Page 154 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Poppy

Zara and Aaron were arguing.I wasn’t close enough to hear what they were saying, but we could all see that she was pissed.

“I fucking told him this wouldn’t end well,” Cole murmured.

“Is anyone going to save him?” Sofia asked.

“Nope.” Ezra shrugged. “Asshole deserved it.”

“Remind me never to piss you off, Ezra,” Eli chuckled, but it was lost on the rest of us.

He hadn’t said a word when me and Aaron had walked back into the gym together. But what was there to say? He knew I was hung up on Aaron. He knew and yet he was still here, laughing and joking and making the most of Homecoming.

He was a better person than I was. Because I didn’t want to be here. I didn’t want to watch the boy that owned my heart—that would always own a piece of my heart—have a lover’s spat with Zara.

Aaron said it didn’t mean anything, but the fact he was here, standing up there with her, meant something to me.

“And she’s outta here…”

Zara stormed off the stage and Aaron took off after her, the two of them melting into the crowd.

“Well, I don’t know about anyone else, but this is supposed to be a dance and there isn’t much dancing happening,” Sofia said. “So you’ll find me on the dance floor.” She drained her soda and slammed the glass down on one of the high tables.

“Leigh? Poppy?”

Ashleigh glanced at Ezra and he smirked. “Lead the way.”

“I’m not sure—” Sofia grabbed my hand and pinned me with an exasperated look. “You look too damn hot not to dance. Let’s go, Poppy.”

“Fine.”

The guys chuckled, watching as she dragged me into the center of the dance floor. Surprisingly though, they all joined us. Even Cole, who looked less than impressed that Sofia was dancing with Ryan.

“You could ask her to dance,” I said with a knowing smile.

“What? No. It isn’t like that.”

“You’re talking to the wrong girl.” My lips twisted.

“He told me, you know. That you danced on the football field. He said it was one of the best moments of his life.”

“He’s drunk.”

“He’s in love with you. He’s just too fucking stubborn and scared to admit it.”

“Aaron loves me.” I didn’t doubt that. “But he’s not in love with me, Cole.”

“You’re wrong, Poppy.” His eyes went over my shoulder and a smile slid over his mouth.

“What—”

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind and Aaron tucked his chin into my neck.

“What are you doing?” I breathed.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” He turned me in his arms and gazed down at me. “I’m dancing with you at Homecoming.”

“We already did that.”

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