Page 178 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Well, she’s all yours.” He handed me the keys. “Just promise to look after her.”

“I will and thanks for this, I owe you.”

“Any time.”

“I’ll bring your truck back tomorrow.”

“No problem, now quit stalling and go get the girl, Bennet.”

A smile played on my lips. “That’s the plan.”

My heart was in my fucking throat as I stepped up to the Fords’ door and rang the bell.

Coach knew—he knew where my head was at regarding his daughter. I’d stood in this very spot less than five hours ago and laid it out for him. And he hadn’t throttled me on the spot, so I was taking that as his blessing to date Poppy. But even so, I really liked my balls and wanted to keep them firmly attached to my body.

A shadow appeared beyond the frosted pane in the door.

Please be Poppy, please be—

“Aaron,” Coach said flatly.

“Coach, I mean… sir. Mr. Ford.” I stuttered, and he smirked.

“Nervous, son?” he asked.

“I…”

“Because you should be.”

Fuck.

I ran a hand through my hair and down the back of my neck, hoping like hell that either Poppy or Mrs. Ford would appear and put me out of my misery.

“I need to make something clear to you, son. Just because I’m entertaining this doesn’t for one second mean I like it. And if you so much as hurt a single hair on her head, I will—”

“Dad.” Poppy appeared, and the air sucked cleaned out the room.

Holy shit, she looked beautiful.

I’d always thought it. All that long glossy hair, her pale-green eyes, and full lips. But looking at her now was different.

I’d wanted her before tonight, in the dark hidden places inside of my soul. But I’d never freely allowed myself to imagine being with her.

“Pick your damn tongue up, kid.” Coach practically thumped me on the back and I choked on a breath.

Poppy pressed her lips into a thin smile. “Hi,” she said.

“Hi.”

“Okay, let’s go over the rules.”

“Rules?” My head whipped over to Coach as Poppy sighed, “Dad, we already talked about this.”

“And we’ll talk about it again. Rule one—”

“Okay, babe.” Mrs. Ford breezed into the room. “Time for you to leave the kids alone now.” She grabbed his shoulders and started steering him toward the door. “Have fun, and don’t stay out too late.”

“Fee, baby, you can’t just—”

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