she retorted, turning back to her closet. “Only half of one. And I’m not agonizing, I’m just not feeling anything.”
“More like your head is stuck in another universe.” He jumped off the bed and gently moved her out of the way. “Let me figure this out for you.”
Poppy took up his spot from the bed and crossed her arms around her knees as she watched him rummage through the closet.
“How’s Elise?” she asked, shaking her head aggressively when he held up a sleeveless tiger-print top. That had to go in the garbage.
“I don’t understand women” was his answer when he again turned around and held up a simple black top that was sleeveless with a boat neck and cropped to sit just above the waist. He paired it with a pair of cream palazzo pants.
“That looks good.” Surprised, Poppy jumped off the bed. The top still had tags hanging from it. “I forgot I had that.” She motioned at Link to turn around and doffed her ragged T-shirt so she could slip into the clothes. “What’s going on with you and Elise?”
She moved forward to stand in front of him and swept her hair aside so he could zip up her top.
“Well, that’s just it, mate. Not one fucking thing other than the one thing we’ve been doing nonstop.”
Poppy didn’t have to ask what that was because she damn well knew, but Link was going to tell her anyway.
“We shag and then I leave and go home, and I tell myself I’m not going to be her fuck buddy, and then she texts me or sends me a naughty photo—”
“Wait, Elise sends you naked pictures?” Poppy was kind of impressed.
“That’s not the point.”
“I know, but does she?” Link scowled, and Poppy tried not to smile. “I’m just kidding. Go on.”
“All she wants is my dick.”
“Most men wouldn’t have a problem with that.”
“I’m not most men,” he replied darkly. “And she’s not most women. I want more.”
“I know,” Poppy said softly. “I hope it happens for you, but we both know relationships are hard.”
“I don’t feel like I’m in one, Pops. And that’s the problem. Do I cut this thing off now before I get in too deep? Or do I continue to be her fuck buddy and hope it turns into something more?”
“You love her,” she said simply.
“Yeah.” Link nodded. “I do. But how much can a bloke take before it’s too much? How many times can I suggest spending the night, only to see that smile of hers slowly fade as she shakes her head and tells me she’s not ready?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Who the hell is going to open themselves like that? Hell, I’m not. But at least I’m willing to try. At least I’m willing to go there. She’s just…” He swore and shook his head. “She’s not, and I’m not sure I can be her dirty little secret much longer.”
“Until she sends you another naughty picture?” Her attempt at lightness was lame and Poppy knew it, but she had nothing else.
“Not even then.” He gazed at Poppy, and in that moment, she was filled with anger toward Elise and what she was doing to this man who had come to mean so much to Poppy. Didn’t she realize that men like Link were one in a million? That he’d give her the kind of unconditional love every girl dreamed of?
The kind of love I want from Boone.
“I asked El to come to Nate and Molly’s with me, and she laughed because she thought I was kidding. When I told her I wasn’t, she said she’d look ridiculous walking into a party with me, surrounded by a bunch of kids. I’m about as far from a fucking kid as the man in the moon is from earth.” His anger was getting the best of him. Poppy knew she needed to nip this in the bud, for both of their sakes.
“It’s not your issue, Link. It’s Elise’s. Maybe you need to give her some space. Maybe if you don’t come running when she sends you a naughty picture, she’ll realize what she’s missing and get over whatever it is that’s got her locked down.”
“Yeah?” he said, voice rough. Link attempted a smile. “Since when do you win all the awards for relationship advice?”
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime-thing, because Lord knows I have no idea what the hell I’m doing either.” Her face fell.
“What the hell has he done?”
“Nothing.” Poppy grabbed several gold bangles off