Chapter 18 : Avoiding

Erik’s POV

She’s been avoiding me.

For the whole week after the ball, Poppy has been avoiding me. Dot would meet me for lunch in Poppy’s absence. Saying something about her being busy with her studies and at the clinic. Perhaps some of that was true, but I knew better than to think her extracurriculars devoured ALL her free time.

For a woman who was so bold with me in the dark, she was pretty shy in the light.

Lesser men would be put off by it. Even irritated by it. But, I actually found it endearing. Cute. I liked how dynamic she was. So many sides to her that I had to uncover.

At the same time, as I watched Magnus and Dot enjoy the food meant for Poppy and me, I couldn’t help but miss her. She was like fire under my skin. Consuming desires I usually only had for faceless women.

I dreamed of her often. Imagined what else we would have done under the tree if those two hadn’t interrupted us.