Page 44 of The Disasters of Dating (Love Connections #6)

KEATON

A Romantic interlude will soon come your way.

Learn Chinese: 耐心 — Nàixīn — Patience

It’s been two days since Poppy accidentally texted Lincoln the invite to dinner.

Why hasn’t she texted me? Has she decided she doesn’t want me to go after all?

What changed her mind? And shouldn’t I have some way to defend her reasons for not inviting me?

Although that seems difficult when I’m not supposed to know she accidentally invited Lincoln.

It’s Friday afternoon, and I’m sitting in my office waiting until I can leave. My head isn’t here today. It’s back in Salt Lake. I have so much going on there, I don’t have time to be here.

I signed a lease for an apartment before I left.

Normally, I wouldn’t have done something without taking more time to think about things.

But the place felt good. Like, when I walked in, I could feel myself living there.

And if I signed right then, I can move in on the first of the month—which is Monday.

I’ll only need a hotel for one night. Granted, I have no furniture and probably won’t for a month or so. But that’s okay.

I’ve already called and given my apartment notice.

I have to pay for the month of September, but that’s fine.

It’ll give me time to pack up everything and have it delivered to Utah.

Now I need to speak to my dad about crashing at his place when I’m in town.

It’ll feel weird to sleep in my old bedroom .

My phone dings with a text alert, and I grab it, hoping to see Poppy’s number.

But it’s not Poppy. It’s my dad. Hmm. It’s like he knew I was thinking about him. Maybe Poppy has something with the whole universe knowing everything.

I read his text.

Dad

Hey, son. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen you. I thought maybe we could all get together for dinner this weekend? Lowell leaves for school in the next few weeks, and I thought we should have dinner together before he leaves. Otherwise we won’t all be together until Thanksgiving.

Sure. It would have to be tonight or tomorrow. I fly back to Utah on Sunday night.

Dad

…

…

This is probably where he is trying to decide how to break the news that he has to work late those nights, so maybe we can try for some time next week. Which will be even harder because I just canceled Thursday’s flight. Evan will just have to handle the board meeting without me next week.

Dad

I think I can make either of those work. Let me see what Lowell, Alix, and Evan say and I’ll get back to you.

Okay.

You know, I could start a group text if you want.

I think we are the only family in America that does not have a family group text. It’s weird. But for some reason, my dad always declines when I offer to set it up.

Dad

I don’t know. I’m fine to reach out to everyone.

I understand that. But it makes things easier if we can all see everyone’s schedule.

Dad

…

There is a great deliberation going on at the other end of this conversation. Who knew starting a group text could take so much thought?

Dad

Okay. Why don’t you set it up?

I’m stunned. He’s actually agreeing to it. It feels as if miracles are possible. Now, if only Poppy would text me, everything would be headed in the right direction.

I start a text string, adding Lowell, Evan, Shay, my sister, Alix, and her husband, Josh, and my dad all onto the same thread.

Hey everyone, Dad asked me to set up a group text (finally) so that we could arrange for dinner together before Lowell heads back to school. We’re thinking either tonight or tomorrow night.

Evan

When do you go back to school, Lowell? This weekend isn’t the best for us, but if we have to, we can rearrange some things to make it work.

Lowell

I don’t go back until a week from Monday.

Evan

So like September 8th?

Lowell

Evan

What about the 6th? I know that Keaton usually flies to Utah on Sunday nights.

Lowell

I can do the 6th.

Alix

I think we can do the 6th also.

Josh

Dad

I can make that work, too.

I run a hand through my hair and grunt. Great.

So I’ll be the only one who can’t do that day, which will draw all sorts of questions from everyone.

Should I rebook my flight and come home for the weekend?

I mean, it doesn’t look like Poppy is going to ask me.

Maybe she never was going to ask me. Maybe she had thought she was texting Paisleigh.

I shake my head. No, that doesn’t seem right.

Why would Paisleigh need to change flights?

Crap. It’s fish or cut bait time. But I want to keep the 6th open because I REALLY hope Poppy asks me to go to the dinner.

But it’s been two days. Two Days! It’s not like she hasn’t texted me in that time.

We’ve even talked on the phone. She has texted me about all sorts of other things—all minor and nothing more than just chit chat.

Not that I am dissing on chit chat. You can learn a lot of things from it.

For instance, I discovered that she hates mushrooms. She will manage them okay if they are raw in a salad (although she is still likely to take them off and set them aside), but she will not eat them at all if they are cooked and ‘disgusting.’ I also discovered that she is allergic to avocados, walnuts, and pecans.

