Page 31 of Running from Drac

“Finn? Seriously?”

“He’s a nice guy… I think.”

“You think?”

“Well, I’ve only ever seen him in passing, I’ve never really talked to him before.”

Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms and glare at her. “What exactly are you getting me into, Poppy?”

She shrugs. “If anything, a good shopping experience.”

“You’re lucky I love you.”

Her frail arms encircle me as she squeals. “Thank you. Thank you. I asked Pippa to join me, but she said she had plans.”

“So, I was your second choice?”

“Only because it’s twin etiquette to ask the other first. You know the rules.”

“I wish I didn’t,” I mumble. “But okay, I need a good distraction, and some fresh air. Just let me get changed first.”

“So, Amber, tell me about yourself. What’s a pretty girl like you doing single?” Finn, the guy Poppy conned me into blind dating, is sitting next to me, doing his best to engage me in conversation.

I’ve barely acknowledged him, and been picking at my dinner for the last five minutes. I swear I saw Eddie walking around outside earlier, but his doppelgänger disappeared into the mall before I got a chance to get a good look. Just thinking about seeing him again made my heart sink and race at the same time.

“I just got out of a long relationship,” I meekly answer, doing my best not to be totally off-putting. Poppy’s not doing much better. The guy she’s with is all over her, making her rather uncomfortable. If he’s not careful, I’m going to spear him with my fork.

“Oh, how long of a relationship?”

Sighing, I stab a piece of orange chicken and eat it before answering. “Five years. He was my high school sweetheart.”

“Oh…” There’s a long pause before he asks the question I knew would be coming next. “Why’d you guys break up?”

“I cheated on him while in Vegas.”

Poppy’s gaze shoots over to mine. I know she’s surprised that I answered him truthfully, but this guy’s a bit of a douche. He smells like expensive cologne, is wearing a damn Ralph Lauren polo, and his shoes are probably more expensive than a single piece of clothing in my wardrobe. His light brown hair is cropped short to his head in a buzz cut that he made sure to tell me was part of his uniform, as he’s joining the military after this semester. He even made sure to add how he was looking for a wife to go with him, stating the benefits are better for those who are married.What a douche!

He takes a sip from his beer stein and grimaces. “You cheated on your boyfriend?”

“He was my fiancé, actually. And don’t worry, he cheated on me first.”

“So, that makes it right?” he argues, his voice rising a bit.

Weakly, I look up at him, noticing the rage in his eyes. The guy’s definitely been cheated on in the past. I’m not sure why I find that so funny.

“No, I’ve beaten myself up every day for it since then. The sad part is, I don’t even remember doing anything. I woke up feeling groggy and drugged.”

His scowl only intensifies. “That’s every girl’s excuse. Oh, I was drugged. The guy didn’t have consent before we fucked. Bullshit! You fucking knew exactly what you were doing! All you girls are the same. Little girls who are quick to call rape before taking accountability for their own actions.”

My eyebrow raises just a tad, and Poppy sort of sinks in her seat when she realizes that this fun little double date is starting to explode.

“Dude, I don’t know why you think it’s okay to yell at someone you barely know in a restaurant for something I already beat myself up every day for, but I don’t appreciate it. So, please lower your voice, or so help me, I’ll fucking walk out of this so-called date right now. I’m only here to protect Poppy, anyway.”

Poppy’s date, a guy named Gideon, gives her a concerned look. “Were you afraid to be alone with me?”

She shrugs. “First dates are always uncomfortable for me.”

His arm moves over her shoulders, and she freezes. “I’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable, Poppy.”