Page 18 of Game Plan

I love sleeping in, not having to deal with other people’s routines, and being able to go where I want at the spur of the moment. If chips and a stick of beef jerky sound good for dinner, so be it. If I want to blow my money on books, fancy coffee machines, and ridiculously priced shoes—that’s my business. And I don’t want it to be anyone else’s business.

Besides, the idea of someone depending on me to keep them alive every single day terrifies me. And logistically? It’s a nightmare because I would want a baby to be raised like I was, with a mom and dad in the same house. And God knows that’s a deal-breaker.

“Well, it seems like the odds of me having kids anytime soon got super slim last night,” I say, handing her a drink. “Because your darling brother cut me off.”

Her brows pull together. This is clearly news to her. “What?”

“I’m no longer having sex with your brother.”

“As much as it weirds me out to talk about your sex life with Finn, I’m riveted.” She opens the can. “What happened?”

“I told him that we need to reestablish the parameters of our … of us, and he decided that to prove to me that we’re more than just a physical relationship, he’s taking sex off the table.”

Her eyes light up.

“Why do you look happy about this?” I ask.

“No reason.”

I lift a brow.

“Fine. Because maybe this will …” She looks at the ceiling as she searches for the words. “I don’t know. Maybe it will develop the relationship.”

There’s that word again.

“You two have been together for a long time and say that you’re not in a relationship even though you act like you are,” she says. “Just suck it up and admit it already—you’re together. You turned down what’s-his-name because of Finn. That’s a big thing for Poppy Quinn.”

I roll my eyes but don’t have the energy to correct her. I used all my Finn-ergy tossing and turning last night.

We’re not even twenty-four hours into our new arrangement, and I hate it. And I hate even more that it’s the physical connection that I miss. Not just his dick, but his body next to mine. His smile from across the room. His voice asking me what I want to order for dinner. It’s infuriating.

And, on a surprising note, he seems to be taking this better than I am. I sent him a picture of my cleavage last night, and he still didn’t come over. What is happening?

I’m going to have to up my game.

“So what does this mean?” Layla asks, too entertained by this for her own good. “Are you both coming to Branch’s birthday party?”

“I don’t quite know what this looks like. We haven’t exactly worked the kinks out.” I pout. “That was the first time I’ve used kinks in a negative connotation when it comes to Finn.”

She laughs. “Poppy.”

Sunny stirs and Layla goes to her, shushing her until she settles again. I take the opportunity to check my phone.

Finn: Hope you’re having a good day.

This man.

I grin, typing my response in a flurry.

Me: I am. Got a new vibrator today. Excited to give it a try.

Finn: That’s great. Good luck. Remember to fully charge it first so it doesn’t die midway through. That situation makes for one very angry Poppy.

Is he serious right now?

Me: Want to come over? We could learn how it works together.

Finn: I’d be happy to pick you up for dinner.