“No.” Her voice sounded so firm. Like when she’d yell atMason or me for fighting. “Don’t do that. Don’t push away a good thing. Youdeserve happiness. I know how much you loved Brooklyn. But that doesn’t meanyour heart isn’t big enough to love someone else too. Don’t you think you’vetortured yourself enough?”
I blinked fast, hoping I wouldn’t start crying in the middleof a busy Manhattan sidewalk. “So does that mean you like Kennedy?”
She laughed and sniffed at the same time, and I could tellshe was laughing through tears. “I liked her when she was a teenager. But Ihaven’t seen her since you two graduated. You’ll have to bring her by fordinner.”
My mom would definitely still like Kennedy. This was just herway of getting me to come over. “I can do that.”
“We miss you.”
“I miss you too, Mom.” My phone started buzzing. It was probablyKennedy. I needed to take it. “Tell Dad I miss him too. Text me and we can setup a time for dinner.”
“Alright. I love you so much. I don’t think I have to tellyou how happy this call has made me.”
I smiled. “I love you too, Mom.” I hung up and looked down atmy phone. But it wasn’t a call from Kennedy. It was several texts all in a rowfrom Poppy. She’d been messaging me all day, trying to get me to go to somestupid event. And she wasn’t taking no for an answer.
I quickly responded. “I told you, I have plans tonight.” Myphone started ringing. Shit. I made sure Kennedy was nowhere to be seenand answered the call. “Not now, Poppy.”
“This was part of the deal, Matthew. For you to come when Ineed you. And I need you tonight. Uncle Richard is going to be there. I wanted tonightto 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 inthe same social circles as that monster. “Just tell him we’re dating.”
“He’ll want to see us together for himself. Talk is justhearsay. 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 tohang 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 exactlythe kind of excuse that would not get me out of this last-minute obligation. “Becausetonight I’m telling my friends about the fact that I’m dating you. If we wantthis to work, they need to know.”
“Oh. Well, that’s good.” She sighed. “But can’t you meet upwith me after though? Please.”
“Guys’ night usually goes until at least midnight.” Itdidn’t. But I had other plans tonight involving Kennedy naked.
“We had a deal, Matthew. And I don’t want to have to break myside of it.”
Fuck. I ran my hand down my face. That hotel room wascalling to me. But Poppy had me, and she knew it. I’d have to postpone my alonetime 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 atux. If you bring flowers it’ll certainly be a bonus.” She hung up.
I looked down at the flowers I’d brought for Kennedy. Whatwas I doing? Flowers definitely weren’t Kennedy’s thing. But I didn’t have timeto go get her some French fries because her taxi pulled to the curb and shestepped out. She leaned in and told the taxi driver something, and when sheclosed the door, he didn’t drive off.
I met her in the middle of the sidewalk. I could tellsomething was wrong because her normal smile was nowhere to be seen. And I justhoped 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 myjaw.
“I’m such an idiot,” she said. “No. Actually, you’re theidiot. What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you still playing the samegames 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. AndI won’t give you a chance to make me feel the same way.” She turned back to thetaxi.
I caught her hand so she couldn’t leave. “Please just let meexplain.”
She turned around. It looked like she wanted to slap me againbut she didn’t. “Explain how you were making out with someone else on the coverof every tabloid in the city? Or the fact that I found out because I overheard twoof my employees gossiping about the city’s most eligible bachelor being takenoff the market? What could you possibly have to explain? Because it seems quitesimple to me. You’re a cheater. You’re disgusting. And I want nothing to dowith you.”
I’d been called a lot of bad things over the past 16 years. Butnever with such vehemence.
“Kennedy, please just let me explain what’s going on. This isa huge misunderstanding. Can I just talk to you inside for a minute?”
“Why? Because you can’t let anyone in the city know aboutyour mistress?” She grabbed the flowers out of my hand and whacked my arm withthem like she was brandishing a sword.
“Would you stop yelling for one second?” I grabbed theflowers 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, Iagree 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 tospread the rumor. I swear it meant nothing.
