Page 27 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

KEATON

The nightlife is for you.

Learn Chinese: 球 — Qiú — Ball

I lean back in my chair and put my feet up on the corner of my desk, crossing them at the ankles. “Why did you decide to have Nathan be one of the presidents? I thought he was a bit of a flake.”

Evan runs a hand through his hair. Thankfully, on the video call, he can’t see that my feet are on the desk.

Although I doubt he’d care. He’s not that uptight.

Or at least he usually isn’t. But I think the wedding is making him a bit crazy.

Not Shay, the planning. I think if he had his way, they’d elope.

“In his personal life, Nathan is a total flake. But in business, he’s a shark and a complete professional. I trust him more than the other two when it comes to this.”

I nod. Evan’s friend, Nathan, had been engaged to Shay.

But he’d stood her up at the altar. No-showed, if you can even imagine.

I mean, who does that? It was the reason Evan and Shay met.

She went on the honeymoon without Nathan and stayed at one of Evan’s rental properties in Orlando, FL.

Then there was a flood in her rental, and she had no place to go…

except for Evan’s. And there you go. Two years later, and they’re getting married.

It’s crazy. But if Evan trusts Nathan with the business, then who am I to refute it ?

“Okay. I’ll put him as the CEO of the Kindrix Corporation.”

My phone buzzes, and I look over to see a text from Poppy. I grin.

“Is it from her?” Evan asks.

I glance up at my computer monitor. “What?”

He raises a brow. “I heard your phone buzz with a text notification, and now you’re smiling like an idiot. I can put two and two together.”

I narrow my eyes slightly. An idiot? Really?

“It’s okay, though. We’re done here. I’ll see you in the morning at the board meeting.

We’ll have Nathan, Greg, and Lawrence attend as well.

” They were the three newly listed presidents of our shell corporations.

As presidents of record, Evan had put them on the board of Noveani Technologies.

So it will not be just Evan, me, and our attorney (my dad) at our board meetings.

“Go see what your mystery girl wants. And have a safe flight.” Evan gives a flick of his brows.

I nod. “Thanks. See you in the morning.” I click the disconnect button, and Evan’s big face vanishes. I relax back into my chair as I grab my phone.

Poppy

Hey, I know this is short notice, but I wondered if you wanted to go to a football game with me tonight? I know you’re supposed to fly out, so if you can’t, I get it. No worries.

Football? Who’s Playing?

Poppy

The University of Utah vs. Stanford. My brother has season tickets, but his wife is about to deliver the baby any day. She put her foot down about going (she said she isn’t allowing the birth of their child to be broadcast on a Jumbotron), so he gave them to me. YAY!!!

I stare at the screen. She wants to go to a football game with me? Poppy loves football. It feels like this might be a shift in our relationship. Who will she take if I say no? Will she ask her friend Paisleigh? Or is there another guy she’d ask? I frown at that thought.

Tapping my finger on the desk, I sigh. I want to say yes. I’ve done so little outside of work the last two months. But I know Evan wants me at the board meeting even though half of the board will call in remotely. I raise a brow. If they’re calling in, why can’t I?

I pull up the flight schedule and see there’s a flight leaving Salt Lake at 10 a.m. tomorrow. That would give me time to call into the meeting. I could do any of my work on the plane ride back and have a decent night’s sleep for once. And…I’d get to go to the football game with Poppy.

I smack my hand on my desk. “One remote board meeting won’t kill the company,” I mutter. “Screw it.”

I’m in.

Poppy

Are you sure you can change your flight? I don’t want to get you into trouble with your boss.

Don’t worry. I can handle my boss.

Do you want me to meet you there?

Poppy

If you want. Or…I could pick you up.

I grin. I think that means she wants to spend more time together. Which is fine by me. I’ll spend as much time with her as I can.

I’d love to drive up with you if it’s not too much trouble.

Poppy

No trouble at all. See you at 6:30?

6:30? Isn’t that a little late? Will we miss kickoff?

Poppy

It’s a late start game. Because of the broadcasting schedule, it doesn’t start until 9. Does that change your answer?

I blink. So much for my good night’s sleep.

If the game doesn’t start until 9, it probably won’t end until after midnight.

Then the hour-long drive back to my hotel.

I’m looking at getting to bed at 1 a.m., best-case scenario.

I have to be up and dressed for the board meeting by 5.

