Page 15 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“I didn’t know we needed to,” I replied.

“We don’t. But perhaps we should. If I overstepped—”

“You didn’t. It was my fault.”

“Whoa. Hang on, Poppy.” He gently snagged my wrist, tugging me out of the flow of bodies. “It was nobody’s fault.” Hurt shone in his eyes. “I don’t know about you, but I liked it. I liked kissing you.”

“I… It was nice.”

“But?”

“But… I don’t make a habit of kissing strange boys.”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Humor danced in his eyes, and I found myself smiling.

Eli was cute in a toned athletic dork kind of way.

When we reached my class, he blocked my access, gazing down at me with a playful smile. “Go out with me tonight?”

“I can’t tonight, I’m helping my mom at the clinic.”

“Tomorrow then?”

“Eli…”

“Come on, Poppy. Give me a chance. I’ll make it worth your while, I swear.” He leaned against the wall, his bicep practically bursting out of his t-shirt. Damn they sure grew them good on the swim team.

“Ah-ha.” He snapped his fingers and grinned again.

“What?”

“You’re thinking about it.”

“I didn’t say that.” My brow quirked up.

“You didn’t need to.” Eli’s laughter was infectious and I found myself laughing right along with him.

And I almost found myself forgetting all about Aaron Bennet and his stupid traitorous lips.

Almost.

“Is everything okay?” I asked Sofia as we headed to the cafeteria. She was quiet, unusually so.

“Yeah, just tired.”

“Maybe you’re coming down with something?”

“I’m fine. How was English?”

“Dull. The teacher wants us to write a letter to our younger selves.”

“Sounds… exciting.”

“Hardly.” I snorted. The only advice I had for my younger self was to never, under no circumstances, fall in love with your best friend.

We entered the cafeteria, the rumble of chatter and laughter almost deafening. My gaze immediately went to the cluster of tables occupied by the football team.

“Ugh, I can’t believe he’s still entertaining her,” Sofia murmured and I knew she’d spotted Aaron and Zara. She wasn’t sitting in his lap, but she might as well have been given how close there were.

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