Page 175 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Am I upset you didn’t feel like you could talk to me about this? Of course I am. But I’ll never be upset at you for following your heart, Poppy. Even if I wish I could keep you my little girl forever.”

I went to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. The first man I’d ever loved. The man who had taught me all about love and the kind of relationship I wanted one day.

“I love you, Dad.”

“I love you too, sweetheart. So much. Now go read the letter and put the boy out of his misery.”

I took a deep breath as I sat down on the end of my bed and gently opened the envelope. It was a single note folded in half, covered in Aaron’s familiar scrawl.

Smoothing it out on my lap, I started to read it.

Poppy Star,

No words could ever explain how sorry I am. But I’m going to try.

You’re my Poppy Star, the girl of my dreams

I’m Aaron the Greatest, the king of the team(s)

I know I messed up, I’m a guy, it’s what we do

But give me a chance and I’ll prove to you

You’re the one I want, the only girl for me

Give me a chance and I know you’ll see

That my heart is yours, it always has been

I’m Aaron the Greatest, but I’m nothing without my Queen

Laughter spilled out of me on a garbled sob, tears streaking down my cheeks. He was such a cheeseball. But I loved it. I loved every silly syllable.

I grabbed my cell phone and called him.

“Poppy,” he breathed.

“That was the cheesiest, goofiest thing I’ve ever read.”

“You hated it…”

“I loved it.” I love you.

But was it enough to fix us?

To piece back together everything that was broken between us?

“I’m so fucking sorry, Poppy. And I want you to know that I already called Hannigan and apologized. I’ll make it up to him, I promise.”

“I didn’t like it, Aaron. Seeing you like that…”

“I know. Fuck, I know. I just… I heard someone say they saw you go upstairs with him and I saw red. You’re mine, Poppy Star. You always have been. I was just too much of a coward to admit it. Because the thought of ever hurting you, of ruining our friendship scares the fuck out of me, Poppy.

“But then I went and fucked everything up anyway and I wouldn’t blame you if you never wanted to talk to me again, but I’m really hoping you’ll give me a chance to fix things.” He inhaled a ragged breath. “I think that’s everything.”

“I’m not going to lie, Aaron. You really messed up.”

“I know.”

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