After staring at him for a beat too long, I turn my head, my eyes colliding with Matt, who’s looking at me knowingly. No doubt he sees right through me and can already tell what I’ve been denying for days. But if Matt knows, does that mean Braden does too?
Someone’s phone rings, and both Matt and Braden reach for their pockets. Braden’s is lit up as he pulls it out, but after glancing at the screen, he silences it, placing it on the table.
“Sorry. That was my mom. I’ll call her back later.”
“She lives in Florida, huh?” Matt says more as a statement than a question. He nods toward the phone. “I recognized the area code. I grew up there. Is that where you’re from?” he asks with interest.
Braden appears stunned. “Uh…” he starts, then clears his throat and quickly collects himself. “No. She moved there after getting married.”
Wait a minute… Owen’s mom lives in Florida. That’s weird. Too weird. What are the chances that both the men I’m…dating… have moms that live in Florida? They also both have dads who are out of the picture. Oh fuck. Didn’t Owen say he worked in law the second night we talked? Fuck, fuck, fuck. No. I’m spiraling. These are just coincidences, I’m sure.
I take a sip of my wine while the guys talk about Florida. I’m zeroing in on Braden’s responses, listening for anything that sounds like Owen. But where Owen said he hates the humidity, Braden doesn’t mind it. Shit, Braden’s going to his mom’s for Christmas… just like Owen.
What does this mean? So they have similarities. Wait… Owen did say he was busy this weekend after we had the most amazing week of conversations. Is that because… Owen is Braden? Is Braden Owen? Am I an idiot for not noticing any red flags until now? This can’t be happening. Okay, deep breath. Stay calm. Act cool.
But the more I listen to Matt and Braden speak, the more convinced I become. Things slowly click into place, and the bits and pieces I’ve learned about each one begin to overlap.
I’m trying to slow my heart rate and focus on breathing when an idea hits me. If Braden is Owen, then he’ll have the app, and if I message him, we’ll see it come through. Okay, I’ve got this.
“Sorry, guys. I forgot to respond to a client this afternoon. I’ll go take care of it and be right back.” I say while grabbing my phone from my purse.
Getting up, I quickly head to the bathroom and text Cici, hoping this works.
Poppy: Hey, how’s life treating you these days? Is Abby still behaving? I’m having dinner with Matt, and he wanted me to tell you hi.
That should prompt a quick response. But I need to be at the table when it comes through.
“I’m back,” I pant out aggressively after rushing through the restaurant, relieved I made it before anything came through.
“Did you get it taken care of?” Braden asks as my phone dings, giving me pause from the slight guilt at my deception. But if I’m right, guilt will be the least of my emotions.
I look at my phone while answering. “Shoot. Yeah, but now they have another question. Keep talking, and I’ll wrap this up.”
I quickly open the dating app, type out a message, and hit send. Taking a deep breath as my heart pounds, I wait for the answer I’m afraid of. Dread fills my chest as soon as Braden’s phone pings with a notification.
I feel like the ground has swallowed me whole, and everything I thought I knew comes crashing down.
I was played.
How often was I warned that all men were the same, yet I fell into the trap? I can’t believe I was so stupid—that I was ready to tell Braden I wanted to give this a try and be exclusive.
Braden looks down. When he sees the message, his confusion is evident until realization dawns, and shock registers. A second later, his gaze meets mine.
“Poppy, wait—” he starts, as a wave of anger hits me.
“Save it. I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”
“Please. Give me a chance to explain.”
“Oh, I think you’ve had plenty of chances. I can’t believe you played me like that. What? Were you hoping to learn enough information to stay in my pants?”
“What’s going on?” Matt asks, clearly concerned.
“Matt, meet Owen. Because, in case you missed the memo, BradenisOwen.”
“What the fuck?” The anger radiating from Matt rivals mine.
“My only intention was to get to know each other.”
