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“What’s the matter, Broadie? Stocks drop, and you could end up a lowly millionaire?” Jarod teases.
“Shut up, smartass.”
Again, I’ve called and left messages for Poppy with no return call. Is she mad because I haven’t been able to spend time with her after returning home from the club that night? I’ve sent morning texts and planned to meet for drinks to see if we could compare schedules to go out again.
As much as I’ve been tempted to call and ask her to come over, I don’t ever want her assuming this is only about sex for me. She means too much to me to send those kinds of signals. Hopefully, if she ever finds out I’ve tried to look in on her mother, she’ll realize it’s more. Not that I send flowers and cards to Sara to get to Poppy. But her mother is the center of Poppy’s universe. It tore me up to see her so distraught when she got word Sara was being hospitalized. I only wanted to be there for both of them. Maybe it was a step too far.
Hell, it wouldn’t be the first time I did that.
“Brantly getting after you about the director’s position again?”
“No, no.”
Jarod drops down into the chair across from my desk. This guy has it all figured out. A beautiful wife and kids, a reasonably priced home in the burbs, and cuts his days short to attend Little League.
So, why is this so hard for me?
“What’s going on, man? You haven’t seemed like yourself. You got back from your trip and looked better than I’d seen you in years. Fuck. You almost looked relaxed.”
Memories of that trip come flooding back, making me smile. God, I pray I’m not left with memories. That I haven’t screwed this up with her beyond repair.
“Truth?”
Jarod arches a brow. “It’d be nice.”
“I’ve started dating someone.” I rub the stubble along my jaw. “But I’ve only really had one date with her. And now she’s not returning my calls.”
“Damn. That bad already? You really do suck at relationships.”
Leaning forward, I run my hand down my face. “Why is this so much harder than my job?”
Jarod chuckles. “Most of your patients are under anesthesia. There’s a far less chance of a disagreement.”
Looking out my office window, I consider this. “Maybe. But we don’t really fight. She’s almost too understanding.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
“Only so much as I don’t want her to walk away because she’s had enough before I have the opportunity to fix it.”
Jarod leans forward in his chair, as if he’s about to divulge state secrets. “Here’s a thought. Don’t let it get that far.”
“I know, I know. But it’s hard shifting gears. I haven’t dated in a decade. And now that I want to, I’m struggling to balance work, my girls, and Poppy.”
Jarod’s eyes spring wide. “Poppy Danforth?”
I freeze.Why did I let her name leave my lips?
“Our Poppy?”
I tense. “No. My Poppy.”
Jesus, I’ve really done it now.
Jarod starts to laugh. “You dumb fucker. The one person on the planet who managed to get her to give them the time of day, and you’ve already blown it? This isn’t the kind of woman you treat like a casual date. If things are going slow, it should be because it washerchoice. Not yours. Fuck, if she’d given me the chance, there’d be no doubt I was interested. Because there are plenty waiting in the wings who are.”
My back stiffens.Like fuck they are.But he’s right. I’ve come too far to lose her now.
“Have you sent her flowers?”
