Page 36 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

We walk into The Spicy Cactus, and Poppy pulls me to a stop. “Do you mind if I stop at the restroom first?”

I nod. “Sure. I’ll wait for you here.”

She smiles. “Go find your co-workers. This place isn’t so big that I’ll not be able to find you.”

“Are you sure?” I ask. I don’t mind waiting for her.

“Yeah, go ahead. You never know how long you’ll have to wait for the ladies’ room. I don’t want you to be late.”

I’m fine with being late. But I don’t want her to feel any more self-conscious than she already is.

She moves off, and I walk into the dining room, a feeling of déjà vu coming over me.

Not because of the location, per se. But more of what greets me.

Brenden, Dan, Claire, and Jasmine are all seated at a table, and I’m walking in alone.

But this time, she’s here. Unless…sweat dots my brow.

What if the restroom was an excuse for her to leave?

I shake my head. Poppy wouldn’t do that.

Raising a hand, I approach the table. “Hey, guys.”

Brenden looks behind me. “Hey, Lincoln. Are you alone?”

“No, she’s in the restroom.”

He doesn’t look convinced. How did I not realize what a punk he could be when we were interviewing him for the job?

“Well, we have a seat for her whenever she gets here,” Claire says, pointing to the chair next to her.

“Keaton?” I hear Poppy’s voice behind me as I reach for my chair. I turn around and grin. She comes and stands next to me.

“Hey,” I say. I move in closer and drop my head. “I so owe you one,” I whisper in her ear.

She looks up at me. “No worries. I’m glad I came.” Then she glances behind me with a nervous smile.

“I hope you still think that way once we leave.” I give her a smirk and turn her toward everyone.

“Hey, everyone. This is Poppy.” I motion to Brenden first, because he was the one who doubted me most. “Poppy, this is Brenden.”

He nods. “Glad you could join us this time.”

Poppy frowns and looks up at me. I could strangle Brenden right now.

“Ignore him.” I lift my brows in an “he’s-an-idiot” kind of way. “I told him maybe you’d come the last time we all went out together, just to get him off my back, even though I knew you had to work. ”

She nods like she understands. Which I’m sure she doesn’t. Because I don’t even understand my explanation. Best move on…

“And Dan.” He lifts a hand in a sort of wave.

“And Jasmine.” She lifts a brow and gives Poppy an appraising look. I feel Poppy take a step closer to me. I both want to scold and thank Jasmine. While I enjoy Poppy’s closeness, it makes me angry that she might feel inferior. Poppy is inferior to no one.

“And this is Claire.”

Claire gives Poppy a big smile. “I’m so pleased to meet you. Here, you can sit between me and Keaton.”

Poppy relaxes a fraction. Can I give raises based on how people treat my girlfriend? I know I should walk that thought back a few steps, but I don’t because that’s how I think of her.

Poppy takes a few steps toward the chair Claire motioned to, but I notice she doesn’t release my hand. I won’t admit how happy it makes me because it would scare her off, for sure. I pull out the chair and wait for her to sit down before I push it underneath her.

I settle in next to her and pick up the menu. “What’s good here?”

“I’ve had the shrimp tacos,” Poppy grins. “I know you like seafood.”

I chuckle at her. “Yeah, but only if it’s halibut and topped with crab.”

She smiles back, and I see her shoulders relax. But then she lifts her menu slightly and whispers. “Why is that guy staring at me?”

I glance over to see that Brenden is, indeed, staring at her.

I narrow my eyes at him. “What’s up with you?”

He shakes his head. “I really thought you were making her up, Lincoln.”

Dan and Jasmine laugh.

Claire shakes her head. “I knew she must be real. I mean, Keaton is a handsome guy. Why would he need to make up a girl?”

Poppy lifts up her menu again and whispers to me. “Why did he call you Lincoln?”

“It’s my mom’s maiden name. I use it at work as my last name.

” I clear my throat. How had I not seen this complication coming?

“So they don’t connect me to my brother.

” I shrug. “Yep, my brother is my boss.” Not only have I now confessed to not being as successful as she thought I was, but I’m also worried she’ll make the Lincoln connection.

But that’s a common enough name these days, right?

She nods, dropping her menu and glancing back at Brenden again.

I can’t help but think this was a terrible idea on so many levels.

Poppy smiles and flicks a glance over to me. “Well, our first date is kind of like a fictional story, so I guess I can see how you might think that he made me up.” She lifts her shoulders in a playful sort of way. “But I’m real.” Her voice is sing-songy.

I glare at them all. “Can we get on with dinner and quit making Poppy feel like she’s on display at the zoo?”

Jasmine looks at me like I’m an idiot. “Did you compare your girlfriend to a zoo animal?”

Yes, yes, I did. What is wrong with me?

But something else caught my attention. “We’re just friends,” I say, expecting Poppy to say it at the same time. But she doesn’t. Great. Now, what is she going to think?

I look over and she’s staring down at her menu. She glances up and smiles. “Yep. We’re just friends.”

I can’t help but notice a tightness in her voice.

Does that mean she wants to be my girlfriend?

Crap. I should have prepared both of us more thoroughly before we came.

I should have used the drive time to prep rather than talking about Paisleigh.

Geez. It sounds like we’re in a fake relationship or something.

The others turn their attention to their menus. It’s likely difficult to watch the train wreck that’s happening across the table from them.

“I’m sorry about all this,” I say under my breath. “I guess I wasn’t prepared for what they would say.”

She reaches over and puts her hand on my arm. “It’s okay, Keaton. Really.”

I shake my head. This was the worst idea I’ve ever had. And this is surely my strike two. Does that mean I only have one more and then she kicks me to the curb? Man, I almost hyperventilate thinking about it.