Pucking Sweet

Three days later, Poppy frets that none of the Rays have teased her about Anderson anymore because they pity her. When Lukas sends her his weekly “sex contracts,” she worries that they will reveal that he found her easily replaceable. She is astonished and annoyed when he includes only one contract, bearing her name and asking her to sign.

Poppy is working with fundraising partners when Lukas approaches and introduces himself before asking about the contract, though he does not include any embarrassing details. He teases her until she drags him away to reprimand him privately. Though Lukas is joking, Poppy feels frustrated and hurt, something he realizes when she signs the contract and returns it to him. He asks what she wants from him, and the two press close to one another. Colton suddenly opens the door. He looks annoyed with Lukas and tells Poppy that her sister is in the arena.

Lukas offers to help her escape without seeing Violet, an act of loyalty that surprises Poppy. She decides to speak to Violet. When Violet sees Poppy, she acts delighted, but Poppy recognizes this as a ploy. Violet insists that she lied about her relationship with Anderson to protect Poppy. She seems resigned to a political marriage and is unperturbed by Poppy’s reminder that Anderson cheated on her repeatedly. 

Violet explains that she feels as though making “a fabulous match” and being “a good wife” are the only things she has to offer to her family (214). She says that Poppy is a “star” who shines brighter than Anderson, which makes them a poor match. Poppy appreciates Violet’s honesty and agrees to stand as her maid of honor.

Colton waits for Poppy, relieved that she looks relaxed when she returns from speaking with her sister. When Colton catches up with Poppy alone in the elevator, however, she is panicking because she agreed to be Violet’s maid of honor. Away from her sister, she feels that Violet manipulated her, and she intends to get revenge by planning a boring bachelorette party.

Poppy’s panic increases when the elevator gets stuck. She fears that she’s experiencing a heart attack, which leads Colton to ask detailed questions about her symptoms. He concludes that she’s having a panic attack and feels confident in his diagnosis due to his own three prior heart attacks. He shows her the scars he got from multiple heart surgeries as a child. He cites the health issues as part of why he loves playing hockey so much, as it feels like a “victory lap” in triumphing over his health issues.

Poppy immediately pivots to thinking about PR opportunities, but Colton stops her. He prefers to support heart health research privately, which she understands. Now calm, she tries to explain her relationship with Lukas, but Colton stops her, insisting that she “[owes] him nothing” (225). He admits, however, that he has been interested in her for years. She admits that she desires him, too.

Colton and Poppy kiss. She thinks of the attraction she felt when first meeting him, which she put aside to focus on her career. This time, she decides to focus on her desires. Colton takes off Poppy’s clothes and encourages her to confess her sexual fantasies. They have sex, not using a condom after they both confirm that they are free of sexually transmitted infections. 

They are both distracted enough by their encounter that they notice the elevator is back on only in the nick of time. They get their clothes back on just as the fire chief resets the elevator and opens it to a crowded lobby. Poppy blames her disheveled appearance on her panic attack.

Claribel leads Lukas and several other players through filming a social media challenge. Colton approaches Lukas and warns him to stay away from Poppy. Lukas grows angry when he realizes that Colton and Poppy have just had sex. Colton replies that Lukas likely already ruined things with Poppy on his own due to his “usual self-sabotaging bullshit” (245). Lukas worries that he will lose his closest friend over Poppy. 

They end up fighting, and it grows serious enough that their teammates have to separate them. Lukas decides that Colton is a better match for Poppy, who deserves a faithful, long-term boyfriend. For the first time in his life, however, he feels that he wishes for a stable relationship that goes beyond a fling.

Poppy plans her sister’s bachelorette party, but she refuses to let her family see her get upset. Colton knocks on her apartment door. She hasn’t heard from him in the two days since they had sex, and he tells her that he was helping his mother move. He has brought bags full of granola ingredients and asks Poppy to teach him her recipe. There is brief awkwardness, but then they have sex. When Poppy asks Colton to use the pet name “my queen,” which he called her in the elevator, he happily complies.

Colton and Poppy have sex without using a condom, something Colton finds alluring, as he has rarely done so before. He contrasts this sexual side of Poppy with “PR Poppy” but likes both versions of her.

The next day, Poppy goes to a restaurant with the Rays. She and Colton make eyes at one another across the bar, remaining discreet to protect Poppy’s professional reputation, as she only has a single-year contract. 

