Page 40 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Poppy

“Is he okay?”I asked Sofia the second she opened the text message.

“Yeah. It’s a sprain. Not a torn cuff, thank God. He could have kissed the season goodbye otherwise.”

I chewed the end of my thumb, glancing at the doors leading to the locker room in the heart of the stadium.

“Oh my God, E,” Sofia cried, jogging over to her brother. “You did so freaking good”.

She and Ashleigh both tackle hugged him and Mr. and Mrs. Bennet joined them, congratulating Ezra on a well-earned win.

I felt too nauseous to say anything. The second I’d spotted Aaron laying on the field, instead of joining his teammates to celebrate, I’d known something was wrong.

He was hurt.

And all I’d wanted to do was run down onto the field and help him. But before I could move, Cole had helped Aaron to his feet and he’d been escorted out of the stadium with the team’s doctor.

“Hey.” Mom looped her arm around my shoulder. “Penny for your thoughts,” she asked, as if it wasn’t glaringly obvious.

“I’m worried about him.”

“There’s no need to worry, Poppy. Mya said it wasn’t too serious.”

I knew that but I wanted to see him with my own two eyes.

The doors swung open, light pouring out of the building and then he was there, walking toward us with a grim expression.

“Oh, Aaron, baby, thank God.” Mrs. Bennet wrapped him into a hug, careful not to jar his arm which had been strapped to his body.

“Let’s get you home,” she said.

“Actually.” He shrugged out of her hold, “I’m going to head to the party. Cole’s waiting for me.” He motioned to Cole’s car in the parking lot.

“No, Aaron, no way. You’re hurt. You should be—”

“Let the boy go, Mya,” Dad said. “He’s suffered enough tonight.” He pinned Aaron with a pointed stare. “Just take it easy and no theatrics.”

Aaron nodded. He still hadn’t looked twice in my direction. I didn’t expect him to rush over to me, especially not since I’d been with Eli at the game. But after last night, I at least thought we had cleared the air a bit.

Apparently not.

My heart sank.

I’d stood out here for almost forty minutes waiting to see him and he couldn’t even look at me.

So much for friends.

“You coming?” he asked Ezra who was whispering something to Ashleigh. Uncle Cam looked ready to jump in between the two of them but Aunt Hailee held him back with a knowing smile.

“Yeah, we’re coming.”

“We’ll meet you there?” Ashleigh said to me and Sofia.

“Uh yeah, sure.”

Sofia glanced at me and I shrugged.

“Just behave, all of you,” Dad said.

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