Poppy jogged down the street, grateful when she spotted Zander through the window of a bookstore. She hadn’t lost him. She marched into the store, cornering him as he paid for a book. “Zander?”
“Poppy? Is everything okay?” He glanced passed her, no doubt looking for Drake.
“Yeah. Um, I was hoping you could talk, grab some coffee or something.”
“Sure.” He nodded his thanks to the cashier. “How about Shirley’s? If it’s still around.”
Her shoulders relaxed now that he’d agreed. She knew it was a long shot that he’d be able to talk now, but Poppy couldn’t wait. She needed to find out if Zander was the one without dragging it out. “Sure is. And it still has the best coffee.”
“Great.” He held the door open for her, gesturing for her to take lead once they were outside.
They caught up on town gossip until their drinks were ready and took a seat in one of the cozy corners in the shop.
“Thanks for coming with me,” she finally said. “I didn’t mean to seem like a crazy person.”
He laughed, deep and rich. “Hardly. It’s nice to see an old friend.”
She searched his slate-blue eyes, looking for something, anything. Where was the mystical connection? Did he feel anything for her at all? If so, she couldn’t see it. He was friendly, at ease. Like he’d be with any friend. “I have to ask, but you can ignore me if you’d like.” She crossed her legs, leaning forward. “Why’d you come back?”
“As I said, it was time for a visit,” he said easily, but his eyes shifted away.
“And that’s it?” His brow lifted, and she muttered a curse. “I know I’m being incredibly rude, but there’s a good reason. I just need to know if there’s anything else.”
“I came to see someone from my past. To settle things.”
“But I’m not that person?”
“No.” He cocked his head. “What’s going on, Poppy?”
She slumped in her chair. What was she doing here? With Zander, as nice of a person as he was, there was nothing there. Her heart didn’t race just being near him. There was no peace in her soul from his presence, no deep seated joy because he was her best friend. Nothing like how Drake made her feel.
She’d hurt him, and for what? Because she was scared and unsure? Scared that there was someone better out there who could love her more, that was destined to be with her? There wasn’t another
Because she loved Drake.
She whimpered into her drink. She’d been an idiot. No matter what the prophecy said, no matter when she was supposed to meet her mate, or what he was like, none of it mattered. She loved Drake. And she always had.
She’d just finally realized that she always would.
“Poppy?”
She shook herself out of her thoughts. “Sorry.” She closed her eyes hard. “I’m really sorry, Zander. For all of this. I’ve been an idiot.”
“Now I’m intrigued.” He set his cup on the table, leaning forward.
“There was a prophecy about me, about my mate.”
“Ahhh.” His eyes lit with understanding. “I remember.”
“You know about it?”
He ducked his head. “My mom told me about it a long time ago. I was learning about prophecies and she brought it up. All Hallows Eve right?”
“On my twenty-eighth year,” she muttered.
His eyes softened, reaching out to her. “I’m not him. I’m sorry.”
“I know. I really do,” she added again when he searched her face for the truth. “I know who it is.”
“Drake?”
She gasped. “How’d you know?”
He laughed. “It wasn’t hard to see. There were sparks flying everywhere.” He sobered. “So if it’s Drake, then why are you here?”
She wiggled in her seat. “Well… I had to be sure.”
“About him or me?”
“Both. There are some things that don’t match up with the prophecy.”
He whistled softly, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t think too much about that. I’ve come to realize that prophecies aren’t road maps. They only make sense after they’ve happened.”
“No kidding.” If only she’d realized that sooner. She’d wasted so much time with Drake, not to mention the anguish she’d put him through. She ached to make it up to him, to make this right.
A weight lifted from her chest just thinking about him. She needed to get back to him, to throw herself in his arms and tell him what an idiot she’d been. That no matter what the prophecy said, no matter what she might have thought, he was the only one for her. She’d never been surer about anything in her life.
“Go ahead.” He nodded toward the door. “I can see you’re gone already. Go to him.”
“Are you sure?” She flushed. “I feel awful ditching you after I basically dragged you here.”
He chuckled. “I’ll be fine. A cup of Shirley’s is never a waste.”
She grinned. “You’re the best.”
“Almost makes you wish I was the one, huh?”
She belly laughed. “Almost, but not quite.”
He sighed playfully. “Your loss.”
“Someone else’s gain,” she assured him as she stood. “You’ve been great. Really. You’ve helped more than you know.”
“I’ll see you around.”
“I hope so.”
Without glancing back, she walked out of the shop, a little bounce in her step. She loved Drake. Knew it without a doubt, and he loved her. With two days before the deadline, she’d seal her fate within the hour. She’d tell Drake she accepted him, that she loved him.
Her heart racing, she dashed to his house. He didn’t live far from town, only a short fifteen minute walk and she was grateful for the short distance.
Her stomach flipped as she climbed his porch steps. Deep breath, she threaded a hand through her hair, hoping it didn’t look as frazzled as she felt on the inside.
She rang the bell, her body tense as she listened for him. She rang again, waiting. Her shoulders fell, the smile faded from her lips.
He wasn’t home. How could he not be here? Where would he have gone?
Unease wound through her. He must have just run out. Or gone somewhere after their conversation with Zander. He would be back soon, she assured herself.
But even as she made excuses, her legs carried her farther down the road to her house, her body pumping harder the closer she got.
When her house came into view, she knew something was wrong. And then she saw the note propped up on the patio table, her name neatly written on the front in Drake’s handwriting.
Fingers numb, she reached out for the creamy envelope, carefully opening the paper as dread settled in her stomach.
She gasped, reading his words. The paper fell from her hand, landing softly in the afternoon light.
Poppy,
I promised you that I’d step aside. And I’m sticking by that. I love you, but I can’t be here. I can’t watch as you choose someone else.
Drake
She sunk to the ground.
He was gone.
He’d left so that he wouldn’t have to see her with someone else. She did this. She could only blame herself. She’d been stupid, unsure, and instead of following her heart and accepting Drake, the man she loved, she’d tossed it aside. Because of fear.
A tear trailed down her cheek, quickly followed by a second and third until she couldn’t hold them back any longer.
She’d lost him.
Chapter 7