Lukas flirts with Poppy, but she brushes him off. Colton approaches, ready to argue with Lukas. Poppy is annoyed that Colton warned Lukas away from her and reminds Colton that she and Lukas are colleagues who will inevitably work together. She insists that Lukas was a supportive friend during their sexual encounter, as he helped her feel less hurt over her sister’s engagement news. Frustrated with both men, she signs up for karaoke.

Poppy is impressed and annoyed when Lukas sings well. She sings next, thinking that she enjoys how different her life in Jacksonville is from her previous life in Washington, DC. Lukas confronts her after she sings, claiming that her choice of “Jolene” by Dolly Parton means that she is “still hung up on” Anderson (272). He upsets Poppy when he implies that she should be ashamed of having sex with both Colton and Lukas in such a short period of time.

Poppy claims that she dislikes his jealous behavior, but Lukas contends that she finds it arousing. He graphically recalls the details of their sexual encounter, and Poppy reluctantly finds the memories appealing. She accuses him of “playing games” with her to prove himself to Colton. Lukas admits that he did not, despite his claims, find their encounter forgettable. Even so, Poppy’s feelings are hurt, and she sends Lukas away.

Colton is eager to apologize to Poppy for his possessiveness before he leaves for a two-day road trip. He struggles between feeling jealous when he thinks of Poppy and Lukas together and feeling aroused. He finds Poppy crying on the beach over Lukas. Colton confronts Lukas, and the two fight until Poppy breaks them up. 

Colton takes responsibility for his jealousy, explaining that he doesn’t want to control whether Poppy finds Lukas attractive. He only wants to know if she wants to be with Lukas. Lukas makes his own plea, referencing his strong feelings for Poppy. Colton insists that she must choose between them.

Three days later, Poppy hosts a successful fundraiser. Lukas compliments her appearance and flirts with her. Though still uncertain about her relationship with either player, Poppy enjoys his attention. When he tells her that Colton won’t attend due to a “family emergency,” Poppy assumes that Colton is avoiding her. Lukas defends his teammate, emphasizing the legitimacy of the emergency.

Poppy feels overwhelmed by the two men forcing her to choose between them and privately wishes that she could be with both of them. Lukas promises not to interfere if she chooses Colton. Poppy worries that their situation will end in heartbreak.

Lukas worries that he is losing “the only two people [he cares] about” (298). He muses on his long friendship with Colton and his intense feelings for Poppy. His anxieties about intimacy come from being abandoned by his mother, who had an addiction, and being raised by his abusive grandfather. Despite his reputation, Lukas avoids doing anything that could risk his hockey career, as it is the only thing he values. He is torn between his desire for Poppy and his desire not to hurt Colton.

Late that night, Lukas knocks on Colton’s door. They overhear Rachel, Jake, and Caleb having sex in the room next door before Colton reluctantly lets him in. Lukas explains that he doesn’t want to lose Colton’s friendship over Poppy. Colton finds Lukas’s admission illuminating. Lukas urges Colton to not be so open about his feelings, as his intensity is overwhelming Poppy. Colton regrets giving Poppy an ultimatum about choosing between them.

Lukas is more open-minded about the possibility of them both dating Poppy, as he cares about Colton as well as Poppy. They are both surprised to realize that they are not upset by the idea of both dating Poppy, either separately or as a group of three. Later that night, Colton fantasizes about both Poppy and Lukas.

Poppy plans Violet’s bachelorette party, which she intends to make wonderful even if she is dreading it. Colton comes to her apartment and apologizes for giving her the ultimatum. He offers her tickets to a sunset cruise and suggests that she go with Lukas. Poppy worries that this means that Colton is no longer interested in her. He says no but refuses to kiss her until she talks to Lukas.

Poppy and Tina attend Violet’s bachelorette party. Violet’s friends, particularly raucous Olivia, drink heavily and pressure Poppy to invite Rays players, which Poppy refuses. Olivia rejects Poppy’s carefully planned itinerary and produces a game called “Naughty Bachelorette Bingo!!” that rewards players for various explicit actions (323). Violet’s friends tease Poppy, calling her “an insufferable prude” who will not play, listing this as the reason Anderson supposedly “dumped” her (323). Violet’s comments become cruel and suggestive enough that some of her friends become uncomfortable.

Colton and Lukas go to a sports bar in St. Augustine to avoid Jacksonville sports fans. They discuss hockey, and Colton insists that Lukas share information about himself without his “self-deprecating bullshit” (329). Colton talks about his father’s death and feels unburdened.

Lukas worries that Poppy will not agree to their plan to both date her and then remembers that her bachelorette party is in St. Augustine. They talk about going to find her, but before they can do anything, Violet’s party enters the sports bar.