Matchmaker (Empire High #4) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,139
Only.
We started to follow him.
“Sugar tits?” I whispered to Poppy. “Really?”
“I panicked. It was the first thing that popped into my head. And we’re stuck with it now, so just roll with it.”
I shook my head as we walked into the hotel kitchen. There were only a few people inside. Caterers refilling their trays with little desserts.
“Out,” Mr. Pruitt said to them.
One of them looked up. “But…”
“I said get out!” He picked up one of the half full trays and threw it against the wall.
The caterers scattered, running out of the kitchen.
I tried to bite my tongue, but I couldn’t. “You know who would have hated you talking to them like that?” I asked. “Brooklyn.”
Mr. Pruitt turned to me. “I don’t think you knew Brooklyn as well as you believe you did.”
What was that supposed to mean? I opened my mouth but Poppy grabbed my hand.
“Uncle Richard, you seem a little upset,” Poppy said.
A little upset? He just threw a bunch of miniature cheesecakes at a wall. If this was a little upset, I didn’t want to see what really upset was.
Mr. Pruitt ignored her. “I’ve always thought of you as family,” he said to me. “Despite everything. Despite my past with your father. But I should have known. Maxwell put you up to this, didn’t he?”
What did my dad have to do with any of this? “No.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not lying to you. My dad has nothing to do with who I do and don’t date.”
Mr. Pruitt glared at me. “He’s been trying to ruin me for decades.” Mr. Pruitt started pacing. “End this, Poppy. Matthew’s just trying to con his way into our family to get inside information. He doesn’t love you. He only loves himself.”
What the actual fuck? “I loved your daughter.”
He stared at me.
“I never see you leaving flowers on her grave,” I said. “Fake crying once doesn’t count. You basically harvested her organs. So don’t you dare stand there and say she meant nothing to me when she meant everything.” I could feel myself cracking. I was saying everything I wasn’t supposed to say.
“Are you finished?” he asked.
God I wanted to punch his smug face. I clenched my hand into a fist and then unclenched it. Over and over. “Yeah, I’m done.”
“So you loved Brooklyn? And you expect me to believe that now you love Poppy? The two of them couldn’t be more different.”
“Opposites attract.”
“I know that. That’s why Brooklyn liked you. She was pure and wonderful and good. And you’re cruel and cold and uncaring.” He turned to Poppy. “Poppy dear, he doesn’t love you. Cut him loose.”
“Are you saying that I’m cruel and cold and uncaring too, Uncle Richard?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. You know I think the world of you.”
“Then why don’t you trust me?” she asked. “It’s like you have no faith in me at all. Uncle Richard, this isn’t some big con. I’m in love with him.”
Love? I tried to smile and nod when all I felt like doing was throwing up. I didn’t want to talk about Brooklyn. I didn’t want to be standing here with her dad and Poppy. I wanted my fresh start.
Mr. Pruitt nodded. “Truly?”
“Truly, madly, desperately in love with him. Why aren’t you happy for me?”
For a second Mr. Pruitt said nothing at all. But then he cleared his throat. “Of course I’m happy for you, darling. And Matthew. You feel the same way about Poppy?”
“Yes.” My voice sounded strange as the lie twisted in my throat.
A smile spread across Mr. Pruitt’s face. “Well, this is wonderful then, yes?”
The fact that he was suddenly so happy was somehow more terrifying than when he was throwing food. I nodded.
Poppy smiled up at me with pretend sweetness. “So wonderful, isn’t it, sugar tits?”
Stop calling me that.
“I have to say, I’m surprised,” Mr. Pruitt said. “But relieved.” He slapped me on the back. “I’ve been worried about you over the years.”
“Right. All your texts. I’m sorry I didn’t respond, but I wasn’t in the right…headspace.” I hate you and I always will, murderer. “You said you wanted to talk to me about something?”
“Not necessary now.” He shook his head. “Not necessary at all.”
What did that mean? Not necessary now that I was…dating Poppy? Happy? What? “The last time we spoke, you mentioned that I was in danger.”
“Ah, yes. A little unrest in the family again. But there’s nothing to worry about now. It’s been taken care of.”