“I want to find Poppy and make sure she’s okay. I said that on the viral video and people started posting all kinds of videos about where’s she’s at. I know she hates the attention and must be freaking out,” I say, clearly panicking.
“She’s fine. She was with Paris. She went back to Holland’s. She’s been staying with her. She obviously can’t stay living with that roommate of hers,” Ryse responds.
“I don’t even understand how she got to write my story,” I say.
“No clue, bro. I haven’t spoken to Poppy,” Ryse says. “If you want to help my sister then go to the Dean. Get this story retracted and get Poppy back on it.”
He’s right. I feel like shit that she was removed to begin with.
“I’m on it,” I reply, and we end the call.
I head over to the Dean’s office feeling very worked up and anxious. When I speak with his secretary, I’m out of breath from charging across campus to get here. I explain the problem and wait to speak with the Dean, who tells me he will review this with the board. He warns me that it will take a couple days. I tell him I want Poppy reinstated on the story and that Elijah should be removed as editor if he’s willing to publish such lies. As a member of the Dragons hockey team, I have some clout. Westfall is known as a university that gets its athletes to the NHL and NFL. If a case of libel is brought forth by a player it looks bad on the institution. Problem is he sends me off, telling me he’ll be in touch in a couple days.
My patience has disintegrated. I need this fixed now.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Poppy
I set up my laptop and get to work on the kitchen table, but I can’t get any work done. Not with that viral video replaying in my head and Declan’s declaration that he loves me.
An email comes in from Elijah.
To: Poppy McGuire
From: Elijah Underwood
I will be resigning as editor of The Gazette as of this eve. I apologize for pulling you off the story and questioning your journalistic integrity. I allowed personal feelings to get in the way of a professional decision.
I am instating you as interim editor until my replacement is found. You have shown yourself to be respectable and honorable in your reporting. I should have never taken you off the Spotlight or questioned your integrity.
My sincerest of apologies.
Respectfully,
Elijah
I read and reread the email. This is crazy. Elijah must not know what I did to Bonnie or maybe it doesn’t matter because she is the one who violated my privacy.
I look down at my phone and although I know I shouldn’t be scrolling through social media, I do. Declan’s video has been shared over ten thousand times. People have posted videos of sightings of me with hashtags #findpoppy and #truelove. This is crazy. How will I ever leave the house?
Holland sends me a text that she has a late class tonight. So I hang out with CC and Mary in the kitchen while Mary feeds her dinner, and CC makes all kinds of cute noises as she spits her food back at Mary.
After dinner Mary takes CC up for a bath when I hear a knock on the door. Holland doesn’t usually have company unless Paris drops by with Max or Blossom and Cait stop by.
I head to the door to see Declan. His brown waves are askew. His gray eyes are clouded and he has a look of sorrow mixed with sadness.
I open the door and wait.
“Can I come in?” he asks.
I nod and step out of the way and then I close the door but I don’t invite him in.
“I know you must hate me,” he starts. “Coach ordered me to stay away from you. It was the last thing I wanted. The team was angry with me and Ryse and I were a mess. It was affecting our game. Coach laid it on the line. My future in hockey was at stake and I know that isn’t an excuse, but I didn’t want to go behind everyone’s back again. I wanted to find a way to do things right by you. I’m really sorry you lost the Spotlight because of me,” he rambles speaking fast and he looks really torn and tired.
“Yeah, well I had a crazy roommate. Didn’t see that one coming,” I snicker.
“I want to hear all about it but I have a few things I need to get off my chest, if that’s okay?” he says and then watches me, waiting for my response.
“Okay,” I answer quietly.
“I spoke with Ryse. I told him I’m in love with you. I should’ve set him straight from the start but I’m not good with my emotions, or at least communicating them. I’ve always been very closed off and I didn’t know how to handle the guys on the team feeling like I was a backstabber. I know it isn’t an excuse. I’m trying to learn and do better. Ever since I met you, you’ve taught me so much about expressing myself and not feeling shame,” he admits.
My stomach sinks at his words. Oh, Declan.
“I should’ve been there for you after your brother lost it on me. I’m really sorry I wasn’t. I know you must have hated the attention from the stupid video that went viral. I wasn’t thinking that night. I had a few drinks and watched you dancing and having fun, and all I wanted was a small taste of those lips to hold me over. I wasn’t thinking and it was reckless,” he says.
“Declan, us keeping it from Ryse was on me too. My brother has always felt like he needs to be my father and so I was worried about his reaction, but I’ve spoken to Ryse.”
“I have too,” Declan says.
“And what did my brother say?” I ask. “I mean he and I are good now.”
“I’ll tell you about your brother after. I have to get a few things out,” he says, looking at the ground.
“Okay,” I say and his eyes meet mine.
“Not being with you these last few weeks has been so hard. Knowing I hurt you in any way has gutted me. I spent the holidays miserable in Detroit, thinking about you, because here’s the thing, Poppy. I’m in love with you. I’m all in and I asked Ryse for permission to date you and he gave it to me, so now I’m asking your permission. Will you take me back?”
Butterflies dance aimlessly in my stomach. “You know this isn’t the Middle Ages and you don’t need to ask permission from my brother to date me,” I laugh.
“After everything that went down, I felt bad about me and Ryse being teammates and all. He said that as long as I don’t break your heart, we’re cool.” Declan smirks and it’s a shy kind of smirk that makes me want to kiss him.
“Declan?” I say his name like a question and his smirk falls. “I love you too. I’ve been miserable these past few weeks without you.”
I exhale.
“Does this mean I can kiss you?” he asks.
I nod giddily. He moves in and sweeps me right off my feet, lifts me in the air, and his lips touch mine. “This feels really good,” he says. “We don’t have to hide anymore.” He has me lifted in the air.
“We kind of do have to hide after all those viral videos this afternoon,” I remind him.
“I feel so bad that our relationship jeopardized your place at The Gazette. I was so worried about my spot on the team, but I never thought they would remove you from the paper. I went to the Dean. He told me it would take a few days but I threatened libel,” he says.
“You did?” I ask, surprised.