So I’m looking at maybe four hours of sleep.

I look at my phone and the picture of Poppy and me from our hike.

I’d made it her contact picture. I’d considered making it my wallpaper, but I thought if she happened to see it, it might freak her out.

Her big, happy smile looks back at me.

Not at all! I’m totally good with a late start. Do you want to grab dinner before? I can be ready earlier if you need me to.

My eyes burn at the prospect of my late night. Man, it’s like I’m in my fifties or something. I’m only twenty-six. I can handle the lack of sleep.

Poppy

Hmm. Maybe? Are you thinking about grabbing dinner up here or down there?

I grin at her directions. I’ve not completely figured out what constitutes up and down for her. I think it might be as much topography as direction that dictates it.

Up there would probably be better. Then we don’t have to worry about traffic.

The dots dance on her side of the conversation. I can see in my mind her biting her bottom lip as she decides the best plan. I love watching her make decisions. It’s like her whole face gets in on the action, and it’s completely adorable.

Poppy

Okay. I’ll pick you up at 5:45? We’ll grab dinner, and then if we have extra time, we can see some downtown sites. You are a visitor, after all.

I laugh out loud. Maybe I’ll get an apartment. What would she say then? Would that make me a local in her eyes? And if I were, does that mean we could be more than ‘friends’? Because I’m pretty sure I want that.

I can’t wait!

Poppy

Does she love my comment, or is there more to that heart emoji? Dang! I wish I knew the intricacies of the emoji language!

We park in a parking structure that is not at the stadium.

I saw the stadium from a distance. But that is it.

“Are we walking the rest of the way?” I ask.

I’m normally not opposed to getting a little exercise.

But had I known we would hoof it, I probably would not have eaten so much…

or at least said no to the ice cream. (Just kidding.

I don’t say no to ice cream. I said I was going to get fat if I wasn’t careful.

Remember?) But it had seemed a good idea as we strolled through the gardens on Temple Square.

Gardens and ice cream go hand in hand, right?

My other hesitation is that we’ll walk back to the car in the early morning hours. I’ve not spent any time in Salt Lake City. Is that even safe?

She pats my arm. “No, don’t worry. We’ll catch a shuttle and ride it to the stadium.”

I release a sigh, but try to hide it with a scoff. “I’m not worried.”

She tilts her head to the side and gives me a side eye look. “Are you sure you’re not worried?”

I shake my head. “No way.” I release a breath. “I’m full, and the thought of walking a long way made my stomach gurgle.”

She laughs. “Then I’d think you’d want a long walk.”

“Maybe once the food is good and settled. But that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe we can walk back after the game?” Could she hear the concern in my voice?

She lifts a shoulder. “Maybe.” But then she tsks. “It’s too bad you aren’t worried. I was going to let you hold my hand so you’d feel better. But if it’s just that you’re full…” She leaves the sentence hanging.

I give a full-body shudder. “Oh, you found me out, I’m actually very worried. I have no idea how safe the streets of Salt Lake are.” I make it sound like I’m kidding, though I’m not. I reach for her hand. “I’m going to need the calming presence of your hand.”

She laughs and intertwines her fingers with mine. “It’s okay, you big scaredy cat. I’ve got you.” Then she curls her other fingers around my bicep. Oh, wow. Walking now seems like a dream. Who needs a shuttle bus anyhow? “Did I say I didn’t want to walk? I think I’ve changed my mind.”

She grins up at me. She’s wearing her flared-out jeans and a red and white tie-dye University of Utah shirt.

Her hair, which usually hangs down her back with dozens of little braids, is in one braid that encircles her head and rests over her shoulder.

It’s like what she did after our horrendous first dinner.

Although I’m thinking of it less and less in that way.

After all, it was part of what got us to this point, right?

I don’t think there’s a single part of that day that I would change, because if I did, it might alter where we are now. And I’m not willing to risk that.

“The streets of Salt Lake are pretty safe. But it’s like any other bigger-sized city. It has areas that are not safe. But if it’s all the same to you, I think I’d rather take the shuttle.”

“Your wish is my command.” Almost as if I’d summoned it, the shuttle bus pulls to a stop in front of us.

We climb on and settle into some seats about halfway back. We both watch out the window as we drive—it’s not as far as I thought—to the stadium. It would probably have taken us way less time to walk because of all the stops the bus has to make. But we have plenty of time before the game starts.