro…”
“Are you kidding me, Matt? You know what that family’s capable of. She just threatened my daughter and you’re making out with her?”
This was a funny misunderstanding. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. Or maybe it was because I hadn’t stopped smiling since I asked Kennedy out. “I can see how that looks but…”
Tanner started laughing.
“And you,” Penny said turning to him. “Of all people, you should be upset about this too, Tanner.”
“Why me exactly?” Tanner asked. “I’ve never actually met the woman.” He lifted the tabloid from my hand. “She’s rather attractive, albeit apparently insane.”
Penny looked back and forth between us. “I don’t know what the hell is going on. Or why you both look so happy. But Matt, I am so done with whatever mind games you’re playing. Sending me on a wild goose chase trying to set you up with people when the whole time you were…I honestly have no idea what you’re doing. But you can’t come into my house if you’re seeing that woman.”