Page 5 of Playing for Keepsv

“No. Tuesday at eight,” she said, still covering the receiver. “What do you want me to say?”

Cash staggered forward on his knees and clasped her upper arms.

“For the love of God, Poppy,” he implored. “Say yes.”

“Hello?” Rosaline prompted. “Did I lose you?”

“No, no, I’m here. Um, eight on Tuesday. NDA. Got it.” She wiggled free from Cash’s hold. “Do you need my email address?”

“No need. I have it.”

Of course she did. Considering the mysterious means with which Rosaline had gotten ahold of Poppy’s phone number, Poppy really shouldn’t have been surprised. “Is there anything else you need from me?”

Her social security number maybe? Her blood type?

“That’s it for now,” Rosaline said. “I’ll be in touch.”

Chapter Two

September 21

Lyric Adair reposted

Cash Curran@cashcurran • 16h

RAIN OR SHINE, HOME OR AWAY, YOU KNOW THE @portlandpathfinders ALWAYS COME TO PLAY, BABY! ONE MORE SLEEP TIL WE SHOW UP AND SHOW OFF #PDXvsLAC??♥??#PathfindersNation

Victoria@pdxprincess • 16h

um is no one going to talk about the fact that @lyricadair is now following @cashcurran?!?

PaigeLA@infrontofmysalad • 16h

besties who wants to bet lyric adair is gonna be at the #PDXvsLAC game?

Cherry??@polinlover96 • 16h

replying to @infrontofmysalad

unhinged behavior??who tf am i kidding, unhinged is practically that girl’s middle name. she’s totally gonna be there.

Maya@cantevenparallelpark • 4h

The camera just panned to the VIP box. I don’t see Lyric??#PDXvsLAC

Portland Pathfinders@portlandpathfinders • 1h

27–19 FINAL SCORE! ANOTHER WIN FOR THE #PathfindersNation????♥??SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, MIAMI.

Los Angeles was weird.

There was a whole boulevard of stars and not a single one in the sky. None that Poppy could see. It was eerie that there was this great, big, black blanket of nothingness over their heads, visible through the sunroof of the Ranger Rover they were currently cruising in down Nightingale Drive.

“We’re just about there, Miss Peterson,” their driver said, eyes meeting hers in the rearview mirror.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, the quasi-queasiness she’d been experiencing since she’d touched down at LAX yesterday increasing exponentially. “Thank you.”

Cash squeezed her knee and rocked his shoulder into hers. “I’m starting to think you’re more nervous for my date than I am.”