All valuable information, but nothing that says we are in a lasting relationship.

I take a deep breath, fully realizing the can of worms I’m about to pop open.

I can’t do the 6th. I’ve already got plans.

Evan

In the evening? What if we do afternoon?

It’s kind of an all-day thing.

Alix

Yeah, we can’t do afternoon. Kyle has a soccer game.

Evan

Is this personal, Keaton? Because I don’t remember you having anything to do with work that day.

Shay

I believe it’s none of your business, Evan.

I smile at Shay’s response. She is never one to shy away from putting Evan in his place.

Evan

I wanted to know because if it’s for work, then I could help him rearrange things so he could come.

I’m actually staying in SLC through the weekend.

Evan

See? It is work. What’s it for, Keat? I’m sure we can totally reschedule it.

Nope. It can’t be rescheduled.

Evan

…

You don’t have any meetings on the calendar. Why are you staying in Salt Lake?

I scrub a hand over my face.

Shay

Evan, you can be so dense sometimes. I’d guess it has something to do with Poppy.

Lowell

Poppy??? Who/what is a Poppy?

Dad

Poppies are flowers, Lowell, but it’s none of your business.

Evan

Poppy is Keaton’s new girlfriend. Weird, but fun fact…she’s Paisleigh’s best friend.

Dad

Shay’s sister, Paisleigh?

Evan

Do you know many other Paisleighs?

Dad

No, but sometimes you kids think that I know people that I don’t.

Alix

Wait. When did Keaton get a new girlfriend? Sometimes I feel like I’m the last to know everything.

Lowell

Not this time. I had no idea he found a new girlfriend.

Dad

Me either.

I didn’t ‘find’ her. She’s not a puppy, Lowell.

Lowell

Puppy…Poppy? I think it might be close enough.

Lowell, you’re such a punk!

Lowell

Takes one to know one.

Are you mature enough to be starting law school???

Evan

Hopefully, they will teach him better arguing skills than ‘takes one to know one.’

Lowell

I can argue with great eloquence when I’m speaking with other mature adults.

I highly doubt it.

Dad

Boys…

This is why I didn’t want a group text.

Shay

I can confirm that she is not a puppy. But she is adorable, and I’m sure they look so cute together!

My face reddens even though none of them can see me. Discussing my love life in a text thread is seriously the worst. I’m going to have to see it every time I open my messaging for the next week.

Alix

When do we get to meet her, Keat?

Evan

Wait, if you are staying through the weekend, you won’t be here for the board meeting on Friday.

Yeah, I was going to talk to you about that. Just not here.

Evan

Okay, fine. I get that. I’ll come talk to you in a minute.

Can’t wait.

Alix

You didn’t answer my question.

She starts back into school next week and works full time, so her schedule doesn’t allow much travel.

Shay

What about Thanksgiving???

It’s a little far out to be deciding that.

Anyway…can we do dinner this weekend?

At this point, I’m kind of committed. If I rebook my flight, it will be significantly more expensive than when I originally bought it. Nope. I’ve charted my course, and I now must follow it through. Regardless of whether Poppy asks me or not.

Shay

Yep. We can rearrange some things. Tonight works best for us.

Lowell

Why not tomorrow?

Evan

We were hoping to leave town for the weekend.

Lowell

Again? You were gone last weekend. Where are you going?

Evan

None of your business.

Shay

Nantucket. If we have dinner tonight, we can leave first thing in the morning and still have a few days. But if that won’t work, we can reschedule the trip.

Evan

But can we????

Shay

Yes. We can.

Tonight is great with me.

Dad

I’ll make it work.

Alix

We’ll make it work, too. Shay, remind me to give you the names of some great little shops you need to visit. And the best places to eat!

Shay

Will do.

Lowell

Ah, fine. I’ll hang out with James and Trevon tomorrow night. It’s not like they have lives.

I sigh and smile at my phone. We may be up in each other’s business and call each other punks, but we really do love each other.

Thanks for making this work around my schedule, guys.

Dad

No problem. May I ask if you have a picture of Poppy? I’d like to put a face with the name.

Alix

Yes!!! I want to see pictures!!!

Lowell

Me, too! (Alix, did you notice I only needed one exclamation mark?)

Alix

Keaton was right, you are a punk.

Shay

I think I have one, if you don’t. But I’m guessing you do.

I was hoping this wouldn’t happen.

Evan

I don’t think you have a choice, Keat. If you don’t send a picture, they’re going to think she’s ugly.

Shay

No, we won’t. Because I know her and she is super cute.

Evan

I know she’s cute. I saw what she looked like last weekend.

Shay