Page 159 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

My pain turned to anger, sizzling through my veins like wildfire until I was burning alive. He’d asked me here to talk… only to break my heart all over again.

God, I was stupid. I was so fucking stupid.

Silent tears rolled down my cheeks as I stood there, hiding in the shadows, waiting for her to leave.

“Obviously we’re together,” she scoffed. “He’s going to break it to Poppy tonight, thank God… Yeah. So desperate. Okay, see you soon.”

She headed for the house and… I. Lost. It.

I loved Aaron, I did. But in that moment I hated him more than I’d ever hate anything in my life.

Storming toward the pool house, I practically ripped the door off its hinges and went inside. “You bastard,” my voice didn’t sound like my own as I pinned Aaron with a seething look.

He was sitting on a chair, that stupid plastic crown on top of his head, slacks round his ankles and shirt rolled open, his face and chest smeared with red lipstick.

Herlipstick.

“P-Poppy.” Panic danced in his eyes. “What are you—”

“I waited for you. I saved myself. For you. And all this time it was her. I hate you, Aaron Bennet. I hate you and I never want to speak to you again.”

“P-Poppy?” His eyes widened, something akin to fear there as he tried to grab his pants and pull them up his legs. “This isn’t… I can explain. It’s not— shit, it looks bad.” He stumbled, cussing under his breath. “Zara—

“I’m done,” I cried, inching away. “I am so fucking done.”

Without looking back, I ran out of there.

Leaving a trail of my shattered heart behind.

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