I heard her inhale.
I didn’t want to make her guess. “Or rather, ran into someone I used to know. Do you remember Kennedy?”
“Kennedy Alcaraz? She was so sweet.”
My parents never bothered with tabloids. They wouldn’t know about Poppy. And I didn’t want to go into that. I just wanted my mom to know I was okay. “I really like her, Mom. And I know I shouldn’t because…”
“No.” Her voice sounded so firm. Like when she’d yell at Mason or me for fighting. “Don’t do that. Don’t push away a good thing. You deserve happiness. I know how much you loved Brooklyn. But that doesn’t mean your heart isn’t big enough to love someone else too. Don’t you think you’ve tortured yourself enough?”
I blinked fast, hoping I wouldn’t start crying in the middle of a busy Manhattan sidewalk. “So does that mean you like Kennedy?”
She laughed and sniffed at the same time, and I could tell she was laughing through tears. “I liked her when she was a teenager. But I haven’t seen her since you two graduated. You’ll have to bring her by for dinner.”
My mom would definitely still like Kennedy. This was just her way of getting me to come over. “I can do that.”
“We miss you.”
“I miss you too, Mom.” My phone started buzzing. It was probably Kennedy. I needed to take it. “Tell Dad I miss him too. Text me and we can set up a time for dinner.”
“Alright. I love you so much. I don’t think I have to tell you how happy this call has made me.”
I smiled. “I love you too, Mom.” I hung up and looked down at my phone. But it wasn’t a call from Kennedy. It was several texts all in a row from Poppy. She’d been messaging me all day, trying to get me to go to some stupid event. And she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
I quickly responded. “I told you, I have plans tonight.” My phone started ringing. Shit. I made sure Kennedy was nowhere to be seen and answered the call. “Not now, Poppy.”
“This was part of the deal, Matthew. For you to come when I need you. And I need you tonight. Uncle Richard is going to be there. I wanted tonight to be our big society debut.”
“We’ll have to do it another night.”
“You know he doesn’t go to many events now.”
I actually didn’t know that. I made a habit of not being in the same social circles as that monster. “Just tell him we’re dating.”
“He’ll want to see us together for himself. Talk is just hearsay. You know this. You know him. Why aren’t you coming?!”
“I’m sorry, Poppy. You should have given me more warning.”
“I only just found out last night that he’d be in attendance. And you’re supposed to be my boyfriend. Which means you’re supposed to want to hang out with me on Friday nights.”
“I can’t pretend tonight,” I said.
“But why?” Her voice was even whinier than normal.
“Because…” I couldn’t tell her I had a date. That was exactly the kind of excuse that would not get me out of this last-minute obligation. “Because tonight I’m telling my friends about the fact that I’m dating you. If we want this to work, they need to know.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good.” She sighed. “But can’t you meet up with me after though? Please.”
“Guys’ night usually goes until at least midnight.” It didn’t. But I had other plans tonight involving Kennedy naked.
“We had a deal, Matthew. And I don’t want to have to break my side of it.”
Fuck. I ran my hand down my face. That hotel room was calling to me. But Poppy had me, and she knew it. I’d have to postpone my alone time with Kennedy. Again. “I’ll see if I can get away.”
“I’d say make sure of it. See you in a few hours. And wear a tux. If you bring flowers it’ll certainly be a bonus.” She hung up.
I looked down at the flowers I’d brought for Kennedy. What was I doing? Flowers definitely weren’t Kennedy’s thing. But I didn’t have time to go get her some French fries because her taxi pulled to the curb and she stepped out. She leaned in and told the taxi driver something, and when she closed the door, he didn’t drive off.
I met her in the middle of the sidewalk. I could tell something was wrong because her normal smile was nowhere to be seen. And I just hoped to God I wasn’t too late to tell her about…
She slapped me hard across the face. “I can’t believe you.”
Shit. “Kennedy…”
Before I could say anything else she slapped me again.
Damn, she was stronger than I thought she was. I rubbed my jaw.
“I’m such an idiot,” she said. “No. Actually, you’re the idiot. What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you still playing the same games you did as a teenager? We’re not in high school anymore!”
“I can explain.”
“You made Brooklyn feel like a dirty little secret, Matt. And I won’t give you a chance to make me feel the same way.” She turned back to the taxi.
I caught her hand so she couldn’t leave. “Please just let me explain.”
She turned around. It looked like she wanted to slap me again but she didn’t. “Explain how you were making out with someone else on the cover of every tabloid in the city? Or the fact that I found out because I overheard two of my employees gossiping about the city’s most eligible bachelor being taken off the market? What could you possibly have to explain? Because it seems quite simple to me. You’re a cheater. You’re disgusting. And I want nothing to do with you.”
I’d been called a lot of bad things over the past 16 years. But never with such vehemence.
“Kennedy, please just let me explain what’s going on. This is a huge misunderstanding. Can I just talk to you inside for a minute?”
“Why? Because you can’t let anyone in the city know about your mistress?” She grabbed the flowers out of my hand and whacked my arm with them like she was brandishing a sword.
“Would you stop yelling for one second?” I grabbed the flowers from her and threw them on the ground.
She pulled the taxi door open, ignoring me.
I slammed it shut. “Kennedy….”
She shoved my chest. “Puta mierda.”
I grabbed her hands so that she’d stop hitting me. “Look, I agree with you okay? I’m an idiot.”
“You’ve got that right.”
I tried to lower my voice so that no passersby would hear us. “But that kiss in the tabloids? It wasn’t real.”
“Your lips were on hers.”
“Just so the photographers could snap a stupid picture to spread the rumor. I swear it meant nothing. I had to enter into a fake relationship with Poppy Cannavaro in order to ensure the safety of James’ daughter. It’s a verbal contract that will expire when Poppy acquires Mr. Pruitt’s business holdings.”
“What are you even talking about?”
“Poppy is Mr. Pruitt’s niece. And she thinks being with me will somehow show Mr. Pruitt that she’s serious about taking over the company. That’s it. It’s basically a business transaction. And believe me when I say that there is nothing real about the relationship at all. Because I’m falling for you, Kennedy. I can’t stop thinking about you.”