“Watch the throwing arm!” He laughed.
“I can’t believe a guy who started listening to Cyndi Lauper for his girlfriend calledmea simp.”
“Guilty.” He grinned, unrepentant.
“As I was saying.” She narrowed her eyes. “I am a professional. Rosaline Sinclair is my—mycolleague.”
She wasn’t about to jeopardize her job or Cash’s career because of an all too unfortunate crush. And dearlord,was it unfortunate,lusting after someone who thought the worst of her when they even thought of her at all. But what else was new? She’d never wanted what was easy or good for her. She was probably destined to die single and alone. Maybe with a few cats who loved her if she was lucky.
“It’s hardly like you report to each other. And not that you need it, but if you’re looking for it, as your technical boss, I give you blanket permission to bump uglies with Lyric’s publicist should the occasion ever arise.”
“Bump uglies?” Poppy wrinkled her nose. “What are you, twelve?”
“What do you want me to call it? Enjoy a little bangity-bang-bang? Shake the sheets? Cash in the Kegels? Partake in some hand-to-gland combat?”
“Hand to—oh my god.” She stared, jaw hanging, horrified. “You’re a child. I cannotbelieveyou bagged a girl like Lyric Adair.”
He smiled soppily. “She likes my dumb jokes.”
Like her grandmother used to say, there was a lid for every pot. “Well, whatever weird slang you want to call it? It’s never going to happen.”
She wished she could say she had enough self-respect that today had quashed her crush, but if anything, she just wanted to work that much harder to prove Rosaline wrong. Probably not the healthiest of motivations, but Poppy was nothing if not a perpetual work in progress.
“Stranger things have happened,” he said. “I thought the same thing about Lyric and look at us.”
He was the exception, not the rule, drawing from a seemingly indelible well of good fortune, one of those rare people who were lucky in life. Whereas Poppy didn’t so much have a well as she had a shallow puddle that was dry most months of the year.
“The point is moot. I don’t even know if she likes girls.” For all she knew, Rosaline could be straighter than a two-by-four.
“You want me to ask Lyric?”
“You can’t just ask if someone’s queer, Cash.”
He rolled his eyes. “I was going to, you know, be subtle about it.”
Unfortunately, Cash wouldn’t know subtlety if it bit him on the ass. “Your offer is both sweet and incredibly unnecessary.” The last thing she needed was him meddling in her nonexistent love life and causing Rosaline to look at her like she was even more pathetic. “I just want her to take me seriously. That’s it.”
He scooted closer, knee touching hers. “Don’t take it personally. Lyric says Rosaline is like this with everyone.”
But Poppy didn’twantto be everyone.
She was Poppy Peterson, damn it. She might not be the best or the brightest, but knock her down nine times and she’d—eventually—stand up ten.
Chapter Six
Sunday, October 7
Portland Pathfinders@portlandpathfinders • 8h
WAKE UP, PATHFINDERS NATION! IT’S GAME DAY!!??#ATLvsPDX #PathfindersNation
Cash Curran@cashcurran • 4h
PUMPED AF! LF GOOOOOO!!!??#ATLvsPDX #PathfindersNation
Liana Lin–KATU Channel 2 News@lianalin • 35m
Currently at Pathfinders Stadium and there’s a noticeable heightened security presence. We were just stopped going into the tunnel and told no photos. All press was made to put away phones and cameras. More to come. #ATLvsPDX
