Chapter 9
I OPENED THE DOOR WITHOUT asking who was there. I assumed it had to be Joelle.
Boy, was I ever wrong.
“Poppy!” Rajan said. “I've been knocking forever.”
Flustered, I wrapped my robe tighter around my n***d body. “Sorry. I didn't know it was you.”
“Can I come in?” he asked.
He must have assumed the answer would be yes, because he took a step forward.
I blocked his path. “Do you have to? It's late.”
“It's eight o'clock,” he laughed.
“Oh. Well, it feels late. Anyway, I'm tired. I was just getting ready for bed.”
“Please,” he begged, folding his hands into prayer position. “There's something I need to tell you, Poppy. I was trying to get the words out today after work, but then that lady showed up at your door, and—who was she, anyway?”
“Joelle,” I answered, wit
