Page 55 of Game Plan

Poppy: Look at KM202. That’s stunning! But I could never. I mean, can you imagine hauling that thing around? No boat rides for me. It’d sink a ship.

Me: Is that your favorite?

Poppy: I don’t want that one. It’s too much.

Me: You can have any one you want.

Poppy: WM535 is nice. I like the shape of it a lot.

Me: I like the shape of your ass a lot.

Branch’s name appears on my screen, but I silence the call. I’ll call him back.

Poppy: Wait until you see what I packed for tonight.

Me: Does that mean you’re coming straight here from work?

Poppy: I have a meeting at 3. I’m going to make Peter talk fast so I can get out of here as fast as I can. If all goes right, I’ll be there by 4:30.

Me: You’ll be naked by 4:31.

Poppy:

I grab the case of Dr Pepper off the counter and place it in the fridge.

Me: We have a few contracts to consider. I can send them your way if you’re bored at work.

Poppy: I wish. That call that came in yesterday while you were at my house was a massive fire. It’s thrown my whole day off. Not to mention that I’m interrupted every 20 minutes by someone asking me if I’m really engaged.

I try to read between the lines but can’t.

Me: How do you feel about that?

Poppy: A couple of ways. One, I know never to tell Marie anything that I don’t want to spread in less than 12 hours. And two, it’s kind of fun. My coolness factor goes way up when I tell people that I’m marrying you.

“Fuck,” I hiss.

Poppy: People think you’re a very big deal.

Me: They aren’t wrong.

Branch’s name pops up again. The second call coming in so quickly after the first is peculiar.

Me: Branch is calling. Repeatedly. Text me if you find a ring you want and your size, and I’ll get it ordered.

Poppy: See you soon.

Me: Not soon enough.

I exit the app and press Branch’s name.

We need to tell Branch and Layla before they find out from someone else.

Poppy

“I can’t believe this is my life,” I say with a laugh as I scroll through the rings. After such a chaotic morning, I deserve this little break. “Here, just pick one. Forget that they’re half a million dollars.”

The thought of wearing something each day worth as much as my house makes me squirm. But when will I ever have the chance to do something like this again? Never. And when this is over, maybe I can sell it and donate the proceeds to Someday Now.