Page 120 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Don’t ‘hi, Dad’ me, young lady.”

“I’ll get my things.” Poppy traipsed out of the kitchen with Coach staring after her.

“Jase,” Dad said. “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down. Did you see her face?”

“I saw it.”

“I want to know the name of the bar and—”

“Breathe, man. Just. Breathe. The girls are safe. Everything is fine—”

“Everything is not fucking fine, Ash. She could have been seriously hurt. She was hurt.”

“They’re seniors. They’re going to mess up.”

“We’ll see about that.” Coach huffed, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m too old for this shit. I’ve got Lily shacked up at college with her boyfriend. Poppy sneaking into bars and getting into—”

“Technically we didn’t get into the fight. The fight found us,” Sofia said, and he pinned her with a look of utter disbelief.

“Sofia,” Dad warned.

“What, I was just—”

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He patted her hand. “You can’t control everything, Jase. They’re going to mess up occasionally. Everything worked out. Aaron and the guys went to get them and they were fine. Right, Son?”

My jaw ticced and Coach narrowed his eyes.

“Y-yeah.” I choked out, growing hot under the collar. It wasn’t like I could agree with him without sounding like a possessive overbearing ass myself.

“Well, I’m just glad you got there in time, son. Although a little heads up next time wouldn’t go amiss.”

Dad chuckled. “You have got to learn to loosen the strings, Jase. Remember the shit we got up to?”

“Which is exactly why I worry.”

“I’m ready.” Poppy reappeared and the air in my lungs evaporated.

Shit. Last night was supposed to be an exorcism. A chance to expend all the confusing feelings and tension between us. But it had only stoked the flames inside me. Looking at her, knowing that she could never be mine… it physically hurt.

“I’ll call you later,” she said to Sofia, before lifting her gaze to me. “Thanks… for everything.”

Coach thanked me again and ushered Poppy out of the kitchen.

While I stood there rooted to the spot, thinking how final her words had sounded.

As if she was saying goodbye.

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