And it worked. He was sweet and steady, and sure, he preferred to read thick military histories, and his eyes glazed over a little when she tried to talk to him about the chapters she'd written that day, but it wasn't the end of the world. She didn't really understand his work, either (something to do with cyber-security and systems administration, she thought), but not every couple had to share each other's passions. They had fun together, the relaxed, easy kind of conversation that made it feel like she'd known him for years, and slowly, Poppy wondered if maybe this could be the forever she'd been looking for.
Still, it took her by surprise when he proposed-getting down on one knee during his parents' anniversary picnic. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and for a split second, she'd almost turned him down, but looking at his excited expression, and hearing the gasps and whispers all around them, she couldn't help but tell him yes. After all, it made sense: they'd been together a year already, and it was all going fine. Great, even. This is what you did next-got married, moved in, built a life together-and it would have been foolish to throw it all away just because her stomach didn't flip when Owen walked into the room or slid into bed with her at night.
But as the months passed and the wedding plans reached fever pitch, her doubts became impossible to ignore. The whispers in the back of her mind became shouts, and she found herself sitting in front of the TV at night beside him, trying to imagine if this was her forever. If this was it, the rest of their lives just like this, would it be enough for her?
Or would her heart still ache, imagining a great love that was out there for her, somewhere?
Owen deserved more than that. They both did. And as much as she felt guilty now, practically stranding him at the altar, Poppy knew that it would have been even worse if she'd said "I do" when her heart wasn't in it. She'd saved them both from heartache. She just had to hope that one day, Owen believed it too.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and Poppy pulled it out, glad of the distraction.
Or not.
"Quinn," she greeted her literary agent. "How's it going?"
"What do you mean, 'how's it going'?" Quinn's voice demanded. "I log on to look at photos of the happy couple, and find a bunch of people bitching about how you walked out on him. How do I not know this?!"
"You were at that conference in Germany," Poppy protested weakly. "I was going to tell you when you got back."
"They have wifi in Germany!" Quinn exclaimed, then calmed herself. "What happened? Are you OK? Did you walk in and find him in bed with that bridesmaid-you know, the step-cousin who was giving you attitude about the shoes? Bastard!"
"Whoa, it's not his fault," Poppy interrupted quickly. "I promise. I just realized he wasn't the one for me."
"Oh." Quinn paused, then changed tacks. "Then you did the right thing. You're so much better off without him. Plenty more fish in the sea!"
"Oh, yes?" Poppy couldn't help replying. "How's that working out for you?"
Quinn groaned. "Don't ask. What's Owen's number? Maybe I'll give him a call. Kidding," she added, but Poppy wouldn't put it past her. Quinn was a force of nature who let nothing stand in her way. It made her a great agent, but her love life was more like a crime scene: full of bad accidents and tape reading "do not pass."
"Anyway," Quinn moved on quickly, like she had another ten calls to make that morning. "Does this mean I can tell your publisher they'll be getting a manuscript soon? Since you'll be writing now, instead of feeding him chocolate-covered strawberries on honeymoon in Bora-Bora?"
"I hope so," Poppy said. "I'm at my aunt's place for a few weeks, trying to get it finished."
"Hallelujah," Quinn cheered. "I didn't want to say anything, but I've been fielding angry calls all month. I've held them off as best I can, but even I can't work miracles. Are you sure I can't send them any pages?" she added, her voice taking on a pleading note. "I know you hate showing your manuscripts until they're finished, but even just a few chapters would go a long way to buying us some time."
Poppy gulped. "Sorry," she said, trying to keep her voice even. "The first chapters need some major rewrites. It took me a while to settle into the voice, I don't want anyone seeing it like that."
Quinn sighed. "OK, whatever you need. Just remember, they've pushed your deadline twice already. Any longer, and they'll have to move your release date back next year."